As the above picture of the Panama Flag indicates the overall
background red, blue and white
As the
above picture of the Panama Flag
is described as
follows:
Four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side)
A blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red
The
bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a
red five-pointed star in the center
The blue star
represents the purity and honesty of the people and country of
Panama
The red star
represents the authority and law in the country
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Panama flag represent the
following:
Yellow - a
symbol of generosity
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
Green -
hope, joy and love and in many cultures have a sacred
significance
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Panama flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the
height )
The flag of Panama
was adopted on December 20, 1903
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Panama
Flag Etiquette
Panama Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Panama as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Panama
State Flag of
Panama
Military Flag of
Panama (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Panama
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Panama Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Panama should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Panama flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Panama should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Panama flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Panama, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Panama Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Panama flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Panama flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Panama flag to the top, then lowering the
Panama Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Panama flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Panama flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Panama flag
The Panama flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Panama
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Panama flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Panama
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding Panama Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Panama
Location:
Central America, bordering both the
Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and
Costa Rica
Land Size of Panama
: 75,990 sq km
Climate / Weather
of Panama : tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged
rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Population of
Panama : 3,000,463 (July 2004 est.)
Capital City of
Panama : Panama
GDP of Panama :
$18.62 billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other
construction materials, sugar milling
Currency of Panama
: balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
Main Colors of
Panama Flag :
red, blue and white
Concise History of
Panama & its Flag
1502
Columbus sails on his fourth and last voyage to the New World
(Honduras and Panama)
1502 -
Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas visits Panama, which was
home to Cuna, Choco, Guaymi and other indigenous peoples
Various
experts have indicated the possibility of a linguistic
connection between the name Cuna and certain Arawak and Carib
tribal names
The Caribs
and the Arawaks were tropical forest people who probably
originated in South America and were related to the people found
anywhere from Panama to Brazil
1509
Beginnings of slave trade to New World
1513 Sept
25, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Spanish explorer, crossed the Isthmus
of Panama and claimed the Pacific Ocean for Spain
He was named
governor of Panama and the Pacific by King Ferdinand
1514 1,500
Spanish settlers go to Panama
1519 -
Panama becomes Spanish Vice-royalty of New Andalucia (later New
Granada)
1522 First
slave revolt in America occurs in Hispaniola
1566 Two
million Indians die in South America of typhoid fever
1810 -
Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon
1821 -
Panama becomes independent of Spain
1821 -
Panama joins the confederacy of Gran Colombia which consists of
Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
1830 -
Panama becomes part of Colombia following the collapse of Gran
Colombia
1850's - the
building of the Panama Railway which is the first
Transcontinental railway of the New World crossing the isthmus
from Colon to Panama City
1880s -
France makes a failed attempt to build a Canal to link the
Atlantic and Pacific
1903
November 3 - Panama splits from Colombia and becomes fully
independent
1903 -
US buys rights to build Panama Canal and controls the waterway
for nearly a century
15 August
1915 - Official opening of the Panama Canal a massive
achievement - the Panama Canal is 65 km ( 40 miles ) in length
1939 -
Panama ceases to be a US protectorate
1 January
2000: Control of the canal passes from USA to Panama by the
Torrijos-Carter treaty
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource
accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80
minutes!"
The
Flag and Nation of Panama
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of Panama has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
