The Flag of Spain - Description of the Spanish Flag
As the above picture of the Spanish Flag indicates a bi-color Red and Yellow
The description of the Spanish Flag is as follows:
Three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (center double width), and red (bottom)
The national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Spanish flag represent the following:
Yellow - a symbol of generosity
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The basic style shown in the picture of the Spanish flag is described as Emblem - reflecting the design of the flag pattern
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Spanish flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The lefthalf of the flag ( viewer's left side ) is called the Hoist and pictures the Spanish Coat of Arms
The right half of the flag is called the Fly
The Meaning & History of the Spanish Flag - The Spanish coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
The Spanish flag was adopted on December 19, 1981
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
Spanish Flag Etiquette
Spanish 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 Spanish as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Spanish
State Flag of Spanish
Military Flag of Spanish (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Spanish
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Spanish Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Spanish 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 Spanish flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Spanish should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Spanish flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Spanish, 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 Spanish Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Spanish flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Spanish flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Spanish flag to the top, then lowering the Spanish Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Spanish flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Spanish flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Spanish flag
The Spanish 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 Spanish 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 Spanish flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Spanish 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 Spanish Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Spain
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France
Spanish Land Size : 499,542 sq km
Climate / Weather of Spain : temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Spanish Population : 40,280,780 (July 2004 est.)
Spanish Capital City: Madrid
Spanish GDP: $885.5 billion (2003 est.)
Spanish Main Industries : textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common - barbarian
It is from the greek Keltoi that Celt is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the Celts
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
280 BC - The Celts sacked many Greek cities
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
50-100AD - The spread of Christianity
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
Middle Ages - Various different cultures emerged in the lands of the Celts and the history of each country changed accordingly
The above information provides a concise background to the Ancient Spanish civilisations
Concise History of Spain & its Flag
573AD The Visigoths conquered Spain
711 Muslims from northern Africa invaded Spain displacing the Goths
1094 El Cid, a Castilian Christian, fought the Moors and conquered Valencia
1100s Portugal gained its independence
1200s The Muslim territory had been reduced to the Kingdom of Granada
1200's The Christian territory controlled the Kingdoms of Aragon, Navarre, and Castile
1469 The marriage of Prince Ferdinand of Aragon and Princess Isabella of Castille
1474 Isabella became Queen of Castile
1479 Ferdinand became King of Aragon
1480 The Spanish Inquisition was established
1492 The Muslims of Granada were defeated
1492 Christopher Columbus voyage to America was financed by the King and Queen
1494 Spain and Portugal claimed the lands of the New World
1513 Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed Central America
1516 Charles I became Spanish king and extended the Spanish Empire to include Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg
1519 Charles I became the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
1521 Hernando Cortes conquered the Mexican Aztecs
1533 Francisco Pizarro conquered the South American Inca empire
1588 Philip launched the Spanish Armada which the English defeated
1714 The War of the Spanish Succession ended when Spain lost all of its European empire
1763 Spain lost Florida to the United Kingdom
1808 French forces led by Napoleon conquered Spain but the Spanish regained control in 1814
17 July 1821 Spain ceded Florida to the United States
1898 The Spanish were defeated in the Spanish - American War . Cuba was given its independence and Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico were given to the United States
1914-1918 World War I - Spain remained neutral
April 1931 The Spaniards voted for a republican form of Spanish government
1936 General Francisco Franco became the leader of the rebels and civil war ensued
1939-1945 World War II - Spain remained neutral
1969 Franco declared that Prince Juan Carlos would become the next king of Spain
1975 Franco died and Juan Carlos became king
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The Spanish Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Spanish Flag and Country 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!
