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!
