The flag of Colombia was adopted on November 26, 1861. It is a horizontal tricolour of yellow, blue and red. The yellow stripe takes up the top half of the flag and the blue and red take up a quarter of the space each.
Symbolism and design
The horizontal stripes (from top to bottom) of yellow, blue and red tricolour have a ration of 2:1:1. It - together with that of Ecuador, also derived from the Flag of Gran Colombia - is different from most other tricolour flags, either vertical or horizontal, in having strips which are not equal in size. (Venezuela, whose flag is also derived from the same source, opted for a more conventional tricolour with equal strips).
According to the current interpretation, the colours signify:
- Yellow: represents all the gold found in the Colombian land.
- Blue: represents the seas on Colombia's shores.
- Red: represents the blood spilled on the battlegrounds by the heroes who gained Colombia's freedom.
Other variations on the interpretation of the colours exist, such as, "Yellow, for the sun and land of the people. Blue, for the water that holds up the people and finally, Red, for the blood shed by the people who fought for the independence of Colombia."
Although there are no regulations stating the shape of the flag, it traditionally is established at 2:3. |
