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Flag of Colombia

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Republic of Colombia
Flag of Colombia.svg
Name El Tricolor Nacional
('The National Tricolor')
Use National flag and state ensign Small  vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small  vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is congruent with obverse side
Proportion 2:3
Adopted 26 November 1861; 163 years ago (1861-11-26)
Design A horizontal tricolour in a 2:1:1 proportion, where the upper yellow band is twice the size of the others; it is followed by blue and red.
Civil Ensign of Colombia.svg
Variant flag of Republic of Colombia
Use Civil ensign Small  vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is congruent with obverse side
Proportion 2:3
Design An Colombian tricolour defaced with a blue ellipse outlined in red at its center, containing a white eight-pointed star.
Naval Ensign of Colombia.svg
Variant flag of Republic of Colombia
Use Naval ensign Small  vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion 2:3
Design An Colombian tricolour defaced with a white circle outlined in red at its center, enclosing the coat of arms of Colombia.
Military flag of Colombia.svg
Variant flag of Republic of Colombia
Use War flag Small  vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion 4:5
Design An Colombian tricolour defaced of reduced proportions, with a white circle outlined in red at its center, enclosing the coat of arms of Colombia.
Naval jack of Colombia.svg
Variant flag of Republic of Colombia
Use Naval jack
Proportion 2:3
Design A sky blue field with a white circle outlined in red at its center, enclosing the coat of arms of Colombia.

The flag of Colombia, also known as El Tricolor Nacional (The National Tricolor), is a very important symbol for the country. It stands alongside the coat of arms and the national anthem as one of Colombia's official national symbols.

This flag is a rectangle with three horizontal stripes. From top to bottom, these stripes are yellow, blue, and red. The yellow stripe is the widest, taking up half of the flag's height. The blue and red stripes each take up one-quarter of the height. This means the stripes are in a 2:1:1 proportion.

The design of Colombia's flag was inspired by a flag created in 1801 by two Venezuelan patriots, Francisco de Miranda and Lino de Clemente. This flag was first used for the First Republic of Venezuela. Later, the same colors were adopted by the Congresses of Gran Colombia in 1819 and the Republic of New Granada in 1834. The way the colors are arranged today was officially chosen on November 26, 1861.

Because they share a similar history, the flags of Ecuador and Venezuela look a lot like Colombia's flag. All three countries were once part of a larger country called Gran Colombia. The Ecuadorian flag is especially similar in its design and proportions.

The Colombian flag is used by the government and other official groups. Sometimes, there are small changes in its design depending on whether it is used by diplomats, civilians, or the military. For example, the coat of arms of Colombia is only required on the flag for official government uses.

What the Flag Looks Like

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas 01
Flag of Colombia flying over Castillo San Felipe de Barajas in Cartagena, Colombia.
Flag of Colombia (construction sheet)
How the Colombian national flag is designed.

The Colombian flag has three horizontal stripes: yellow, blue, and red. They are arranged from top to bottom. The yellow stripe is twice as wide as the blue and red stripes. This gives the flag a special 2:1:1 proportion.

The flags of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela all come from the original flag of Gran Colombia. What makes the Colombian and Ecuadorian flags unique is that their stripes are not all the same size. Most other flags with three colors have stripes of equal size. The Venezuelan flag, for example, has three equally sized stripes.

The exact shades of the flag's colors are not set by law. However, the FIAV recommends specific colors. These colors were used in the "Flags and Anthems Manual" for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

What the Colors Mean

The government of Colombia explains what each color on the flag represents:

  •      Yellow: This color stands for the country's wealth. It represents the gold found in Colombia's soil, its agriculture, and the Sun, which gives us light and life. It also symbolizes sovereignty, harmony, and justice.
  •      Blue: This color represents the beautiful sky above Colombia. It also stands for the two large oceans that border the country and the many rivers that flow through its land.
  •      Red: This color reminds us of the bravery and effort of the Colombian people. It symbolizes the blood shed during the fight for Colombia's independence. It also shows the determination and perseverance of its people, who have worked hard to build a thriving nation.

Some people also say blue represents loyalty and vigilance. Red can also mean victory in battles for independence. Yellow can also symbolize sovereignty and justice.

How the Flag Came to Be

The idea for the yellow, blue, and red flag, which Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela share today, came from Francisco de Miranda. He was a Venezuelan patriot.

Miranda shared two main inspirations for his flag. He once had a conversation with the German philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1785. Goethe told him that his destiny was to create a place where "primary colors are not distorted." Goethe explained how the eye sees light in three primary colors: yellow, blue, and red. He said yellow is warm and bright, blue is calm and distant, and red is a mix of both, showing light fading into shadow. Goethe believed that a country, like a person, fulfills its destiny starting with a name and a flag.

Miranda also remembered seeing a painting in Genoa, Italy. It showed Christopher Columbus holding a flag with similar colors during one of his voyages. Another inspiration came from the yellow, blue, and red flag of the Burger Guard in Hamburg, Germany, which he saw during his travels.

In 1801, Miranda asked for materials for "ten flags, whose colors shall be red, yellow, and blue, in three zones" for his plan to help liberate Spanish America. The very first flag with these colors was raised on March 12, 1806, in Jacmel, Haiti.

The flag was officially adopted by law on November 26, 1861.

Different Kinds of Colombian Flags

Here are some of the official flags used in Colombia:

Flags from the Past

These are some of the historical flags that have been used in Colombia's past:

More Pictures

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bandera de Colombia para niños

  • List of Colombian flags
  • Coat of arms of Colombia
  • ¡Oh, Gloria inmarcesible!, the national anthem of Colombia
  • Flag of Ecuador (a similar design, but with the coat of arms in the center)
  • Flag of Russia (similar design, but with a white stripe instead of yellow, and a 1:1:1 ratio)
  • Flag of Lithuania (similar design, but with a green stripe instead of blue, and a 1:1:1 ratio)
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