List of Puerto Rican flags facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Puerto Rico

The current flag of Puerto Rico, also known as La Monoestrellada (The One-Starred)
Name	Current Flag of Puerto Rico (1995) Medium Blue Azul Medio (Spanish)
Use	Civil and state flag, civil and state ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	August 3, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-08-03) by elected Puerto Rican government after issuing regulation identifying colors but not specifying color shades; medium blue replaced dark blue as de facto shade of triangle
Variant flag of Puerto Rico
Name	Flag of Puerto Rico (1952) Dark Blue Azul Oscuro (Spanish)
Use	Civil and state flag, civil and state ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	July 24, 1952; 72 years ago (1952-07-24) by elected Puerto Rican government with the establishment of the commonwealth after issuing law identifying colors but not specifying color shades; dark blue became de facto shade of triangle, replacing presumed original light blue
Variant flag of Puerto Rico
Name	Flag of Puerto Rico (1895) Light Blue Azul Claro (Spanish)
Use	Civil and state flag, civil and state ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	December 22, 1895; 129 years ago (1895-12-22) by pro-independence members of the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico exiled in New York City; members identified colors as red, white, and blue but did not specify color shades; some historians have presumed members adopted light blue shade based on the light blue flag of the Grito de Lares revolt
Design	Five equal horizontal stripes, alternating from red to white, with a blue equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bearing a large, white, upright five-pointed star in the center
Designed by	Disputed between Puerto Ricans Francisco Gonzalo Marín in 1895 and Antonio Vélez Alvarado in 1892; Based on Cuban flag by Venezuelan Narciso López and Cuban Miguel Teurbe Tolón in 1849

This article is about the many flags of Puerto Rico. Flags are special symbols that represent a place or a group of people. The most important flag is the current flag, which stands for the people of Puerto Rico. Other important flags include the Grito de Lares flag, which remembers a big revolt against Spanish rule in 1868. There are also flags for the 78 towns and cities, flags for different political groups, and flags for sports teams.

Each of Puerto Rico's 78 towns and cities has its own flag. These flags often get their designs from the town's special coat of arms. Many political groups in Puerto Rico also have flags. These flags show what the group believes in and are often seen at rallies or parades. Sports teams in Puerto Rico use flags to show they are representing the island in competitions.

First Flags in Puerto Rico

Captain's Ensign of Columbus's Ships

The first flags in Puerto Rico appeared when Christopher Columbus arrived. He landed on the island and claimed it for Spain, using the flag given to him by the Spanish King and Queen. Columbus wrote that he used the Royal Flag on October 12, 1492. His captains used two white flags with a green cross and the letters 'F' and 'Y' for King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Ysabel.

Later, the Spanish explorers led by Juan Ponce de León conquered and settled the island. They carried the Spanish Expedition Flag. After Spain took control, the official flag of Spain was used in Puerto Rico, just like in all other Spanish colonies.

When the Spanish army built forts like La Fortaleza and Fort San Felipe del Morro, they used their own military flag. This flag was called the Burgundy Cross. It flew over every Spanish military base on the island.

The First Puerto Rican Flag

The idea of Puerto Rico becoming independent grew stronger after countries in South America, like those led by Simón Bolívar, gained their freedom. In 1868, a Puerto Rican independence leader named Ramón Emeterio Betances asked Mariana Bracetti to create a special flag for a revolution. They used the flag of the Dominican Republic as an example. The goal was to unite Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic into one group.

The Grito de Lares flag, which has colors similar to the current flag of Puerto Rico

This revolutionary flag, known as the Grito de Lares flag, has a white cross that divides it into four parts. The two bottom parts are red, and the two top parts are blue. The top-left blue part has a white five-pointed star. A Puerto Rican poet, Luis Lloréns Torres, explained the flag's meaning: the white cross means a desire for the homeland to be free, the red squares represent the blood shed by heroes, and the white star in the blue square stands for liberty and freedom.

This flag was used in a short rebellion against Spain called Grito de Lares (The Cry of Lares). During the revolt, Francisco Ramírez Medina declared it the national flag of the "Republic of Puerto Rico." He placed it on the altar of the Catholic Church in Lares, making it the first official Puerto Rican flag. One of the original flags was taken by a Spanish officer but was later returned to the people of Puerto Rico. You can now see it at the University of Puerto Rico's Museum.

In 1873, after Spain changed from a kingdom to a republic, a new colonial flag was made for Puerto Rico. This flag looked like the Spanish flag but had the coat of arms of Puerto Rico in the middle. When Spain became a kingdom again in 1873, the old Spanish flag returned until 1898. In 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States after the Spanish–American War.

Flags of Towns and Cities

Each of the 78 towns and cities in Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques, has its own flag. These flags represent the area and its people. Their colors and designs are all different. Some flags show a coat of arms or pictures of things important to the region, like a bird, an animal, or a crop. For example, the town of Lares uses the Grito de Lares flag as its official symbol.

Many municipal flags in Puerto Rico honor the Cacíques, who were the leaders of the Taíno people. The Taíno lived on the island before the Spanish arrived. The flag of Utuado, for instance, has a Taíno Sun to honor the great Taíno leader Agüeybaná. Other flags, like San Germán's, have a special crown that honors Spain and the Spanish settlers.

Political Flags

Cadets of the Republic, led by Raimundo Díaz Pacheco, with both the Nationalist and Puerto Rican flags

Throughout Puerto Rico's history, different political groups have created and used flags to show what they believe in. These flags are often displayed at public events like rallies or parades to show how strong and united a group is.

For example, the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party flag has a white cross on a black background. The black color symbolized the sadness of Puerto Rico being a colony. This flag was often carried by the Cadets of the Republic, who wore black shirts. Sometimes, the Nationalists also carried the Puerto Rican flag with a light blue triangle, which was believed to be the original color of the flag between 1898 and 1952.

Puerto Rico has three main political parties today:

• The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico wants Puerto Rico to become a U.S. state. Their flag has a blue palm tree shape on a white background.
• The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico supports Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth. Their flag shows a red image of a Puerto Rican jíbaro (farmer) on a white background.
• The Puerto Rican Independence Party wants Puerto Rico to be an independent country. Their flag has a white cross, which means purity, on a green background, which means hope.

Another political flag belongs to the Boricua Popular Army, also known as Los Macheteros. This group, which supports independence, uses a flag with a green machete and a red star on a black background.

Sports Flags

The main flag used by Puerto Rican athletes at international sports events, like the Olympics or the Pan American Games, is the current flag of Puerto Rico. However, many sports groups have their own flags that they use during events. Before the current Puerto Rican flag was adopted for sports, athletes used both the United States flag and a special white banner. This banner had a version of the Puerto Rican seal and the words "Puerto Rico" on it. The green background on this banner represented the island's plants, and the Lamb of God symbolized Jesus of Nazareth.

See also

• Flag of Puerto Rico
• Coat of arms of Puerto Rico
• Seal of Puerto Rico
• Flag of Cuba, a similar flag with the red and blue reversed, and longer length
• Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskap - A Norwegian shipping company with a virtually identical flag in its logo

Primary sources

• Act No.1, Approved July 24, 1952.
• Regulations on the Use of the Puerto Rico flag. Núm. 5282, August 3, 1995

Images for kids

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  45-star American flag, the first U.S. flag flown in Puerto Rico (1898 - 1908)

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  46-star American flag (1908 - 1912)

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  48-star American flag (1912 - 1959)

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  Flag of the Kingdom of Castile (1492)

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  Burgundy Cross Flag (Spanish military flag)

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  Flag of Spain (1701-1793) in fortresses and castles

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  First Puerto Rican flag, the original revolutionary flag of the Grito de Lares revolt (1868)

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  Puerto Rico Provincial Flag (1873–1875)

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  Flag of Spain (1793-1873, 1875–1898)

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  Spanish American War flag (Flag of the Batallón Provisional No. 3 de Puerto Rico)

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  Flag of Spain (1873-1874) First Spanish Republic

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  Puerto Rican flag aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (March 15, 2009)

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  Flag of Adjuntas

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  Flag of Aguada

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  Flag of Aguadilla

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  Flag of Aguas Buenas

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  Flag of Aibonito

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  Flag of Añasco

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  Flag of Arecibo

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  Flag of Arroyo

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  Flag of Barceloneta

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  Flag of Barranquitas

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  Flag of Bayamón

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  Flag of Cabo Rojo

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  Flag of Caguas

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  Flag of Camuy

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  Flag of Canóvanas

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  Flag of Cataño

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  Flag of Carolina

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  Flag of Cayey

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  Flag of Ceiba

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  Flag of Ciales

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  Flag of Cidra

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  Flag of Coamo

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  Flag of Comerío

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  Flag of Corozal

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  Flag of Culebra

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  Flag of Dorado

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  Flag of Fajardo

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  Flag of Florida

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  Flag of Guánica

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  Flag of Guayama

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  Flag of Guayanilla

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  Flag of Guaynabo

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  Flag of Gurabo

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  Flag of Hatillo

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  Flag of Hormigueros

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  Flag of Humacao

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  Flag of Isabela

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  Flag of Jayuya

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  Flag of Juana Díaz

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  Flag of Juncos

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  Flag of Lajas

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  Flag of Lares

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  Flag of Las Marías

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  Flag of Las Piedras

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  Flag of Loíza

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  Flag of Luquillo

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  Flag of Manatí

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  Flag of Maricao

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  Flag of Maunabo

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  Flag of Mayagüez

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  Flag of Moca

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  Flag of Morovis

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  Flag of Naguabo

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  Flag of Naranjito

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  Flag of Orocovis

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  Flag of Patillas

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  Flag of Peñuelas

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  Flag of Ponce

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  Flag of Quebradillas

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  Flag of Rincón

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  Flag of Río Grande

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  Flag of Sabana Grande

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  Flag of Salinas

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  Flag of San Germán

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  Flag of San Juan

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  Flag of San Lorenzo

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  Flag of San Sebastián

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  Flag of Santa Isabel

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  Flag of Toa Alta

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  Flag of Toa Baja

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  Flag of Trujillo Alto

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  Flag of Utuado

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  Flag of Vega Alta

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  Flag of Vega Baja

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  Flag of Vieques

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  Flag of Villalba

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  Flag of Yabucoa

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  Flag of Yauco

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  Flag of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party

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  Flag of the Puerto Rican Independence Party