Flag of Honduras

Flag of Honduras

Honduras Flag

One of the largest Central American republics, Honduras was part of the Maya civilization (and a Maya pyramid is the central feature of the national coat of arms). Christopher Columbus reached the area in 1502 and, from 1526 it was colonized by Spain. On 15 September, 1821, Honduras gained its freedom from Spain to become part of the United Provinces of Central America (with Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica) and adopted the federation's blue-and-white flag with a central, triangular emblem. The flag's blue bands were said to represent the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean (apart from El Salvador, all of the states that belonged to the United Provinces are bordered by these seas). Honduras seceded from the United Provinces in 1839, however, declaring itself independent in the following year.

Like the other former members of the United Provinces, Honduras retained the blue-and-white, three-banded flag of the federation, although it altered the central emblem to five blue stars in 1866. These have been interpreted in different ways: as representing the original five states of the United Provinces, for example, or as expressing the hope that a similar Central American organization will be revived.