Guatemala Flag
The Flag of Guatemala
Guatemala was
the centre of the Maya civilization between the 4th and 9th centuries
a.d., and despite having become the administrative centre of Spanish
Central America from 1524 until 1821, today the Maya continue to retain
their distinct identity in the rural highlands of Guatemala. Having
proclaimed its independence from Spain in 1821, Guatemala became part of
the United Provinces of Central America from 1821 to 1839, flying the
federation's flag until 1851.
Like other former members of the United Provinces, the Guatemala flag is
still based on the federation's blue-and-white flag. Although a
pro-Spanish faction seized power and added red and yellow to the flag in
1851, the original blue and white were restored in 1871, although the
stripes were now arranged vertically rather than horizontally. In the
centre is the Guatemalan coat of arms, which was designed in 1871 by the
Swiss artist Jean-Baptiste Frener (1821-97) who lived n Guatemala from
1856. The present form of the arms, which feature two golden rifles bound
with laurel branches, was adopted in 1968. In the center is a parchment
bearing the date of Guatemala's declaration of independence (Libertad 15
de Septiembre de 1821, 'Liberated 15 September, 1821'), above which is a
quetzal bird, the country's symbol of independence.
