Flag of Colombia

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See also: List of Colombian flags

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.

Civil ensign. Flag ratio: 2:3

Naval ensign. Flag ratio: 2:3

Contents 1 Symbolism 2 Design 3 History 3.1 Beginnings 3.2 Great Colombia 3.3 United States of Colombia 3.4 Colombia Republic 4 Past flags 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Symbolism

The symbolism of the Colombian flag colors are as follows: the Yellow, for the sun and land of the people. The Blue, for the water that holds up the people and finally, the red, for the blood shed of the people who fought for the independence of Colombia.

[edit] Design

[edit] History

[edit] Beginnings

Francisco de Miranda was the person who originally created the common Yellow, Blue and Red flag of Great Colombia that Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela share, based on the idea from a flag that Christopher Colombus used in one of his voyages and also based on the theory exposed to him by Goethe, The Primary Colors.

In a letter written by Francisco de Miranda, referring to a conversation he had with Goethe, he explained the symbolic meaning of the flag's color stripes: "First he explained to me the way the iris transforms the light into the three primary colours... then he said why Yellow is the most warm, noble and closest to the bright light; why Blue is that mix of excitement and serenity, so far that it evokes the shadows; and why Red is the exaltation of Yellow and Blue, the synthesis, the vanishing of the bright light into the shadows".

In modern times, different interpretations have been taught to children at school: Yellow symbolizes the rich resources of its grounds; Blue symbolizes the two oceans that surround its coasts; Red represents the blood of the heroes who died while fighting for Colombia's independence.

[edit] Great Colombia

[edit] United States of Colombia

[edit] Colombia Republic

[edit] Past flags

Flag of the Granadine Confederation, 1858–1863. Flag ratio: 2:3

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[edit] See also

• Flag of Gran Colombia
• List of Colombian flags

[edit] External links

• Colombia at Flags of the World
• Colombian flag history (Spanish)

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