The flag of
El Salvador
El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...
features a horizontal triband of
cobalt blue
Cobalt blue is a blue pigment made by sintering cobalt(II) oxide with aluminum(III) oxide (alumina) at 1200 °C. Chemically, cobalt blue pigment is cobalt(II) oxide-aluminium oxide, or cobalt(II) aluminate, CoAl2O4. Cobalt blue is lighter ...
-white-
cobalt blue
Cobalt blue is a blue pigment made by sintering cobalt(II) oxide with aluminum(III) oxide (alumina) at 1200 °C. Chemically, cobalt blue pigment is cobalt(II) oxide-aluminium oxide, or cobalt(II) aluminate, CoAl2O4. Cobalt blue is lighter ...
, with
the coat of arms centered and entirely contained within the central white stripe. This design of a triband of blue-white-blue is commonly used among Central American countries. Along with the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
,
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
and
Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
, it is one of only four national flags which has a depiction of its flag within the flag itself. El Salvador's flag is one of few that currently use the color
purple
Purple is any of a variety of colors with hue between red and blue. In the RGB color model used in computer and television screens, purples are produced by mixing red and blue light. In the RYB color model historically used by painters, pu ...
, and all colors due to the rainbow in its Coat of Arms
Features
![Gold Foil Metallic Texture Free Creative Commons (6962328289)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Gold_Foil_Metallic_Texture_Free_Creative_Commons_%286962328289%29.jpg)
The colors signify:
*
*
*The flag has the words (REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL) in a bold and Heavy, Sans Serif Boris Black Bloxx typeface, in a golden amber color
*The national
motto
A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...
(DIOS UNIÓN LIBERTAD) in
Trajan
Trajan ( ; la, Caesar Nerva Traianus; 18 September 539/11 August 117) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117. Officially declared ''optimus princeps'' ("best ruler") by the senate, Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presi ...
bold
Roman square capitals
Roman square capitals, also called ''capitalis monumentalis'', inscriptional capitals, elegant capitals and ''capitalis quadrata'', are an ancient Roman form of writing, and the basis for modern capital letters. Square capitals are characterize ...
. The letter are colored amber gold on the civil flag, and black in the coat of arms
*The date (15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821) in Trajan bold Roman square capitals
The blue hue is a vivid, lustrous and luscious rich solid cobalt blue. In the center of and occupying the entire width of the white stripe is the
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...
with its top touching the upper blue strip and its base touching the lower blue stripe. The coat of arms contains the in bold golden amber words "REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL" ( en, Republic of El Salvador in Central America). There are two variant flags, one without the coat of arms, and the other with the words "DIOS UNIÓN LIBERTAD" ( en, God, Union, Liberty) in bold
golden amber in place of the coat of arms. All three contain the same
cobalt blue
Cobalt blue is a blue pigment made by sintering cobalt(II) oxide with aluminum(III) oxide (alumina) at 1200 °C. Chemically, cobalt blue pigment is cobalt(II) oxide-aluminium oxide, or cobalt(II) aluminate, CoAl2O4. Cobalt blue is lighter ...
and white stripes, occasionally with a gold
Fringe (trim)
Fringe is an ornamental textile trim applied to an edge of a textile item, such as drapery, a flag, or epaulettes.
Fringe originated as a way of preventing a cut piece of fabric from unraveling when a hemming was not used. Several strands of ...
. The main flag has an
aspect ratio of 189:335 while the variants are both 3:5.
[*Art.7. "" (The greater flag is 3m 35cm long and 1m 89cm wide and includes the entire national coat of arms)
*Art.9. "" (The flag for use at public buildings is 1m long by 60cm wide (..) The central stripe shall bear the inscription 'Dios Union Libertad')
*Art.11. "" (The flag for use at parades will be 1.45m long by 90cm wide (..) The white stripe of the flag for parades shall bear in golden letters the inscription 'Dios Union Libertad')
]
Ley de Símbolos Patrios
From 1865 to 1912, a different flag was in use, with a field of alternating cobalt blue and white stripes and a red
canton containing stars. The designs of both sides of the flag are different; at the reverse side, it shows the then national coat of arms at the position of stars at obverse. The stars symbolized the
provinces of the Republic; once a new province was created, one star was add to the obverse of the flag. This "Star-Striped" banner was considered to be inspired by the
flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States, United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rect ...
.
The blue stripes symbolize the ocean and sky. The white means Peace.
Blue is an important color in Salvadoran culture and identity. It started with Native American cultures of Mesoamerica in El Salvador, that produced (añil)
indigo
Indigo is a deep color close to the color wheel blue (a primary color in the RGB color space), as well as to some variants of ultramarine, based on the ancient dye of the same name. The word "indigo" comes from the Latin word ''indicum'', m ...
plant which they used extracts to produce blue dyes. When the Europeans invaded and colonized the area, they saw the wealth of indigo and turned El Salvador to one of the world's foremost providers of indigo dye in its time.
Many other countries in Central America use blue and white colors as a Pan-Central American symbol.
Synonymous to the country's wealth, the colonizers referred to the dye as "the blue gold", that dominated El Salvador's economy until it was completely replaced by coffee cultivation. Today El Salvador remains as one of the few countries in the world that still cultivates indigo to produce blue dyes. Over time El Salvador's flag has had several different shades of blue, from the lightest to darkest, including
Royal blue
Royal blue is a deep and vivid shade of blue. It is said to have been created by clothiers in Rode, Somerset, a consortium of whom won a competition to make a dress for Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III.
Brightness
The ''Oxford E ...
,
Sapphire
Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sapphir ...
,
Klein Blue and
Indigo
Indigo is a deep color close to the color wheel blue (a primary color in the RGB color space), as well as to some variants of ultramarine, based on the ancient dye of the same name. The word "indigo" comes from the Latin word ''indicum'', m ...
. The present current modern flag displays a
cobalt blue
Cobalt blue is a blue pigment made by sintering cobalt(II) oxide with aluminum(III) oxide (alumina) at 1200 °C. Chemically, cobalt blue pigment is cobalt(II) oxide-aluminium oxide, or cobalt(II) aluminate, CoAl2O4. Cobalt blue is lighter ...
color.
File:Presidente Bukele.jpg, President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele
Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez (; born 24 July 1981) is a Salvadoran politician and businessman who is the 43rd president of El Salvador, serving since 1 June 2019. He is the first president since José Napoleón Duarte (1984–1989) not to have ...
wearing the presidential sash with the national flag standing behind
File:Salcoatitán, El Salvador - panoramio (9).jpg, The five rowed volcanos in the coat of arms were inspired by the Cordillera de Apaneca volcanic range when El Salvador's Sonsonate
Sonsonate () is a city and municipality of El Salvador. It is the capital of the department of Sonsonate; on the Sensunapan River and the Pan-American Highway from San Salvador to the Pacific port of Acajutla
Acajutla is a seaport city in Sons ...
City was the second capital of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1834.]
File:Primer escudo de El Salvador.jpg, The first coat of arms which declared the country's citizens as Salvadorans
Departments
File:Bandera del Departamento de Ahuachapán.PNG, Ahuachapán Department, Ahuachapán
File:Flag of the Cabañas Department.svg, Cabañas
File:Flag of Chalatenango.svg, Chalatenango
File:Bandera del Departamento de Cuscatlán.PNG, Cuscatlán
File:Flag of La Libertad Department (El Salvador).svg, La Libertad
File:Bandera del Departamento de La Paz ES.jpg, La Paz
La Paz (), officially known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Spanish pronunciation: ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With an estimated 816,044 residents as of 2020, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities ...
File:Departamento de La Unión.svg, La Unión
File:Flag of Morazán Department.svg, Morazán
File:Flag of San Miguel Department.png, San Miguel
File:Bandera de San Salvador (2021).svg, San Salvador
San Salvador (; ) is the capital and the largest city of El Salvador and its eponymous department. It is the country's political, cultural, educational and financial center. The Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, which comprises the capital i ...
File:Flag of San Vicente Department.svg, San Vicente
File:Bandera de Santa Ana, El Salvador.svg, Santa Ana
File:Bandera de sonsonate.png, Sonsonate
Sonsonate () is a city and municipality of El Salvador. It is the capital of the department of Sonsonate; on the Sensunapan River and the Pan-American Highway from San Salvador to the Pacific port of Acajutla
Acajutla is a seaport city in Sons ...
File:Flag of Usulatán Department.svg, Usulután
Usulután () is the fifth largest city in El Salvador, and capital of the Usulután Department in the south-east of El Salvador.
As of 2006, it is estimated to have population of 71,636 people. Usulután rests in a rich agricultural valley and ...
Historical flags of El Salvador
Historic Salvadoran flag displays
File:El salvador 1861.jpg, President Gerardo Barrios
José Gerardo Barrios Espinoza (24 September 1813 – 29 August 1865) was a liberal Salvadoran military general and politician who served as President of El Salvador
The president of El Salvador ( es, Presidente de El Salvador), officially ...
, El Salvador 1861, with an earlier version that inspired the modern flag
File:Secretary Pompeo Participates in Signing Ceremony for the CSL Lease Extension - 48342132177.jpg, U.S and El Salvador flags stand behind Mike Pompeo
Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American politician, diplomat, and businessman who served under President Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United State ...
and Nayib Bukele, in San Salvador, El Salvador, July 21, 2019.
File:Barack and Michelle Obama greet children during the arrival ceremony at Comalapa International Airport in San Salvador, 2011.jpg, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet children waving U.S and El Salvador flags during the arrival ceremony at Comalapa International Airport in San Salvador, El Salvador
File:President Francisco Flores El Salvador1.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed alongside former Salvadoran president Francisco Flores Pérez
Francisco Guillermo Flores Pérez (17 October 1959 – 30 January 2016) was a Salvadoran politician who served as President of El Salvador from 1 June 1999 to 1 June 2004 as a member of the conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA). ...
, 2001
File:REUNIÓN_REGIONAL_CENTROAMERICANA_DE_LA_CELAC_(16959877748).jpg, Flag of El Salvador (center) displayed at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...
File:Hospital El Salvador 2020.jpg, Salvadoran flag stand in front of Hospital El Salvador
The Hospital El Salvador is a major hospital in San Salvador, El Salvador, and is planned to be the largest hospital in Latin America. The first phase was constructed between March and June 2020 as a conversion of the (''Centro Internacional de ...
File:Palacio Nacional (S.S. El salvador.).JPG, El Salvador flag on top of the National Palace in San Salvador
File:Salon Azul.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed on the legislative Palace Salon Azul, San Salvador
File:Sitio desde el cual, en la mañana del 5 de noviembre de 1811, lanzo el primer grito de independencia de centro america14 de diciembre de 1947..jpg, The Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed at the site from which, on the morning of November 5, 1811, the first cry for the independence of Central America was launched
File:Consolat de El Salvador a Barcelona - 006.jpg, The Coat of Arms of El Salvador displayed in the Barcelona consulate
File:Miami, The Torch of Friendship (13) El Salvador.jpg, The Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed in The Torch of Friendship
The Torch of Friendship is a monument located on Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami, Florida, United States, at the northwest corner of Bayfront Park.
Built in 1960, The Torch of Friendship was built to signify the passageway for immigrants ...
monument in Downtown Miami, Florida
File:Comando de apoyo de transmisiones, SV.JPG, Coat of arms of El Salvador displayed on the El Zapote Military Museum, San Salvador
File:V República de El Salvador, Nazaret, Israel, 2017.jpg, The coat of arms of El Salvador displayed on Virgin Our Lady of Peace in Nazaret, Israel
File:Escudosalvadoreñovirgendelapaz.png, The Coat of Arms of El Salvador displayed on Virgin Our Lady of Peace in the Cathedral Basilica of Queen of Peace, San Miguel
The Cathedral Basilica of Queen of Peace ( es, Catedral-Basílica Reina de la Paz), also called San Miguel Cathedral, is a Catholic church located in the city of San Miguel, El Salvador.
In 1740 the mayor of San Salvador, Manuel Gálvez del Co ...
File:Original United Nations.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed in the First UN poster, August 1942, Wartime poster for the Allies of World War II
The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during the Second World War (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy. ...
, created in 1942 by the US Office of War Information, showing the 26 members of the alliance, Declaration by United Nations
The Declaration by United Nations was the main treaty that formalized the Allies of World War II and was signed by 47 national governments between 1942 and 1945. On 1 January 1942, during the Arcadia Conference, the Allied " Big Four"—the Unite ...
File:United Nations Fight for Freedom poster.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed in Wartime poster for the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
, created in 1941 by the US Office of War Information. The United Nations fight for freedom. Poster depicts an etching of the Statue of Liberty on a black background on the left side of the poster. On the right there are pictures of flags of 30 countries. Poster has black background with white text at the top of the page and a white border all around.
File:Naciones Unidas 3.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed in Wartime poster for the Allies of World War II
The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during the Second World War (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy. ...
, created in 1943 by the US Office of War Information. Poster created during the Second World War (1943), according to the Declaration of the United Nations of 1942. The Poster, created by United States Office of War Information
The United States Office of War Information (OWI) was a United States government agency created during World War II. The OWI operated from June 1942 until September 1945. Through radio broadcasts, newspapers, posters, photographs, films and other ...
and made by United States Government Printing Office
The United States Government Publishing Office (USGPO or GPO; formerly the United States Government Printing Office) is an agency of the legislative branch of the United States Federal government. The office produces and distributes information ...
. The poster features the flags of those countries or governments-in-exile that pledged to support the Allied effort the on-going war machine that the United Nations represented.
File:"Flags of Maritime Nations" - NARA - 514266.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed in "Flags of Maritime Nations" between 1941 and 1945
File:UNITED NATIONS - FLAGS - NARA - 515899.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed in "UNITED NATIONS FLAGS" between 1941 and 1945
File:Flags of the United Nations - NARA - 5729947.jpg, Flag of El Salvador displayed in (Flags of the United Nations), 7 May 1953
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:El Salvador, Flag of
El Salvador
El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...
El Salvador
El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...
National symbols of El Salvador