Flag of Guatemala

Flag origins

Guatemala’s flag has light blue-white-light blue vertical bands with central arms. Blue is associated with the Pacific and Caribbean flanking the country and with the sky; white with peace and purity. The arms include a quetzal for freedom; a scroll with LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821, marking independence; rifles for willingness to defend freedom; swords for justice and honor; and laurel for victory. September 15, 1821, is the date when Guatemala and other Central American territories became independent from Spain, officially commemorated by the government.

Flag story

The quetzal, with its striking long tail feathers, was special in ancient Maya civilization and is now Guatemala’s national bird and a symbol of freedom. It also names the currency, the quetzal: bird, arms and money all share this national emblem. Some versions of the scroll spell September SETIEMBRE rather than SEPTIEMBRE. The government explains that this is not a typo, but a historical spelling still accepted in Spanish.

Editorial notes and references

Edited by ABELHA WORKS. The English text translates the administrator-edited Japanese description. Legends should be distinguished from documented history. General reference links do not substantiate every statement in the text.

• Guatemala — general information on Wikipedia
• Japan MOFA: countries and regions (Japanese)

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