Flag of Panama

The national flag of Panama is the pride of the nation.

This is what the modern flag of Panama looks like:

Flag Day is celebrated on November 4, right after Independence Day.

History of the flag

The design of Panama’s first banner was created in 1823. It was a rectangle with 7 red and 6 yellow horizontal stripes of equal width. The upper left quarter was occupied by a blue rectangle with the image of two golden suns with rays diverging in different directions. The two suns represented two oceans. The band connecting them represented the Panama Canal.

However, the project was rejected by Manuel Guerrero, the state leader. Subsequently, members of the Guerrero family developed a new project, which was approved as the national symbol of the country. This happened in 1903. A year later it was temporarily approved by the Constituent Assembly. The flag of Panama was finally adopted in 1925.

From the beginning to the mid-60s of the 20th century, the Panama Canal Zone was under the U.S. flag. Only in 1964, through sacrifice, did the Panamanians achieve the right to fly their own flag next to the U.S. one. In 1977 an agreement was made with the U.S. under which the main part of the zone was returned to Panama’s rule. The zone itself, as a separate entity, was abolished. The U.S. involvement in the management of the zone had ended completely by 2000.

Description

Panama’s national symbol was described in a 1949 law.

It looks like this:

• Rectangular canvas, divided by horizontal and vertical lines into 4 equal rectangles.
• The upper left part, adjacent to the staff, has an image of a blue five-pointed star on a white field, in the center.
• The lower left part, adjacent to the staff, is blue.
• The upper right part, closest to the free edge, is red.
• The lower right part is white. In its center is an image of a red five-pointed star.
• The stars are in a vertical position.
• The ratio of width to length is 2:3.

The flag of Panama belongs to the so-called “flags of convenience. This economic-legal term means that the national government grants foreign ships the right to sail under the flag of their country. Panama has the oldest open ship registry in the world. Owners of merchant, fishing and other vessels, by registering in the registry, have certain advantages. And the government of Panama receives a lot of money to the budget.

Flag colours

Three colors:

• blue;
• red;
• white.

Meaning of colors and symbols of the flag

At the time of its creation and adoption, the colors blue and red corresponded to the two most influential parties, the conservatives and liberals. The staggered arrangement of the colors reflected the alternation of the parties in power. The symbol of peace between them was white.

Later a new interpretation appeared. Blue began to additionally denote the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which washed the coast of the country. And the red represents the blood of the heroes who fought for independence.

The blue star signifies honesty and purity, and the red signifies the rule of law and state power. According to another version, the stars stand for the major cities of Colón and Panama, which are located at the entrance to the Panama Canal.

General information about Panama

Map of Panama