Page 25 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World
P. 25

North America


          Guatemala


          Ratio: 5:8   Adopted: August 17, 1871   Usage: National and State

          Blue and white are
          the colors of the
          original flag of the
          United Provinces
          of Central                                         The coat of
          America
                                                             arms was adopted
                                                             in 1968







          North America
                         Guatemala declared independence at the same
           -EXICO  "EE E ELIZE
                         time as Mexico and, in 1823, became part of a
                         union with the other Central American states.

          In Guatemala the flag of the United   THE QUETZAL BIRD
          Provinces of Central America,     The new coat of arms shows the
          horizontal stripes of blue, white, blue   quetzal, Guatemala’s most famous
          was used until 1851, when a pro-  bird, standing on a scroll giving
          Spanish government added the red  the date of the Declaration of
          and yellow of Spain to the flag. On   Independence. The present form
          August 17, 1871, the original colors   of the arms was adopted in 1968.
          were restored as vertical stripes, and   When used at sea for civil purposes,
          with Guatemala’s own coat of arms.  the flag does not contain the arms.



          ARMS OF GUATEMALA                               The quetzal bird
                                                          with its distinctive
                 The date of the                          tail-feathers is a
                  Declaration of                          symbol of liberty
                   Independence


                Rifles and swords
                represent defence
                     of freedom



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