Hispanic Heritage Month

North AmericaNorte America

Mexico

The coat of arms is derived from an Aztec legend that their gods told them to build a city where they spot an eagle on a nopal (cactus) eating a serpent, which is now Mexico City.

Green: signifies hope and prosperityWhite: represents peace and harmonyRed: symbolizes the blood of Mexican heroes

Central AmericaCentro America

Belize

The flag of Belize consists of a royal blue base with a thin red horizontal stripe going across the top and bottom of the flag. In the middle of the Belize flag is a circular white base with an emblem on it. In the center of the white circle there is a coat of arms. On the left of the coat of arms there is a man holding an axe, and on the right side another man is holding an oar. Above the coat of arms there is a tree and below it is Belize's motto.

On the white circle is an inner green circle consisting of 50 olive leaves. The 50 leaves represent the year 1950, which was when Belize, which was formerly known as British Honduras, began its quest for independence from Britain. The country was renamed Belize in June of 1973. When independence was realized, the two red stripes were added to the country's previous flag. The Belize flag represents the unity of the nation's people.

Guatemala

In the Guatemalan flag's coat of arms, the crossed rifles indicate Guatemala's willingness to defend itself by war if need be; while the olive branches symbolize the preferred peace. The sky blue stripes represent the fact that Guatemala is located between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and the white stripe stands for the purity of the country's values and peace. Quetzal bird is the symbol of Independence and autonomy of the Nation.

El Salvador

The blue stripes represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; while the white stripe symbolizes peace. The state coat of arms on El Salvador's flag is based on the coat of arms of the former United Provinces of Central America. The coat of the arms shows a triangle which represents equality and the three branches of El Salvador's government. Inside the triangle are five volcanoes which symbolize the five former members of the federation, flanked by the blue of the ocean and sea. The triangle contains symbols of liberty, ideals of the people and peace, which are represented by a red cap, golden rays and the rainbow. The triangle also shows the date that El Salvador gained independence from Spain. Underneath the triangle lies El Salvador's national motto which translates in English to 'God, Union and Liberty'. The fourteen clusters of leaves represent the 14 departments or states of El Salvador.

Honduras

The blue stripes represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The five stars represent the five nations of the United States of Central America (Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala) and the hope that the nations may form a union again.

Nicaragua

The colors of the Nicaraguan flag originate from the flag of the former federation of the United Provinces of Central America. The two blue stripes represented the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; while white symbolizes peace. A modern interpretation indicates that the color blue symbolizes justice and loyalty; while the color white represents virtue and purity. The coat of arms features an equilateral triangle which represents equality. Inside the triangle are five volcanoes, which represent the five members of the federation. The triangle also contains symbols of liberty and peace - represented by a red Phrygian cap, white rays and rainbow.

Costa Rica

The colors of the Costa Rican flag represent different aspects of Costa Rica: The color blue represents the sky, opportunities at reach, intellectual thinking, perseverance, infinite, eternity, and ideals of the religious and spiritual desires; the color white symbolizes clear thinking, happiness, wisdom, power and beauty of the sky, initiative to search for new endeavors, and peace; and the color red represents the warmth of the Costa Rican people, their love of life, their blood shed for freedom, and their generosity.

Panama

The Panamanian flag's colors represent the two political parties of Panama, the Liberals (red) and the Conservatives (blue). The white symbolizes peace between them and the equal division of the colors states that they both govern the country at different times. The colors of the Panamanian flag also have alternative meanings. The blue represents the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea and red stands for the blood spilt for Panama's independence. The blue star represents the civic virtues of purity and honesty and the red star symbolizes the authority of the law. Together they represent loyalty and resilience.

South AmericaSur America

Columbia

There is no official meaning of the Colombian flag; however there are two popular theories on the meaning behind Colombia's flag's colors. One states that the yellow symbolizes sovereignty and justice; the blue stands for nobility, loyalty and vigilance; while the red represents valor, honor, generosity and victory through bloodshed. The second interpretation states the yellow stands for universal liberty; the blue for the equality of all races and social classes before God and the law; and red means fraternity. There is also a popular Colombian children's song which resonates - "yellow is our gold, blue is our vast seas and red is the blood that gave us our freedom".

Venezuela

The Venezuelan flag is based on one flown by independence fighters fighting against Spanish colonial rule. At that time the yellow represented the gold of the Americas, blue stood for the Atlantic Ocean which separated the new Americas from the bloody old world of Europe and Spain which is signified by red. A modern but similar meaning behind the Venezuelan flag states that the yellow represents new opportunities, the red symbolizes Spain, and the blue stands for the Atlantic Ocean, which separates the two. The seven stars represent the seven provinces that existed at the time of Venezuelan independence.

Ecuador

The red in the Ecuador flag represents the blood shed by the soldiers and martyrs in the battles for independence. The color blue stands for the color of the sea and sky; while the yellow symbolizes the abundance and fertility of the nation's crops and land.

Peru

The red stripes represent the blood spilt for Peruvian freedom; while the white stands for peace.

Chile

The red stripe represents the blood of patriots who fought for Chile's independence. The white stripe symbolizes the snow of the Andes Mountains; while the blue stripe represents the sky. The star on the flag stresses the fact that Chile is a Unitarian republic, and not a federal republic.

Bolivia

The red on the Bolivian flag represents the bravery of the Bolivian soldier. The green symbolizes the fertility of the land and the yellow represents the country's mineral resources.

Paraguay

The Paraguay flag's colors were inspired by the French flag and are considered the colors of liberty and independence. Separately, the red stripe symbolizes courage, equality and patriotism; the white represents unity, purity and peace; and blue stands for liberty, benevolence and truth. The front coat of arms represents May 14, 1811, the date of Paraguay's independence. The olive branch represents peace and the palm branch represents honor. The Treasury Seal on the reverse is a symbol of liberty.

Argentina

There are conflicting views on the meaning of the Argentine flag. One theory states that the blue represents the Rio de la Plata, (River of Silver) which is the widest river in the world and that the white represents the metal silver, as the word Argentina originates from the Latin word 'Argentum' which means silver. Early conquerors thought there were large quantities of silver hidden in Argentine's river's banks. Another theory of the Argentine flag colors state that they represent the Bourbon Dynasty of Spain, as Spain colonized Argentina in 1516. Argentina received its independence from the Spanish 300 years later in 1816.

Uruguay

The sun emblem is the 'Sun of May'; it is a symbol of freedom and independence. The nine stripes represent the nine provinces of Uruguay, which existed at the time of the flags creation.

Brazil

The colors green and yellow represent the Royal Houses of Bragança (Emperor Pedro I) and Habsburg (Empress Leopoldina). The stars on the blue circle represent the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the night of November 15, 1889, which is the day the Republic of Brazil was declared. Each of the 27 stars represents a different Brazilian state and the Federal District. The number of stars changes anytime a new state is created. When the Brazilian Republic was founded there were 21 stars. The star representing the Federal District is 'Sigma Octantis', and its position near the south celestial pole, makes it visible across most of Brazil all year round.

Caribbean IslandsIslas del Caribe

Cuba

The Cuban government's official version of the meaning of the Cuban flag states that - the blue stripes refer to the three old divisions of the island; and the two white stripes represent the strength of the independent ideal. The red triangle symbolizes equality, fraternity and freedom, as well as the blood shed in the island's struggle for independence. Finally, the white star symbolizes the absolute freedom among the Cuban people.

Puerto Rico

The design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversedAccording to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Puerto Rican flag represent the following:

White - peace and honestyRed - hardiness, bravery, strength & valourBlue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice

Dominican Republic

The blue in the Dominican Republic flag stands for liberty; the color red for the fire and bloodshed of the struggle for independence; and the white cross symbolizes the sacrifice of the people.

Trinidad and Tobago

The red base represents the vigor of the land in Trinidad and Tobago, the friendliness and courage of its people, and the sun. The black represents the unity and strength of the people, as well as the natural wealth of the country. The white represents the surrounding sea and the purity and equality of all people under the sun. Together, the colors represent earth, water and fire, which connect the nation's people to the past present and future

DOL

The color red

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The color blue

The color white

The color green

A. Peace and Purity

B. Land, Prosperity, Hope

C. Sky, Sea, Loyalty.

D. Strength, Honor, Bravery, Blood.

E. Freedom, Unity, Equality, Republic.

El color rojo

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

El color azul

El color blanco

El color verde

Demonstracion

A. Paz y pureza.

B. Vegetacion, prosperidad y esperanza.

C. Cielo, mar y lealtad.

D. Sangre, fuerza, honor, y valentia.

E. Libertad, union, igualdad y republica.