The current version of the flag of Venezuela was adopted on March 26, 2006. It consists of the horizontal tri-colors yellow, blue, red with eight white stars on the central blue stripe and the coat of arms on the top left corner. The official flag was first hoisted on August 3rd, and before 2006, the country celebrated its flag day on this day. However, after 2006, Flag Day was changed to March 12 after the recent modifications.
Similar to most countries, Venezuela has a history of a variety of flags that have been used over time. The first flag dates back to the 16th century and consisted of the Cross of Burgundy. This flag represented the then Kingdom of Granada which was under the Spanish rule. Additionally, it symbolized the Viceroyalty of Peru. In 1717, the Spanish colony was officially renamed as the Viceroyalty of New Granada. The new name came with the adoption of a new flag that consisted of red-yellow-red horizontal tricolor. At the center of the flag was the Spanish insignia, which was an oval shape and within it was a red lion on a white background and a golden castle on a red background. On top of the oval design was the crown of Spain. This flag was in use even when the region attained some level of freedom from Spain and became the Captaincy General of Venezuela.
In 1797, Manuel Gual and José María España came up with a strategy to overthrow the Spanish rule. As a result, the two revolutionaries proposed a flag with the colors white, yellow, blue, and red. Later, in 1801, Francisco de Miranda proposed a banner consisting of the horizontal colors black-red-yellow. Initially, he had opted for red, yellow, and blue but later on changed his decision. Miranda is hailed as one of the most resilient Creole heroes. He kept fighting for the independence of the country and as such, is hailed as the Creator of the National Flag.
Venezuela attained independence on July 5, 1811, and adopted a new flag with unequal yellow-blue-red stripes. At the top-left corner was a canton depicting an Indian female holding a lance with a Phrygian cap, while sitting on some mound looking at a sunset. Variants of this flag were used as the country continued to fight for their independence against the Spanish. In 1813, a Second Republic was established after the end of a civil war. This second republic introduced a new flag that consisted of a red background with a white diamond at the center. Within the diamond was a black rectangle. This flag was in use briefly as the republic ended in 1814.
1817 marked the establishment of the 3rd Republic of Venezuela. A new flag consisting of yellow, dark blue, red horizontal tri-color with seven blue five-pointed stars on the top yellow stripe. In 1819, Venezuela joined the New Granada to form Gran Colombia. The flag of the new territory consisted of tri-colors yellow, light blue and red. At the upper left corner was a shield depicting the Indian woman overlooking the Sunset. At the time, the region was torn between Venezuela’s royalist versus the republicans. In 1820, the shield on the flag was altered to feature the arms of Cundinamarca. Venezuela officially gained independence from Spain as part of Gran Colombia and the horizontal yellow, blue, red flag gained a new coat of arms which consisted of a blue circle with a white border and laurel wreath. At the centre of the blue shield were two horns of plenty, an axe, bow, and arrows. This was the third flag of Gran Colombia between 1821 to 1822.
In 1822, the fourth flag of Gran Colombia consisted of a different coat of arms, which was a red-yellow-blue shield with a white horse on the red field and broken staph on the yellow area. Above the shield were three stars surrounded by a bird, an Ornico, and Magdalana. The stars on the flag increased from three to six to nine, and later on, twelve as Venezuela separated from Gran Colombia in 1830. From 1830 to 1836, independent Venezuela was known as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The flag maintained the original yellow-light blue-red horizontal stripes with a different coat of arms at its center. Later, in 1836, a separate flag was adopted. This flag consisted of a yellow, dark-blue, red horizontal stripe, and a coat of arms at the top left corner. Moreover, the coat of arms was a shield split into three portions as follows.
In 1859, the coat of arms of the flag was replaced with seven blue five-pointed stars, that represented the provinces that made up Venezuela in 1811. Thirteen more stars were added to the flag in the same year. In 1863, the blue stars were removed in favor of seven white, five-pointed stars at the center of the flag, on the blue stripe. In 1905, the stars were adjusted again to form a circular design and again in 1930, the stars were altered to form an arch at the center of the flag. This flag was in use from 1930 to 1954. However, in 1954, the coat of arms was incorporated on the upper left corner of the flag. Later on, in 2006, an arch consisting of eight white five-pointed stars was incorporated into the banner.
Colors
The official meaning behind the colors of the flag are:
The white stars represent the 7 provinces that signed the Independence Act of July 5, 1811. These provinces were: Caracas, Mérida, Barcelona, Barinas, Cumaná, Margarita, & Trujillo. On March 7, 2006, an eighth star was incorporated in honor of the national hero Simón Bolívar, to represents the province of Guayana. The current flag, therefore, has eight five-pointed stars forming the arc.
Shape
The flag consists of width to length ratio of 2:3. The three horizontal stripes are of equal width. Moreover, the constitution stipulates that the stars are to be placed in an arc fashion. However, there are no specifications about the construction of the arc other than the stars should be placed on a horizontal center.
Emblem
The emblem that was officially adopted in 1836 was modified in 1954, and later in 2006. The name of the country was changed to “República Bolivariana de Venezuela.” The Shield in the Coat of Arms is divided into the colors of the national flag. The red section with the wheat image represents the union of the 20 states of the republic that existed in 1836 as well as the wealth of Venezuela. The yellow part consists of weapons (a sword, saber, three lances) plus two national flags held together with a branch of laurel and represents a triumph in war. The blue part consists of a white wild horse which symbolizes independence and freedom.
Above the shield are two crossed cornucopias pouring out wealth. Moreover, an olive branch and a palm appear on either side of the shield. These two plants are held at the bottom of the coat of arms with a large band made up of the national tri-colors yellow-red-blue.
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