What is its meaning and what does its colors represent?
The flag of the Republic of Ecuador is a symbol that represents Ecuador as a country and the Ecuadorian people worldwide. The flag, together with the shield and the national anthem, It is part of the main national symbols of Ecuador.
Flag It is rectangular in size, it has three horizontal stripes of colorswhich from top to bottom are ordered as follows: yellow, blue and red.
In the center is the coat of arms, which is customary to omit, according to a decree approved and signed as law on December 5, 1900, except when it is hoisted in government offices, embassies or diplomatic centers, ships of war and in the different national organizations.
Even municipal governments cannot use the flag with the shield. In this case, the governorates use a tricolor flag that in the center has a group of stars in circular order that represent the provinces of Ecuador.
The colors and design of the flag of Ecuadorlike the flags of Colombia and Venezuela, derived from the flag of Gran Colombiawhen together with Panama they formed this country that existed legally during the year 1821 until 1831.
This flag was designed by the Venezuelan Francisco de Mirada in 1811, who was a precursor of Spanish-American independence. Hence the origin of the tricolor and the general design of the flag of Ecuador, which recalls its history in Latin America.
Like any national symbol, The flag of Ecuador is also a reflection of the history of its country and the political and social processes experienced since and during its colonization by the Spanish, until its independence as a country.
The president of Ecuador in 1860, Dr. García Moreno, decreed on September 26 the tricolor flag as the official flag of the country.
Years later, on October 31, 1900, by the Executive and Legislative branches, the decree on the use of the tricolor flag, as we know it today, was ratified and issued.
Also, in the same year 1900 it was established under a Legislative decree that Every September 26, in Ecuador, the day of the national flag must be commemoratedas a symbol of fraternity, of political, social, civic balance and as the reach of the ideals of the Ecuadorian people.
Meaning of the colors of the flag of Ecuador
Each color of the flag of Ecuador has a meaning that is related to its history and therefore has a particular meaning.
Yellow: The yellow stripe occupies the upper half of the flag and symbolizes the fertility of the land and crops, as well as representing gold and the sun.
Blue: This stripe occupies half the size of the yellow stripe and symbolizes the color of the Ecuadorian ocean and sky.
Red: This stripe is the same size as the blue stripe and symbolizes the blood shed in combat by the heroes who fought for their country and its independence.
Shield meaning
The coat of arms of Ecuador is located in the center of the flag. It is an Ecuadorian symbol that was approved on the 6th in 1845 and officially adopted under regulations in 1900. Its artistic design belongs to Pedro Pablo Traversari.
The shield is oval in shape and is made up of: at the top is the Andean condor that defeats any enemy and protects the people with its wings, then there is the Sun that illuminates the lands of Ecuador and, around it, the symbols that represent the months of March, April, May and June.
In the center you can see the snow-capped Chimborazo volcano and the Guayas River, and at the bottom you can see a boat covered with the tricolor of the national flag.
On the sides are located wooden poles that have the national flag attached to them in order to represent authority. On the right side there is a laurel branch and, on the left, a palm leaf.