Flag of Puerto Rico
The national flag of Puerto Rico consists of five equally sized horizontal bands of red and white. These bands are alternating with red at the top and bottom edges of the flag. On the hoist side is a blue isosceles triangle with its base on the hoist and bearing a large white 5-pointed star at its center.
Symbolism
The Puerto Rican flag was initially influenced by the colors of the American flag, and colors that are also found in the flag of its Caribbean neighbor, Cuba. The colors and symbols on the Puerto Rican flag are interpreted as follows:
- Red stripes: represents the blood sacrificed by brave warriors;
- White stripes: symbolizes the victory and peace after independence;
- White star: represents the island of Puerto Rico;
- Blue: represents the sky and the coastal waters;
- Triangle: symbolizes the three branches of government. The colors on the Puerto Rican flag may also be interpreted in accordance with ancient and Heraldic traditions:
- white: symbolizes peace and honesty;
- red: signifies strength, hardiness, bravery, and valor;
- blue: stands for vigilance truth, loyalty, perseverance, and justice.
Specifications
Although specific shades of red and blue have been set for the reproduction of the flag, the shade of blue may sometimes correspond to the flat-flyer’s political views. Flags reproduced by pro-independence groups use sky blue while pro-commonwealth and pro-statehood groups use darker shades of blue.
History
The first flag that ever flew on the shores of Puerto Rico was the flag of Christopher Columbus as appointed to him by the Spanish crown. After claiming the island for Spain, the conquistadores proceeded to conquer and colonize the island. The flag of Spain flew over the colony as its official ensign.
The Spanish armed forces established numerous military forts in the island, such as Fort San Felippe El Morro, La Fortaleza, Fort San Cristobal, and San Geronimo. Flying over these military installations was the Burgundy Cross, which the Spanish army had created and adopted as their official standard.
Just as when Simon Bolivar and José de San Martín have succeeded in their fight for liberation in South America, the independence movement in Puerto Rico had also gained momentum. One of the revolutionary flags used during its fight for independence was a flag with a yellow star on the upper left corner. It was used in the brief rebellion against Spain, which was dubbed as El Grito de Lares.
From 1873 to 1898, Puerto Rico used a colonial flag that resembled the flag of Spain wherein the coat of arms of Puerto Rico was set at the center.
The present design of the Puerto Rican flag has its roots in the revolutionary movements against Spain. The design for the flag has been credited to Francisco Gonzalo Marin. The flag’s design was basically an inversion of the colors of the Cuban flag. Marin presented this Puerto Rican flag model to the Puerto Rican Revolutionary Committee in 1895 and was adopted unanimously. This version of the Puerto Rican flag, with the light blue triangle, came to symbolize the ideals of the independence movement.
However, the Puerto Rican flag had to wait before it gained recognition as a national flag and publicly displayed. The Puerto Rican flag was strictly forbidden to be displayed in public places from1898 to 1952. The flag of the United States was the only flag permitted to be flown in the island.
In 1948, the United States consented to the election of a governor for Puerto Rico. The newly elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, adopted Marín’s version of the Puerto Rican flag and declared it as the island’s official national flag. This version had a dark blue triangle, similar to that of the hue used in the United States flag.
