Flag of Peru

The flag of Peru is a rectangular cloth with red stripes of equal size on both sides of the flag and a central white stripe. The flag has two uses: for the state and the army, the white stripe depicts the country's coat of arms, while the population uses a simple three-striped form without a coat of arms. The first use of the flag dates back to 1821, when Peruvian independence was declared, but the flag was officially approved during the reign of Simon Bolivar by the Peruvian Congress on February 25, 1825.

Meaning of the flag of Peru

• The red color symbolizes the struggle for independence and the sacrifices of heroes. This color is also associated with the parihuana, the flamingo that inspired General San Martin;
• White symbolizes purity and peace, showing Peru's desire for harmony and unity. It contrasts with the red color, expressing the balance between the country's difficult past and its hopes for a peaceful future.

The Peruvian coat of arms consists of three fields that symbolize the country's natural resources: flora, fauna, and minerals:

• In the upper left part, a vicuña, an animal resembling a llama, a species of artiodactyl mammal belonging to the genus Lama, which lives in South America, is depicted on a blue background;
• On the right, on a white background, is the Cinchona tree, which represents Peru's rich mineral resources. The tree is also used for the production of medicines, so it is of great importance in the symbolism of the coat of arms, as it was useful during the malaria epidemic;
• In the lower red part of the shield is a golden horn of plenty, representing the realm of minerals.

The crown above the shield symbolizes Peru's victory in battles, and the intertwined palm and laurel branches symbolize justice and peace.

History of the Peruvian flag

The Peruvian flag is one of the country's symbols, but its origin is not entirely clear. In 1821, the flag was officially raised on the square in Lima during the declaration of independence. According to some versions, Jose de San Martin, the general who liberated the country, saw his future army with red bird wings. He decided to choose the red color of the ceremonial flag as a sign of military merit. There are other versions that claim that the colors were chosen based on the flags of Chile and Argentina, countries he also liberated. Some also believe that this choice of colors was related to San Martin's sympathy for monarchical governments. All of these versions have their own logic, and it is still impossible to find one reliable explanation. But the Peruvian flag remains a symbol of national pride and independence.

The first Peruvian flag was created in 1820. According to the decree, the Peruvian national flag was to be a silk or linen cloth. The flag was divided by diagonal lines into four fields: white - upper and lower triangles and red sides. In the center of the flag was an oval laurel wreath depicting the sun rising behind mountain ranges that towered over the calm sea.

However, in 1822 the flag was changed by the 4th Marquis of Torre Tagle. According to the new decree, the national flag of Peru consisted of two horizontal red stripes of equal width with a white stripe in the middle. The flag also features a red sun. These changes were made after the creation of a new government in Peru by the will of the people. Thus, the Peruvian flag changed, but the sun as a symbol of the sunny Inca Empire remained in its design.

In 1822, the Peruvian flag was changed because of its similarity to the Spanish flag, which made it difficult to distinguish it in armies. The new version of the flag included three vertical stripes, with a central white stripe and two red stripes at the edges. The sun, which was on the previous flag, was placed on the white stripe in the center. In 1825, the Constituent Congress of Peru approved a new flag consisting of three vertical stripes: the outer stripes were red and the central one was white. In the center was the coat of arms. Until at least 1950, when dictator Manuel Odria made changes, the flag with the coat of arms was used as the national flag, and the flag without the coat of arms was intended for traders.