Ecuador Flag
Ecuador's
flag design is one of the oldest in the world, having been in use since
around
1860. The bright yellow, red and blue bands and the coat of
arms in the centre are all symbolically significant. However,
no-one seems to agree exactly on the symbolism of the colours - search
under 'Ecuador flag' or "Ecuador flag design" on the web and you will
find a variety of
explanations and stories about the meaning of the various components of
the flag.
Ecuador's
national flag consists of a yellow top half and the bottom half split
horizontally into bands of blue and then red at the bottom, with a coat
of arms superimposed in the middle. Common themes amongst the
variety of opinions about the symbolism of the colours in the
flag design include:
Yellow: variously said to
symbolise gold, abundant harvests, fertility or the Federation
of Greater Colombia.
(Ecuador was for a time in its history part of the Federation
of Greater Colombia).
Blue: the blue band on
Ecuador's flag is sometimes said to represent the sky and the
sea, which is fairly non-contentious. That it also represents
Ecuador's independence from the Spanish Conquistadores is a
rather more vague explanation with no clear indication of why blue
should symbolise this.
Red: the red band is
claimed to represent the blood spilt in the fight for
Ecuador's independence, which seems reasonably logical.
Other opinions have the red band on the Ecuador flag
representing
courage.
The coat of arms appears
in the middle of Ecuador's flag, on top of the yellow and
blue bands. The national coat of arms features
the condor (the
national bird), Mount Chimborazo (Ecuador's highest peak) and South
America's first steamboat chugging along the River Guayas.
Cities and provinces also
have their
own flags in Ecuador. Quito's red and blue flag,
often adorned with the words ¡Viva Quito! (Long live Quito!),
is flown by households around the city at the time of the Fiestas
de Quito.
Ecuador's flag
is a symbol of national pride and you will see it many times as you
travel around the country. Most government offices have a
national flag and patriotic citizens often fly the flag on public
holidays, when Ecuador flags flap merrily from schools,
office buildings and private homes.
If you're looking for
Ecuador flags for sale, head for a sports stadium on the day of a
football match - supporters often
drape
themselves in the national or city flag when attending
matches. This is your best opportunity to buy flags
cheaply and easily in Ecuador.
The Day of the National
Flag in Ecuador is 26th
September. In the Costa, the day (or the nearest school day)
is
marked with a formal military ceremony in which students finishing
their primary or secondary education, or military school, swear their
allegiance to the flag. The student with the highest marks
carries the flag and the students promise to defend the flag and their
national territory. The oath is sealed by kissing the hem of
the
flag. In the Sierra and the Oriente, this ceremony, the
"Juramento a la Bandera" (Oath to the Flag), takes place on
the 27th February, in memory of the Battle of Tarqui.
National
Flag of Ecuador
Ecuador's flag - design and symbolism of the
national flag and coat of arms. Quito flag. Where
to buy flags in Ecuador.
Day of
the National Flag, oath of allegiance, Juramento de la Bandera.
