FLAG OF COSTA RICA: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY

The flag of Costa Rica is the official flag that identifies this Central American nation nationally and internationally. It has three colors: blue, white and red. They symbolize the sky of Costa Rica, the peace of its territory and the love and blood shed for independence, respectively.

The flag has five horizontal stripes and its proportions are 1: 1: 2: 1: 1. The entire canopy is 3: 5 ratio. This design was made in 1848 by Ms. Pacifica Fernández Oreamuno, wife of the founder of the Republic of Costa Rica, José María Castro Madriz.

Costa Rica's flag. (By Drawn by User: SKopp, rewritten by User: Gabbe, from Wikimedia Commons).

The design was inspired by the flag of France. Since 1906 it has only undergone certain modifications in the national coat of arms. Before this, the 1848 flag was very similar, but with slightly different proportions and brighter tones.

Various flags represented Costa Rica throughout history. In colonial times it had the flag of Spain. Later, being part of the Mexican Empire, it also had a flag. The same happened when it was part of the United Provinces of Central America. However, since 1824 the country has used its own flag.

History of the flag

For much of the colonial period, Costa Rica was the southernmost province of the Captaincy General of Guatemala. In 1785, King Carlos III adopted a new Spanish insignia. This symbol was used in the colonial dependencies, and consequently, in Costa Rica.

The flag was made up of three stripes. Two thin red stripes were located one on the top edge and one on the bottom. In the center was a yellow stripe, which was twice as wide as the other stripes. On it was located, on the left side, the coat of arms of Spain.

Flag of the Kingdom of Spain, used in the Captaincy General of Guatemala (1785-1821). (By previous version User: Ignaciogavira; current version HansenBCN, designs from SanchoPanzaXXI, via Wikimedia Commons).

Mexican empire

Throughout Latin America, at the beginning of the 19th century, independence movements began to arise. With respect to the Viceroyalty of New Spain, after more than a decade of war of independence, the Mexican Empire was formed.

This was a short monarchy and the first independent empire of post-colonial America. The country was born after the signing of the Córdoba Treaties in 1821, in which the Independence of Mexico was consummated.

The territory that included the First Mexican Empire was the one corresponding to the continental part of the old Viceroyalty of New Spain. The provinces of the Captaincy General of Guatemala joined the Mexican Empire, with Costa Rica being its extreme south.

The Empire was dissolved with the proclamation of the Casa Mata Plan in February 1823, which became a coup against its only emperor, Agustín de Iturbide. Each of the Central American provinces separated from the Empire and all of them created their own federation.

The flag used by the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide consisted of three vertical stripes in green, white and red. In the white strip was located the coat of arms that was presided over by the crowned eagle.

Flag of the Mexican Empire (1821-1823). (ByAldoEZ, fromWikimediaCommons).

Province of Costa Rica (1823-1824)

Later, in 1823, Costa Rica was part of the United Provinces of Central America. This new country was established after the separation of the Mexican Empire, with all the provinces of the Captaincy General of Guatemala.

Currently these territories are called Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala and the Mexican state of Chiapas. This country was constituted as a republic that existed from 1823 to 1841.

Between 1823 and 1824, the province of Costa Rica used a flag. The Provisional Assembly of Costa Rica approved it on May 10, 1823. It agreed on a white flag with a red six-pointed star located in the center. On June 8 of that year it was established by decree.

Flag of the province of Costa Rica (1823-1824). (By No machine-readable author provided. Nightstallion assumed (based on copyright claims)., ViaWikimediaCommons).

Federal period

Costa Rica was a full member of the United Provinces of Central America. For this reason, she used the national symbols established after the National Constituent Assembly.

According to decree No. 29 of August 21, 1823, the flag was made up of three horizontal stripes. Its colors were light blue for the upper and lower stripes and white for the central one.

In the center of the white strip was the coat of arms with the characteristics established in the same decree. This symbol was inspired by the flag of Argentina.

Flag of the United Provinces of Central America (1823-1824). (By Huhsunqu, via Wikimedia Commons).

Province of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America) (1824)

On November 2, 1824, the Constituent Congress of the State of Costa Rica was held in San José. In this Decree XV was issued that created the first coat of arms. Each province that was part of the United Provinces of Central America had to establish its own symbols.

This shield was made up of a circle of volcano ridges. In the center of these mountain ranges was located a bare arm and chest. These symbolized the delivery of the heart of the inhabitants of the province towards their brothers, as well as the consecration of their arm in defense of the homeland.

Around the circle was the inscription in capital letters “ESTADO LIBRE DE COSTA RICA”. This new coat of arms was located in the lower azure blue strip, aligned with the coat of arms of the United Provinces of Central America.

Flag of the Free State of Costa Rica in the United Provinces of Central America. (1824). (By No machine-readable author provided. Nightstallion assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons). (1824).

Federal Republic of C

After the Constituent Assembly of the United Provinces of Central America, which took place on November 22, 1824, the Federal Republic of Central America emerged. This new country was born thanks to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Central America of 1824.

The Federation was made up of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In 1838 the state of Los Altos was formed, made up of the city of Quetzaltenango, its capital, western Guatemala and Soconusco de Chiapas, in present-day Mexico. It also included part of the jungle region of Belize.

In 1824, a new design for the national flag was also adopted. The three light blue, white and light blue stripes were maintained. The difference was the change in the coat of arms. This happened to be oval and to be located in the white strip right in the center.

Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America (1824-1839). (By Huhsunqu, via Wikimedia Commons).

Free State of Costa Rica, belonging to the Federal Republic of Central America (1824-1840)

The Free State of Costa Rica was the internal political entity that governed the Costa Rican territory while it was part of the Federal Republic of Central America. During this period, Costa Rica again acquired in 1824 a flag clearly inspired by the federal flag.

This flag kept the design of the three horizontal light blue and white stripes. In the white strip the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Central America was located. The coat of arms of the State of Costa Rica was located in the azure blue strip. This had been decreed on November 2, 1824.

Flag of the Free State of Costa Rica (1824-1840). (By No machine-readable author provided. Nightstallion assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

State of Costa Rica (1840-1842)

The internal situation of the Federal Republic of Central America was turbulent, with a civil war between the provinces and, in the case of Costa Rica, the threat of the expansion of Colombia. All this context resulted in the dictator Braulio Carrillo Colina declared the country's independence in 1838, with the name of the State of Costa Rica.

On April 21, 1840, new symbols were decreed: flag and shield. According to Decree XVI, the banner was made up of three horizontal stripes. The order was of two white stripes at the ends and a central azure blue stripe.

In the center of the azure blue stripe was located the shield described in the same decree. Around him, the phrase: STATE OF COSTA RICA, in silver letters.

Flag of the State of Costa Rica. (1840-1842). (By No machine-readable author provided. Nightstallion assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

Second flag of the State of Costa Rica (1842-1848)

In 1842, General Francisco Morazán overthrew the government of Braulio Carrillo Colina. Morazán was against the separation of Costa Rica from the Federation while Carrillo supported it.

Morazán was overthrown and was unable to carry out his re-annexation project. Since then, turbulent years have arisen full of elections and unstable governments.

However, in 1842 the flag of the independent and unstable country was modified. On this occasion, the colors of the stripes were reversed. In this way, its design is similar to that of the Federal Republic of Central America.

Flag of the State of Costa Rica (1842-1848). (By No machine-readable author provided. Nightstallion assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

Republic of Costa Rica (1848-1906)

In 1848 José María Castro Madriz won the elections and called a new Constituent Assembly. This proclaimed the Reformed Constitution of 1848, which founded the Republic of Costa Rica.

During the presidency of José María Castro Madriz, on September 29, 1848, Decree No. 147 was issued. As a consequence, the current national flag and coat of arms were created.

This decree established that the flag would be a tricolor with five horizontal stripes. A red stripe occupied the center, above and below it, two white stripes are located. These stripes are followed by a dark blue. In the center of the flag was the Coat of Arms of the Republic.

Flag of the Republic of Costa Rica (1848-1906). (By HansenBCN, from Wikimedia Commons).

Traditionally it is said that the design of this flag was made by Mrs. Pacifica Fernández Oreamuno. She was the wife of the first president of Costa Rica, José María Castro Madriz. The design was inspired by the flag of France of that time. Currently, this design is still valid.

Republic of Costa Rica (1906-1964)

Since 1848, five stars were established within the Coat of Arms. The flag was modified on November 27, 1906 in matters related to the shield. So, the branches on the sides were removed, it was made a little more stylized and placed within a white oval to the left of the banner.

Additionally, the blue stripes became darker and narrower. The white stripes were also reduced. For its part, the central red stripe remained the widest but its tone was not as bright as in the previous design.

Flag of the Republic of Costa Rica (1906-1964). (ByTcfc2349 (original uploaded Joins2003), via Wikimedia Commons).

Republic of Costa Rica (1964-1998)

For 1964, the Costa Rican flag presented a new change. The overall design remained the same, with the same colors and sizes. However, the modification occurred because the number of stars on the Coat of Arms increased. They went from five stars to seven, to reflect the increase in the provinces of Costa Rica.

On August 1, 1902 and under Legislative Decree No. 59, the seventh and last of the provinces was established. However, this was reflected on the national flag more than half a century later.

Flag of the Republic of Costa Rica (1964-1998). (By Tcfc2349 (original uploaded Joins2003), via Wikimedia Commons).

Current flag

The current flag adopted in 1998, preserves the design of the previous ones in terms of the color and size of each of the stripes. The only difference is that it does not include the national coat of arms anywhere.

Meaning of the flag

The Costa Rican flag is made up of three colors located in horizontal stripes. The largest is a central red stripe, but there is also an upper and lower stripe in white and two others in blue. The proportions of the stripes are translated into 1: 1: 2: 1: 1. The entire banner has a 3: 5 ratio.

The blue of the flag represents the sky of Costa Rica. The white stripes represent the peace that was achieved in the nation. Finally, red symbolizes the love of life and the shedding of Costa Rican blood for freedom. In addition, this color also symbolizes the generous attitude of its inhabitants.

Similar flags

It is common to find similar designs among the flags of the world. The flag of Thailand bears a strong resemblance to the flag of Costa Rica. It is made up of five stripes.

The order of their colors is red, white, blue, white, and red. The proportions between these horizontal stripes are 1: 1: 2: 1: 1. The colors of the Thai flag are reversed with respect to the Costa Rican.

Thailand flag. (By Zscout370, via Wikimedia Commons).

The flag of North Korea also bears some similarity, however it may differ a bit more. This is made up of five horizontal stripes. The order of the colors is blue, white, red, white and blue.

On the North Korean flag, the blue stripes are narrow and run at the edges. The central and widest stripe is red. Between it and the blue ones are small white stripes. To the left of the red stripe is a red five-pointed star on a white circle.

Flag of North Korea. (By Original: SKoppVector: Zscout370, via Wikimedia Commons).

References

Beezley, W. (2011). Mexico in World History. United States of America, University Press. Recovered from books.google.co.ve.
Carvajal, M. (2014). The national symbols of Costa Rica and the educational approach. Electronic Magazine «Investigative News in Education», 14 (3), 1-29. Recovered from redalyc.org.
DK Publishing (2008). Complete Flags of the World. New York. Recovered from books.google.co.ve.
Knight, C. (1866). Republic of Costa Rica. Geography. English Cyclopaedia. London: Bradbury, Evans, & Co. Recovered from: babel.hathitrust.org.
Rankin, M. (2012). The History of Costa Rica. United States of America, Green Wood. Recovered from books.google.co.ve.
Smith, W. (2011). Flag of Costa Rica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Recovered from britannica.com.

FLAG OF COSTA RICA: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025