FLAG OF HONDURAS: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Honduras is the national symbol of this Central American nation. It is made up of three horizontal stripes of the same size. The two of the ends are blue, while the central one is white. In the middle of the pavilion there are five five-pointed stars, also blue.

Like the other Central American homelands, the Honduran flag has the colors blue and white. These have their origin in the Central American federation that existed in the 19th century, after achieving independence. Since 1866, the five stars have become the distinctive symbol of the Honduran flag, which has been modified four times since then.

Honduras flag. (by SKopp from Wikimedia Commons).

One of the main meanings of the flag corresponds to the two oceans that surround Central America. In this way, a blue band would represent the Pacific Ocean and the other the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, blue is also identified with the sky, love, justice and brotherhood.

The white, in addition to symbolizing peace, represents the good actions that frame patriotism, as well as goodness and the nation. Finally, the stars represent Central American unity, representing the five countries that made up the federation.

History of the flag

Like the entire American continent, before the arrival of the Spanish, the current territory of Honduras was populated by different aboriginal groups. For much of the time, the territory was under the influence of the Mayans. However, at the time of the arrival of the Spanish, the Lencas were the most widespread aboriginal group in the country.

The first contact with the Europeans of the present territory of Honduras took place in the last trip of Christopher Columbus, when he arrived to the island of Guanaja and later to Punta Caxinas. The conquest of Honduras began in 1524 with the founding of San Gil de Buena Vista and the beginning of the armed struggle against the indigenous people of the place.

Spanish colonization

The first Spanish governor of Honduras arrived in 1526. However, the formal annexation of the territory to the Captaincy General of Guatemala was delayed until 1539, after the defeat of different indigenous groups. From the first moment, the flag that Spain used in the Spanish colonies was that of the Cross of Burgundy.

Burgundy Cross Flag (By Ningyou., From Wikimedia Commons).

In 1785, the Spanish King Carlos III made the decision to modify the symbols of the Crown and the country, focusing on its naval purposes. In this way, the red-and-yellow flag was born.

Its composition was of three stripes, in which the two of the extremes are red and the central yellow. The simplified royal coat of arms was included to the left of the central strip. This flag was in force until the independence of Central America.

Naval flag and national flag of Spain (1785-1873) (1875-1931). (By previous version User: Ignaciogavira; current version HansenBCN, designs from SanchoPanzaXXI, via Wikimedia Commons).

Mexican empire

The beginning of the 19th century in Latin America implied the end of Spanish colonial rule in the territory. The Viceroyalty of New Spain, which from Mexico City encompassed a territory that included its greater limit on the borders with the United States to Panama, was not exempt from this movement.

Mexico spent more than a decade in a war with different emancipatory movements emerging in different parts of the country, carried out by various leaders.

By 1821, finally the independence managed to consolidate in Mexico through a monarchical figure. After an unsuccessful attempt to find a European prince to rule Mexico, Agustín de Iturbide proclaimed himself emperor and thus the First Mexican Empire was born.

Central America declared its independence on September 15, 1821, but this was very short-lived, because in November of that year Iturbide expressed his will to annex Central America to the territory of the empire. After positions found in Central America, this union was consummated.

However, the duration of the Mexican Empire was short, because in 1823 the Casa Mata Plan ended the political unity and overthrew the emperor. That implied that Central America was grouped in a federation.

Flag of the Mexican Empire

In those two years, the Mexican Empire had a flag with three vertical stripes of equal size. Their colors were green, white and red. In the center of the symbol the coat of arms was included, highlighting among its symbols the eagle crowned on the nopal. Mexico still maintains a similar flag.

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

United Provinces of Central America

The end of the Mexican Empire led to a change in the political regime in Central America, which ceased to depend on Mexico in every sense. From Guatemala a new state was constituted: the United Provinces of Central America, which grouped all the previous provinces of the Captaincy General of Guatemala.

On August 21, 1823, the Central American federation made its new symbols official. The flag of the United Provinces maintained three symmetrical horizontal stripes, the light blue at the ends and the white at the center.

The most prominent symbol of the flag was the coat of arms. This included a landscape where the sea is appreciated. Inside it, it was located in a triangle that shows a mountain, with a sun, a rainbow and a Phrygian cap.

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

Federal Republic of Central America

The Central American Constituent Assembly decreed the creation of the Federal Republic of Central America, which replaced the previous United Provinces. This change occurred on November 22, 1824, and implied a federal association between Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The creation of this state led to a modification of the previous national symbol. Now, the federation kept the three stripes and the colors of its flag, but changing the shield. The shape of the shield was modified to an oval, having branches that border it in the upper part.

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

Independence of Honduras

The Federal Republic of Central America faced numerous internal problems, which led to a civil war. The Central American Congress in 1838 declared that the states had the freedom to take separate destinies, before which Honduras became independent.

In 1839, Honduras established its first constitution. Quickly, the new nation abandoned the Central American collective symbols, but kept the colors. The flag that has been used since then darkened the blue and removed the coat of arms of the federation.

Flag of Honduras (1839-1866). (Heraldry, via Wikimedia Commons).

Flag of 1866

The first differentiated flag of Honduras arrived on February 16, 1866. President José María Medina promulgated Legislative Decree No. 7, also called the Decree of Creation of the Flag. This legislative norm consisted of just four articles, largely ratifying the already existing symbols.

On the flag, the only modification was the inclusion of five stars in the center of the white stripe. These were positioned at salient angles: two to the left, one to the center and two to the right.

Its color was the same blue as that of the other two stripes. In addition, it was established that the war flag would also carry the national shield.

Honduras flag. (1866-1898). (No machine-readable author provided. Fornax assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

Greater Republic of Central America

The Central American countries maintained a certain trend towards unification through federation. This was presented again in the final years of the nineteenth century and was materialized through the founding of the Greater Republic of Central America. The unifying project had as its main promoter the President of Nicaragua José Santos Zelaya López.

This new state was formed after the signing of the Pact of Amapala in 1895. Its members were only Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. Unlike the initial federation, Costa Rica and Guatemala did not decide to join.

The regional integration project, again, was short-lived. A coup d'état put an end to the new federation in 1898, which caused the separation of the countries that made it up again.

During his brief period a new pavilion was established. Although the three horizontal stripes were kept, a triangular shaped shield was added. This was surrounded by the inscription GREATER REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AMERICA.

Also, five yellow stars were added at the bottom. These represented the five Central American countries, including those that were not part of it.

Flag of the Greater Republic of Central America. (1895-1898). (By No machine-readable author provided. Fornax assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

Yellow Stars Flag

The separation of the Greater Republic of Central America left Honduras with a new flag. The five yellow stars of the Central American flag remained in the Honduran one in the previous arrangement, of the 1866 flag.

The big difference was that the yellow color remained, in contrast to the previous blue color. This was the national symbol of Honduras until 1949, when the stars on the flag recovered their original color and a new location was created for them.

Honduras flag. (1898-1949). (No machine-readable author provided. Fornax assumed (based on copyright claims)., Via Wikimedia Commons).

Current flag

Internal and external instability marked the first half of the 20th century in Honduras. Dozens of coup attempts, with internal support and from neighboring countries, took place in the territory. Faced with this situation, General Tiburcio Carías Andino took power after the Great Depression and imposed a long and bloody dictatorship that lasted until 1948.

Faced with US pressure, Carías organized a presidential election. The president managed to impose Juan Manuel Gálvez as a candidate, who quickly ended up being the only candidate and, consequently, elected president in 1949.

Gálvez undertook a process of liberal reforms that was not supported by Carías. Among those decisions he made was the change of the flag. On this occasion, the flag decree of 1866 was modified.

The change focused on unifying the blue color of the many existing versions at the time. The shade chosen was turquoise blue. In addition, the stars became the same blue again, and furthermore, their location was specifically established.

These were located in a quadrilateral parallel to the two stripes, while the fifth star was located in the center. This flag is the one that is still in force.

Meaning of the flag

The Honduran flag has two colors loaded with meaning. Although there is no legally established symbolism, it has been understood that the blue of the flag represents the seas that bathe Honduras. The Pacific Ocean represents one of the stripes, while the Atlantic Ocean is the opposite.

The blue color is also enriched with different meanings, beyond the oceanic ones. Blue is also represented by the Honduran sky. In addition, it is identified with values ​​such as strength, brotherhood and loyalty, in addition to the sweetness of its people.

The other color of the flag is white. Traditionally in vexillology, this color is the symbol of peace. Indeed, the Honduran flag also shares this meaning. However, in keeping with the symbolism of the blue stripes that represent the oceans, white would symbolize the Honduran territory.

On the other hand, the white color is identified with purity and faith. In addition, it is also identified with the goodness and firmness of the people and their institutions.

Star symbolism

Finally, the stars of the flag also have one of the most important symbolisms of the flag. The five stars represent the five Central American countries that were previously united in a federation: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In this sense, it also represents Central American unity.

References

1. Croach, A. (nd). Flag of Honduras. Flag Institute. The UK's National Flag Charity. Recovered from flaginstitute.org.
2. Government of the Republic of Honduras. (sf). National Flag of Honduras. Government of the Republic of Honduras. Presidency of the Republic. Recovered from presidencia.gob.hn.
3. The Tribune. (September 4, 2018). Do you know what the true color of the flag of Honduras is? The Tribune. Recovered from latribuna.hn.
4. Leonard, T. (2011). The history of Honduras. ABC-CLIO. Recovered from books.google.com.
5. Peralta. K. (December 21, 2018). The National Flag of Honduras. SpaceHonduras. Recovered from Espaciohonduras.net.
6. Editorial El Heraldo. (April 7, 2014). National Flag, symbol of respect and love for the Homeland. The Herald. Recovered from elheraldo.hn.
7. Smith, W. (2011). Flag of Honduras. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Recovered from britannica.com.