Analisis Del Diseño De La Bandera Salvadoreña En Relacion Al Resto De Las Banderas Latinoamericanas.

Abstract.

Interestingly enough, El Salvador has two flags. The official is recognized by use of the National Coat of Arms and is used by the Government or state organizations. The second flag contains the words “God, Union, Freedom,” as is used for civil purposes. Previous to these designs, one similar to the flag of the USA was used, but in 1912, these two new designs were adopted.
Theflags were influenced by several countries and there is a lot of meaning to each element used within. Nevertheless, the main focus will be set on the official flag (first image) and the National Coat of Arms, designed by Rafael Barraza Rodriguez and which is in the official Salvadorian flag.
The official flag was presented by the president Miguel Enrique Araujo, on September 15th, 1912.
The historybehind each element used is very much interesting as well as the several changes the final design underwent due to political issues in the time of its official presentation.
The Salvadorian flag is of great meaning to each Salvadorian who knows what our country has been through for decades. The design represents unity, the peace that is still in need to be achieved, it represents the beauty ofour country, our people, and more than that, our union to our neighbouring countries, the brotherhood with the rest of Central America and has been a true source of inspiration to all sorts of Salvadorian artists along the years.

“The whole inspiration of our life as a nation flows out from the waving folds of this banner.” (Unknown, 2007) A flag may differentiate countries, separate oridentify them. Yet, when you look at the flag of your country, it is a feeling that touches you deep within. An act of patriotism, or not, flags are designed to cause this same feeling. To make people think, feel and react to it. Each and every element are carefully thought and planned to make a flag – your flag, my flag, any flag – inspire a whole nation.
El Salvador currently has two flags: theofficial flag consisting of blue-white-blue stripes and the Coat of Arms at the center; and the unofficial: blue-white-blue stripes with the golden words “God, Union, Freedom” at the center. This essay will analyze the Salvadorian flag and, specifically, its Coat of Arms, and how this design was reached. The significance behind each element used in it, the history and socio-political background in thetime of its creation and the effects they had on the design of the flag and Coat of Arms, will be explained. A brief history of the country at the time of its creation and before will also be mentioned, to create a notion of how the design came about and its importance.

Previous to 1841, El Salvador was not independent. The Independence of El Salvador as a Nation took a long while to achieve,and it had to be part of several other Nations before becoming one itself. From 1524 to 1821, El Salvador, as the rest of the countries in Central America were under Spanish conquest (White, 51). Under their reign, El Salvador slowly began a road to independence. A turbulent political situation led Central America to become independent from the Spanish. White explains that a Liberal group led theindependence movement which culminated with the Act of Independence in September 15,1821, proclaiming the area as ‘United Provinces of Central America’ (52). Soon after this Act was culminated, the first flag for this nation was established and used (fig. 1, Wikipedia).

Fig 1: Used from September 15, 1821 to February 20, 1822.

As we can note from this first flag, it is still the one fromSpain (see supplement 1.1), without the Spanish Coat of Arms. It clearly shows years of Spain’s influence over the area. Nevertheless, this flag was used for merely 5 months after the independence, probably enough time for a new design to be made and established. From February 1822, a new concept was modeled to integrate the flag. The concept of blue-white-blue was introduced as is seen in Figure...