The flag of El Salvador was first adopted on September 15, 1821, and has undergone several modifications since then. Here are the key events and changes in the history of the El Salvador flag:
Pre-Independence:
- Before gaining independence from Spain in 1821, El Salvador was part of the Central American Federation, which used the flag of the federation that featured stripes of light blue and white.
First National Flag (1821):
- On September 15, 1821, El Salvador declared independence and adopted its first national flag. This flag was based on the flag of the Central American Federation but had a different coat of arms.
Union of Central America (1823-1838):
- In 1823, El Salvador became part of the United Provinces of Central America. During this period, the federal flag, featuring stripes of light blue and white, was used to represent the union.
Independence Regained (1839):
- In 1839, El Salvador regained its independence and reinstated the flag that was adopted in 1821, with minor changes.
Modification in Coat of Arms (1912):
- In 1912, the coat of arms on the El Salvador flag was modified to reflect political and social changes in the country.
Adoption of Current Flag (1972):
- On September 28, 1972, El Salvador adopted its current flag. This flag features two light blue stripes that symbolize the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, separated by a white stripe representing peace. The blue triangles on the edges of the white stripe represent equality. The coat of arms in the center represents the country's values, history, and independence.
Since its adoption in 1972, the flag has remained the official symbol of the Republic of El Salvador.