In Guatemala, the Central American flag was used until 1851 when a pro-Spanish faction took over and added the Spanish colors of red and yellow to the flag. On August 17, 1871 the original colors were restored, but in vertical, rather than horizontal stripes and with a new coat of arms. The new coat of arms shows the quetzal, Guatemala's most famous bird, with its distinctive tail-feathers, representing liberty. The bird stands on a scroll that gives the date of Guatemala's Declaration of Independence. Rifles and swords represent defense of freedom. The present form of the arms was adopted in 1968. Blue and white in the flag are the colors of the original flag of the United Provinces of Central America.
The flag of Guatemala is designed in two colours: sky blue and white. The two sky blue stripes represent the fact that Guatemala is a land located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, honor, and the sky over the country (see Guatemala's National Anthem). The white colour signifies peace and purity.
The stripe pattern is based on the national flag of United Provinces of Central America, although there the stripes were horizontal and the two outer stripes were blue, rather than sky blue. The flags of the other countries that were part of the United Provinces of Central America follow the horizontal, blue pattern. Inspired in the Argentine flag.
In the center of the flag is the Guatemalan coat of arms. It includes the Resplendent Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala that symbolizes liberty; a parchmentscroll bearing the date of Central America's independence from Spain, 15 September1821; crossed rifles, indicating Guatemala's willingness to defend itself by force if need be; a bay laurel crown, the symbol for victory; and crossed swords, representing honor.
