![[Guatemala]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fflagspot.net%2fflags%2f..%2fimages%2fg%2fgt.gif)
(5:8)
image byZoltan Horvath, 9 June 2024
National Flag
![[Guatemala - civil flag]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fflagspot.net%2fflags%2f..%2fimages%2fg%2fgt_civ.gif)
(5:8)
image by�eljko Heimer, 9 June 2024
Merchant Ensign used until 1997
Official Name:Republic of Guatemala(República de Guatemala)
Capital:Guatemala
Flag adopted:26December 1997
Coat of Arms adopted:26 December 1997
See also:
The right colors, ratio and national arms (seal), in an "html" version of the Guatemalan flag, can be seen atwww.quetzalnet.com.
Guido Solares, 27 July 1998
As far as I know, Guatemala follows a practice common toseveral other nations (Germany andAustria are examples) of having two officialflags for use at land: the one known as civil flag is theblue-white-blue with no further ornaments, to be used primarilyby the citizens, and the one known as state flag, which adds thecoat of arms to the civil flag. Usually, this flag is to be usedin any official condition to represent the country, though thespecifics of it's usage varies from country to country.
Jorge Candeias, 17 October 1998
From the number of messages we've been receiving saying thatthe blue-white-blue flag is wrong, it looks like in Guatemala thestate flag is much more in use than the civil flag, or even thatthe civil flag is not used at all.
Jorge Candeias, 3 April 1999
I was in Guatemala on last October and when I tried to buy aflag without the Quetzal, people told me that it does not exist,that the flag always has the Coat of Arms, or at least that isthe way common people know their flag
Armando Azua, 2 June 2000
An anecdote we were told in primary school regarding theposition of the colors in the Guatemalan and Central Americanflags said that the blue stripes with the white in betweensymbolized the land between the two seas.
Alejandro Gutierrez-Pons, 30 August 2000
An article (only in Spanish) about the topic: "Guatemala's color of the flag", can be read inwww.lahora.com.gt.
Jaume Ollé, 10 September 2003
Translated from this article: "According to a directiveof Arzz, the color is "sky blue". Although the nationalflag is made and distributed in different shades of blue,officially the color established by this is that called "skyblue", according to the directive issued in 1997."
Albert S. Kirsch, 12 Febuary 2004
This is Decree No. 104 of 26 September 1997 which confirmedthe colours as blue ISSWC-NBS 177 and white ISCC-NBS 263 in the(US) Inter-Society Council and National Bureau of Standardsrange. These same colours were also given in a PresidentialDecree of 12 September 1968, so I don't quite understand how theycould only have been "established" in 1997. The question put by the article is (if I have it translatedcorrectly): "is the flag (dark) blue or sky blue"? andthe answer appears to be that it should be "skyblue". I couldn't find anything (colour-wise that is) on the 1968Decree. It does, however, quote the ISCC colours I gaveabove.
Christopher Southworth, 12 February 2004
The answer in the article (of the flag of Guatemala) is thatits correct color is sky blue. However, according to the samearticle, in a poll people answered that the "correct"color was dark blue. Some historians' conclusion is that there issome kind of lack of knowledge of the subject between people.
The color is sky blue. I think that ISCC-NBS 177 color is close(not exactly, but close) to a Pantone 297 or a Pantone 298(Pantone 298 was recommended for the National Flag of Argentinasome years ago for the Academia Nacional de laHistoria, so the Guatemalan color is very close to the Argentineone).
Francisco Gregoric, 13 February 2004
The colors of National flag are defined by Law:
https://www.sicultura.gob.gt/directory-directorio_c/listing/decreto-numero-104-97-ley-normativa-de-la-bandera-nacional-y-del-escudo-de-armas/
The colors are: Blue ISCC-NBS 177, and white ISCC-NBS 263 (These colors defined in 1968 Law, too.)
This Facebook post explain the colors and give Pantone and Hex values:
https://www.facebook.com/knowing.guatemala
�The exact blue color our flag, is identified with the code ISCC-NBS 177 (Brilliant Blue, Celestial Blue) which is equivalent to 297 Pantone or Hex # 4997D0.�
It�s really weird, but despite the official color specification, the flag can be seen in various shades of light blue in the images found on the Internet.
Zoltan Horvath, 9 June 2024
In Carlo A. Ferro's book:The Argentine flag, inspirer ofthe central American banners, the Guatemalan colors arementioned in the following way:
International naming for blue: ISCC-NBS 177, or VM 1.6 PB5.9/9.4
International naming for white: ISCC-NBS 263, or VM 2.5 PB9.5/0.2
The Pantone value for the shade of blue in the flag of Guatemalawould be 297, but Luis Havas mentions 2995.
Gus Tracchia, 27 November 2000
According to Album 2000 [pay00]:
- National Flag (-CS/-CS (5:8)) - BWB vertical tricolour with coat of armsin the middle. The colour approximation given in Album 2000 isPantone 299c, i.e. CMYK 90-20-0-0. RGB this would be somethinglike 0-102-255.
- Civil Flag and Ensign (C--/C-- (5:8)) - BWB vertical triband.
Željko Heimer, 19 October 2001
The protocol manual for theLondon 2012 Olympics(Flags and Anthems ManualLondon 2012 [loc12]) provides recommendationsfor national flag designs. EachNOCwas sent an image of the flag, including thePMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produceda 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs maynot be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly whattheNOCbelieved the flag to be.
For Guatemala: PMS 299 blue, 355 green, 032 red, 125 yellow, 109 yellow, 497brown, 430 grey and black. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal versionturned 90 degrees clockwise.
Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012
Other sources for colors:
The Flag Manual - Beijing 2008 gives Pantone colors: PMS 109 (yellow), PMS 032C (red), PMS109C (dark yellow), PMS 299C (blue), PMS 430 (grey), PMS 355 (green), PMS 497 (brown), and PMS Black.
The Album des Pavillons 2000 [pay00] gives approximate color in Pantone and CMYK systems:
Blue: Pantone 299c, CMYK 90-20-0-0.
The Album des Pavillons 2023 already specifies the color of the flags in three color systems.
Blue: Pantone 7688c, CMYK 70-25-4-0, RGB 72-157-209
Vexilla Mundi gives colors in Pantone system: PMS 292C (blue), and PMS White.
Wikipedia gives color values as follows:
Maya Blue: Pantone 297, RGB 73-151-208, CMYK 64.9-27.4-0-18.4, Hex #4997D0
White: Pantone Safe, RGB 255-255-255, CMYK 0-0-0-0-0, Hex # FFFFFF
Flag Color Codes gives the following color values:
Red: Hex. # 4997D0, RGB 73-151-208, CMYK 79-7-0-0, Pantone 299, RAL 5012
White: Hex. # FFF FFF, RGB 255-255-255, CMYK 0-0-0-0, Pantone N/A, RAL N/A
While searching for images of Guatemala flags, I found that I couldn't find many images showing the version without the coat of arms. The 1968 law does mention the commercial flag, which is flag without a coat of arms. (Article 3) �la bandera mercante ser� la misma, pero sin escudo� (the merchant flag shall be the same, but without a shield).
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandera_de_Guatemala#Decreto_de_regulaci%C3%B3n_de_la_bandera_y_el_escudo
However, this part was omitted from the 1997 law. What's more, there is an Article in this law that expressly provides for the flag with coat of arms. (Article 11) �Ninguna bandera deber� exponerse en todos los casos anteriores, sin el Escudo de Armas respectivo� (No flag shall be displayed in all the above cases without the respective Coat of Arms.).
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandera_de_Guatemala#Decreto_104-97_del_Congreso_de_la_Rep%C3%BAblica
My guess is that there were actually two flags used before 1997, a national flag (with coat of arms) and a merchant flag (without coat of arms). However, only the flag with coat of arms has been used since 1997. In other words, there is only one flag that is official since then.
Zoltan Horvath, 9 June 2024
In "Flags and South Africa and the World",Proceedings of the XVIIth International Congress of Vexillology,there is a paper byTeodoro Amerlinckentitled:"Histoires des insignes du Guatemala" (A history ofGuatemalan emblems); (pp. 127-135.
The paper includes three official texts about the national flagand arms of Guatemala [My own translation from the Frenchrendition by T.A. of
the original Spanish texts.] :
A. Decree of 12 August 1871 (signed by Provisory President MiguelGarcia Granados):
1. The national colours shall be blue and white in threevertical stripes, with the white stripe in the middle.
2. The national ensign shall include in the white stripe theshield of arms of the Republic.
3. The civil ensign shall be the same, but without the shield.
4. The cockade shall have the same colours in the same pattern.
B. Decree of 18 November 1871 (signed by President Miguel GarciaGranados):
The arms of the Republic shall be:
A shield with two rifles and two golden swords tied with laurelbranches, on a light blue field. The center shall be masked by aparchment, on which golden letters shall read "Libertad 15de Septiembre de 1821". Above, there shall be a Quetzal(Pharomacrus Mocinno) as the symbol of Independence and autonomyof the Nation.
[Comments by T.A. - The Quetzal is the symbol of Independencebecause it cannot survive in captivity. The arms were designed bythe Swiss artist and engraver Jean-Baptiste Frener (1821-1897)who lived in Guatemala from 1854 until his death. The abovedecrees remained unchanged until 1968.]
C. Regulation of 12 September 1968 (signed by President Dr. DonJulio Cesar Mendez Montenegro) National Palace ,Guatemala 12September 1968
The Constitutional President of the Republic.
Considering: That, according the decrees 12 and 33, dated 13August [12 August according to Decree reported above] and 18November 1871, respectively and signed by the President ofGuatemala, General Miguel Garcia Granados, the national flag andthe shield of the Republic were established.
Considering: That the lack of appropriate regulation on such animportant question caused the symbols of the country to berepresented in a whimsical and arbitrary manner, regarding boththe colour shades and the drawing of the shield of arms of theRepublic.
Considering: That by Governmental Agreement of 30 November 1967,a commission was created to realize the studies necessary to thecorrect enforcement of the laws, and after worthy work,gave its decision.
Therefore:
According to the power granted by paragraph 4 of article 189 ofthe Constitution of the Republic, In Council of Ministers, [ThePresident] Orders: The following Regulation on the colours anddrawing of the flag and the shield of the nation
On the flag
Article 1. The flag of Guatemala is the supreme emblem of theNation. It bears in the centre the shield of Arms of theRepublic, according to the Decrees 12 and 33 of 17 August [13August in the same text, see above] and 18 November 1871,respectively.
Article 2. The flag shall not bear any caption or additionallettering, except in specific cases in accordance with militaryregulations.
Article 3. The colours of the flag are blue and white, placed inthree vertical stripes of the same width; two blue stripes at theends and one white in the middle. The white stripe shall bear inthe centre the shield of arms of the Republic, with dimensions inproportion to the Emblem of the Nation; the civil ensign shall bethe same, but without
the shield. The blue colour which stands for justice and loyaltyrecalls the blue of the sky above Guatemala and is designedaccording to the international nomenclature [expanded in Article14, see below] as ISCC-NBS177 or VM 1.6 PB 5.9/9.4. Thewhite colour symbolizes purity and integrity, and is equivalentto ISCC-NBS 263 or VM 2.5 PB 9.5/0.2
Article 4. The shape of the flag is a rectangle withproportions of 5:8, vertical and horizontal, respectively. Therelation 5 to 8 matches the golden rule of aestheticalproportion.
On the shield
Article 5. The shield of arms of the Republic, when drawnindependently, shall have a colour of clear sky, according to theDecree on its creation. This colour, which represents ideality,is equivalent to ISCC-NBS 184 or VM 1.5 PB 8.3/8.3
Article 6. The genuine Remington rifles (1871) shall be shownwith triangular bayonet, in side view with the "pontet"[the metallic piece that protects the trigger] down, and crossedat right angle in the centre of the shield.
Article 7. The swords, symbols of justice and sovereignty,without scabbard and in gold, are crossed at right angle, insymmetry with the rifles.
Article 8. The laurel branches, symbol of victory, whichinterlace the arms, are represented in natural with their fruit,with their bases interlaced and without tie. The lower leaves ofthe branches shall interlace with the hilts of the swords, andthe uppermost leaves shall interlace with the bayonets.
Article 9. The parchment, whose caption immortalizes thebirth date of the country, unrolls on the centre of the shield, onthe rifle crossing. It rolls a revolution and a half to theobverse of the upper part and a revolution and a half to thereverse in the lower part, and stands on the blades of theswords. In the centre of the parchment shall be read in capitalletters, on four lines, the following: on the first lineLIBERTAD, on the second 15 DE, on the third SETIEMBRE and on thefourth DE 1821.
Article 10. On the top of the parchment stands a quetzal, thesupreme symbol of liberty. It is shown dexter with naturalcolours. The feather tails lay on the corresponding side [unclearin the original French text] and shall surpass [?] slightly thelower leaves of the laurel.
The next articles regulate the use of the flag and shield.
Article 14 states that nomenclature follows the ISCC(International Society of Colour Council) and NBS (NationalBureau of Standards, USA) or the International Color CodingSystem of Munsell Color Company (VM).
Article 17 states that the regulation will be enforced on 15September of the present year [1968], the Nation's Day.
The author notes that several minor variations in the shield arecommon, especially in the Quetzal design, the shape of theparchment, the letterings SETIEMBRE or SEPTIEMBRE and thelaurels, which often look like coffee trees.
[In my opinion, the above texts do not make any differencebetween a State flag (with arms) and a national flag (withoutarms). There is just distinction between the national flag (witharms) and the civil ensign (without them). Additional precisionsmight be included in the articles of the 1968 regulation notreported by T.A.]
Ivan Sache, 28 February 2000
The book "Historial de las Insignias de GuatemalaSociadad de Geografia e Historia" (Guatemala 1971) gives thedate and text of the decree. The blue-white-blue vertical flag isadopt at 17. Aug.1871. The coat of arms was adopted on 18 Nov. 1871.
Klaus Günther, 10 November 2001
image byJaume Olle, 17 March 2001
At "Nouveau Petit Larousse Illustre" (1926),Guatemala Flag probably got the same badge, but around it ashield shape, if I'm not mistaken quite similar to the shapearound the Route numbers in the USA.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 29 October 2000
According to old European sources, Guatemala state flag in1879 and1882 (and 1898 at Japanese flagbook too) is royal blue, white ,royal blue vertical 3 stripes(1:1:1) with Arms in yellow bordered royal blue shield in whitestripe. proportion 1:2 and 5:8.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 January 2001
We assume that the images sent byNozomi Kariyasuarewrong reconstructions.
Jaume Ollé andRalf Stelter, 21 January 2001
The image of Guatemalan flag drawn by Jaume Olle isbased on source from Flags of Maritime Nations by U.S, dept ofNavy 1882, similar image from Japanese book Kakkoku Kisho Meikanby Yosei Michimoto 1898 and British book Flags of All Nations1879.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 17 March 2001
Flaggenbuch by German Navy in 1905 shows Guatemalanstate flag with Coat of Arms in shield as well.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 5 April 2001
