Three Paraguayan flags hoisted in a shopping mall in Asunción.

The flag of Paraguay (Spanish: bandera de Paraguay; Guarani: Paraguái poyvi) was first adopted in 1842.[1] Its design, a red–white–blue triband, was inspired by the colours of the French Tricolour, believed to signify independence and liberty. The flag is unusual because it differs on its obverse and reverse sides: the obverse of the flag shows the national coat of arms, and the reverse shows the seal of the treasury. It is the only national flag worldwide that has a unique design on each side.[2] The flag consists of the same three horizontal colours as the flag of the Netherlands,[3] which in turn was the inspiration for the French flag.[4] It was revised in 2013 to bring the flag towards its original design. It has a ratio of 11:20.

Description

Officially adopted in 1842 (following the Recomendación, i.e.: address, de la Junta gubernativa de Asunción),[1] each side of this tricolour flag contains a horizontal tricolor of red, white and blue with the national emblem centered on the white band.[1] The colours of the flag are believed to be inspired from the flag of France to show independence and liberty, and the coat of arms represents the independence of Paraguay.[5]

  • The emblem on the reverse side is the seal of the treasury: a yellow lion below a red Phrygian cap on the top of a pole (symbolising courage) and the words Paz y Justicia ("Peace and Justice").[1]

The differences in the obverse and reverse sides comes from the period when José de Francia was in power (1814–1840).[7] On July 15, 2013, the flag was revised. The coat of arms was simplified and the design was brought closer to its original form.[8]

Colours scheme

Red White Blue
RGB 213-43-30 255-255-255 0-56-168
Hexadecimal #d52b1e #FFFFFF #0038a8
CMYK 0, 80, 86, 16 0, 0, 0, 0 100, 67, 0, 34

Historical flags

  • Flag of Colonial Paraguay (1506–1700)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Colonial Paraguay (1506–1700)
  • Flag of Colonial Paraguay from 1700 to 1785
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Colonial Paraguay from 1700 to 1785
  • Spanish flag in Paraguay (1785–1811)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Spanish flag in Paraguay (1785–1811)
  • Flag of Paraguay from 1811
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Paraguay from 1811
  • First provisional flag of 1811. Ratio: 2:3
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag First provisional flag of 1811. Ratio: 2:3
  • Second provisional flag of 1811. Ratio: 2:3
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Second provisional flag of 1811. Ratio: 2:3
  • Third provisional flag, from 1811 to 1812. Ratio: 2:3
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Third provisional flag, from 1811 to 1812. Ratio: 2:3
  • Flag from 1812 to 1826. Ratio: 1:2
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1812 to 1826. Ratio: 1:2
  • Flag from 1826 to 1842. Ratio: 2:3
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1826 to 1842. Ratio: 2:3
  • Flag from 1842 to 1954. Ratio: 2:3
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1842 to 1954. Ratio: 2:3
  • Flag from 1842 to 1954 (reverse). Ratio: 2:3
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1842 to 1954 (reverse). Ratio: 2:3
  • Flag from 1954 to 1988. Ratio: 1:2
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1954 to 1988. Ratio: 1:2
  • Flag from 1954 to 1988 (reverse). Ratio: 1:2
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1954 to 1988 (reverse). Ratio: 1:2
  • Flag from 1988 to 1990. Ratio: 3:5
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1988 to 1990. Ratio: 3:5
  • Flag from 1988 to 1990 (reverse). Ratio: 3:5
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1988 to 1990 (reverse). Ratio: 3:5
  • Flag from 1990 to 2013. Ratio: 27:50
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1990 to 2013. Ratio: 27:50
  • Flag from 1990 to 2013 (reverse). Ratio: 27:50
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag from 1990 to 2013 (reverse). Ratio: 27:50

Other current flags

  • Presidential standard of Paraguay
    Presidential standard of Paraguay
  • Naval jack
    Naval jack

Departments

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Alison Behnke (1 August 2009). Paraguay in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. pp. 69–. ISBN 978-1-57505-962-4.
  2. ^ "Flag of Oregon | Meaning, Beaver Emblem & History | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  3. ^ "Details", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, retrieved 2023-04-24
  4. ^ Flag, nation and symbolism in Europe and America. Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Richard Jenkins. London: Routledge. 2007. ISBN 978-0-203-93496-8. OCLC 182759362.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ "The Flag of Paraguay". flagdb.com. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  6. ^ Leslie Jermyn; Jui Lin Yong (1 September 2009). Paraguay. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 123–. ISBN 978-0-7614-4858-7.
  7. ^ "Paraguay flag". World Flags 101. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  8. ^ "New Country Flags". Flags Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2015.

External links