Flag of Puerto Rico
La Monoestrellada ("the single-starred")
Puerto Rico's flag has five red and white stripes and a blue triangle at the pole with one white star.
At a glance
- Adopted
- 1952designed in 1895; made the official flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by law in July 1952; no exact shade of blue has ever been made official
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- San Juan
- Continent
- North America
- Colours
- red
- white
- medium blue
What it means
- Red stripes: the blood shed by warriors (1895 meaning)
- White stripes: liberty, victory and peace
- Blue triangle: the sky and the coastal waters; its three sides are linked to the three branches of government
- White star: the island of Puerto Rico
Where it came from
Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean that is a territory of the United States. Its flag was presented in New York City on 22 December 1895 by Puerto Rican exiles working with the Cuban Revolutionary Party. It is the Cuban flag with its colours swapped, to show support for Cuba's fight for independence from Spain.
Historians disagree about who designed it. The main names are Francisco Gonzalo Marin, Antonio Velez Alvarado and Manuel Besosa.
History
The flag was first used in an uprising in Yauco in 1897. After the United States took Puerto Rico in 1898, showing the flag was restricted for decades, and a 1948 law made it a crime. It became the official flag in 1952, and the 1948 law was repealed in 1957.
The shade of blue has a political story. The original 1895 blue was light, like Cuba's. From 1952 the government used dark blue, close to the US flag. A medium blue, like the one shown here, has been most common since 1995.
Fun facts
- It looks like Cuba's flag with the red and blue swapped.
- For many years it was against the law to fly it in Puerto Rico.
- People often choose a light, medium or dark blue to show their political views.
- In a 2001 survey of 72 flags of US states, US territories and Canadian provinces, it ranked 7th best design.
Easy to mix up with
Cuba: Cuba has blue and white stripes and a red triangle; Puerto Rico has red and white stripes and a blue triangle
Questions
What does the flag of Puerto Rico look like?
Puerto Rico's flag has five red and white stripes and a blue triangle at the pole with one white star.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Puerto Rico mean?
Red stripes: the blood shed by warriors (1895 meaning); White stripes: liberty, victory and peace; Blue triangle: the sky and the coastal waters; its three sides are linked to the three branches of government; White star: the island of Puerto Rico.
When was the flag of Puerto Rico adopted?
The current flag of Puerto Rico was adopted on 1952. (designed in 1895; made the official flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by law in July 1952; no exact shade of blue has ever been made official)
What colours are on the flag of Puerto Rico?
The flag of Puerto Rico uses red, white and medium blue.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Puerto Rico?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Cuba. Cuba has blue and white stripes and a red triangle; Puerto Rico has red and white stripes and a blue triangle
Famous landmarks in Puerto Rico
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)