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Red and white have been used in every flag of Peru since 1819-20, when nationalist forces, led by José de San Martin, began the liberation of Peru after nearly 300 years of Spanish rule.
Popular history relates that Peruvian liberator, José de San Martin, saw a large flock of flamingos upon his arrival in Peru and took it as a good omen; from their colour he created a banner for his Peruvian Legion.
Peruvian independence was proclaimed on the 28th of July 1821 and a red and white flag diagonally divided into
four fields was adopted.
The pattern of the flag was modified to a red-white-red horizontal striped design in 1822 and, on the 25th of February 1825, the current vertical striped red-white-red flag was adopted.
Peru also has a state flag, which features the shield from the national coat of arms centrally placed on the white stripe.
The current state flag was adopted on the 25th of February 1825. |
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Red represents the blood spilt for Peruvian freedom and white symbolises peace.
The shield from the arms is divided into three sections the top left features a vicuna (a relation of the llama), which represents the local fauna. The top right shows a cinchona tree, which represents the local flora and beneath them is a cornucopia overflowing with gold and silver coins, symbolising Peru’s mineral wealth.
The shield is surmounted by a laurel wreath, which represents the Republic of Peru.
Around the shield is a wreath made from palm and laurel branches. The palm branch symbolises peace and honour, while the laurel branch symbolises courage and the preparedness to defend Peru’s independence. |
