Flag of Guatemala

Flag of Guatemala
Use	State and war flag and state and naval ensign
Proportion	5:8
Adopted	1871
Design	A vertical bicolor of blue and white. with the Coat of arms of Guatemala charged in the center.
	Variant flag of Flag of Guatemala
Use	Civil flag and ensign
Proportion	5:8
Adopted	ค.ศ. 1871
Design	A vertical bicolor of blue and white
	Variant flag of Flag of Guatemala
Use	Presidential Standard Vexillological description
Proportion	5:8
Adopted	ค.ศ. 1871
Design	The national flag (with Coat of Arms) defaced with six golden five-pointed stars in vertical line in the hoistmost field

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The flag of Guatemala features two colors: 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 (Caribbean sea); and the sky over the country (see Guatemala's National Anthem). The white color signifies peace and purity.

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 parchment scroll bearing the date of Central America's independence from Spain, 15 September 1821; 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.

The Central American flag was used in Guatemala until 1851, when a pro-Spanish faction took over and added the Spanish colors of red and yellow to the flag. The original colors were restored on August 17, 1871, but as vertical (rather than horizontal) stripes in order to distinguish it from other flags and with a new coat of arms.

The Resplendent Quetzal previously appeared in the 1830s in the flag of Los Altos, the sixth state in the Federal Republic.