Spain´s Flag - A Red And Yellow Beauty

Spain´s flag (the national one) is as colorful as the country itself with its red and yellow horizontal triband.

The yellow stripe is in the middle and is twice as tall as each red band, and the height of the flag is two-thirds the width.

A simplified version of Spain´s coat-of-arms is pictured on the yellow band, towards the hoist side.

The Spanish coat-of-arms includes the royal seal, framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which represent Gibraltar and Ceuta on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The red banners display the motto in Latin PLUS ULTRA, which means "More Beyond", alluding to Columbus´ discovery of the New World.

The two columns flank a shield that displays a castle, a lion wearing a crown, red and yellow vertical stripes, chain mail, and three fleurs-de-lis in an oval in the center.

An ornate red and golden crown sits atop the shield.

The flag used today in Spain was officially adopted on 19 December 1981. Previous to this, there had been an eagle on it as well but, in 1981, the eagle was removed, leaving the current red/yellow/red triband with crowned arms.

The red and golden-yellow colors of Spain´s flag were first used as long ago as the late 1700s by the King of Spain as he tried to easily differentiate his ships from those of other countries.

They were the original colors found within the coat-of-arms of both the Castile and Aragon regions of the country, the regions first united by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

There is a legend that holds that the colors of the flag of Spain are derived from the bullfight arena, the red respresenting the blood shed and the yellow the sand of the arena! However, this is just a legend and not based on historical facts!

The pledge to the Spanish flag is called the "Jura de Bandera", meaning "Oath of the Flag".

Spain is divided into 17 different regions or autonomous communities and each community also has its own regional flag.

However, the red-and-yellow national flag of Spain is recognized by all Spanish regions.

Now that you know all about Spain´s flag, why not come on out here and watch one flapping in the warm, Spanish breeze?

Linda Plummer is webmistress of Top Tour of Spain providing comprehensive information on Spain for travel, food, language or living.

---

Bits of Heritage, Whose Heritage

Change is the only inevitably constant aspect of life in... Read More

To Quote or Not to Quote

"By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote."... Read More

Christopher Columbus

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: - It seems a mystery to most academics... Read More

OM to Ogham

Plato observed that the advent of an alphabet making writing... Read More

The New Age Movement

What is the New Age Movement? It is similar to... Read More

Europes New Jews

They inhabit self-imposed ghettoes, subject to derision and worse, the... Read More

The Dating Game

Lord Renfrew, Disney Professor of Archaeology at Cambridge University states:... Read More

Mythology and Parables in Modern Communication - Part 4

At the end of Part 3 in this series I... Read More

From Dynasty to Destiny: Ten Celebrated Inventions of Ancient China

In the last two centuries, new cultural discoveries have nearly... Read More

Family, Incest, and Law

Family Values in Ancient Times:Many people of the present make... Read More

Astrology Signs and Planets Reveal Who You Are

But people are starting to take a new look at... Read More

What is Y Ddraig Goch - the Welsh Red Dragon?

The red Dragon was introduced to Britain during Roman times.... Read More

Leonardo Da Vinci

THE BICYCLE OF LEONARDO DA VINCI: - "? a man... Read More

Tribal Masks

Original Tribal masks are often seen by unknowing eyes as... Read More

Marilyn Monroe and Mary Jo Kopechne

I doubt Marilyn Monroe was anything but a confused star-struck... Read More

Precious Stones The Big Five - Part 4 The Diamond

The diamond is generally regarded as the premier gem in... Read More

Building Catapults Required Engineering Know How

When building catapults, armies had to include in their ranks... Read More

Inuit Eskimo Art As Investments

Many people collect Inuit art as investments. Inuit art is... Read More

Learn How To Draw Faces Realistically

Drawing a face isn't as hard as it looks. To... Read More

Your Stars 2

Leo Some tragic news hits you hard and makes you... Read More

Elvis Presley, Lifting Off

He seems to live forever. A network television movie about... Read More

ML - CHI - Zadok and the Making of Gold

ATOMIC HIGH-SPIN TECHNOLOGY: - In 1950 B.C. there was a... Read More

Ancient Indian Civilizations - Where Did They All Go?

In 1350 AD we were still quite a few centuries... Read More

Propaganda and American Journalism, Born Joined at Birth

Passion was the main stuff of journalism long before the... Read More

Tribal Tattoo Designs - Why Are They So Popular?

Tribal tattoos have been practiced for thousands of years. Modern... Read More