The Flag of Peru and What it Means
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on September 20, 2022 by James Bustamante
The Flag of Peru is said to be the maximum national symbol for Peruvians. This is very apparent as you walk down the streets of Lima when a big football match is about to take place.
You will quite literally see over half the population wearing the national jersey with the flag of Peru as well as headbands, and face painting. Let’s go over what the Flag of Peru is and what it means to the locals.
What Does Peru’s Flag Look Like?
The Peruvian flag is split into three vertical stripes and it uses the colors red and white.
According to historians, The color red that adorns both the exterior stripes is said to represent the blood spilled by heroes and Martires who gave up their lives defending the nation and its people. The white band is said to represent Peruvian liberty, justice, and finally peace for the nation.
The Flag of Peru also has a coat of arms placed in the middle, it is the national symbol of the country. This coat of arms has 4 distinct variants including Coat of Arms, The national Coat of arms, The Great Seal of the state, and finally the Naval coat of Arms.
Get your own Peruvian Flag to hang on your wall
The Peruvian Coat of Arms
The Peruvian coat of arms is split into three main fields. The first is a blue field on the right-hand side of the shield and it has a small Vicuna looking to the interior.
Most people think it is a Llama but it is actually the smaller (and rarer) camelid. The left side is a white color with a plant called the Cinchona.
Again, because it is Peru people tend to confuse this shrub with a Quinoa plant but no, it is called the Cinchona and it grows in South America.
The third section is a bit smaller than the other two and is also the color red, it has a cornucopia with coins overflowing from it.
Each section is a representation of nature with the Vicuna symbolizing the animal kingdom, the Cinchona representing vegetation and the cornucopia with the coins are a representation of the bountiful minerals this country is known for.
Peru is actually one of the largest producers of several precious metals including gold, copper, tin, zinc, and silver. This shield or crest also includes the Civic crown which is the highest decoration given to those who have sacrificed their lives for the country.
Travelers notes: Cinchona is a type of flowering plant from the family called “Rubiaceae.” This genus contains at least 23 species of trees and shrubs that are native to the South American continent.
The Original Flag of Peru
The Peruvian flag was created by Jose de San Martin, also known as “the Liberator,” in 1820. The original design however was different from what we see today. The Flag of Peru has actually been modified several times as the years passed.
The first design of the Peruvian flag was divided by lines in diagonal, it had four solid fields as well. The top and bottom were white and the two fields on the side were the color red.
On the 15th of March in 1822, Bernardo de Tagle replaced San Martin, he decided to change the design of the Peruvian flag with a line that ran across the middle diagonally with the Sun in the middle.
In May 1822 Bernardo de Tagle changed his mind and came up with another design where the flag would have three vertical bands, the middle would be white, the exterior bands would be red and there would be a sun in the middle.
Then in 1825, Simon Bolivar along with congress decided that the flag of Peru would have three vertical bands. The exterior bands would be red and the interior band would be the color white. The Sun would be removed and replaced with a coat of arms.
Finally, in the year 1950 Peruvian President Manuel Odria decided to modify the national flag by removing the coat of arms in the middle.
With this change there would be a couple of variations to the Peruvian national symbol, the first would have a coat of arms in the center and the second variation would have the national arms in its center.
Peruvian Flag Day
June 7th is the day where we celebrate the flag of Peru. This festive date was originally conceived on the 30th of April in 1924. It was made official by Augusto Leguia, who was in charge from 1919 to 1930, with an executive order.
The Battle for Arica took place on June 7th, 1880, this was the battle that left the biggest mark in the Pacific war between Peru and Chile.
At the time of this battle, Alfonso Ugarte was chief of the 8th division and saw his army being cornered by the Chileans.
In a last-ditch to save face, Alfonso Ugarte decided to jump from a cliff holding the Peruvian flag so it would not be captured. He, of course, perished at this gesture but it has been a source of national pride.
Ugarte is considered as one of the greatest national heroes in spite of having lost the battle and ultimately the war. The celebrations on June 7th are a way to commemorate the determination of the soldiers who fought for the country all those years ago.
Peruvian Independence Day
Peruvians celebrate their independence on the 28th of July. It is another festive date where you will see people walking around the country wearing Peruvian flags as capes or wearing the Peruvian national team’s jersey.
Houses and apartment buildings will also place a Peruvian flag out in a demonstration of patriotism. For more information on Peruvian independence day check out our blog post below:
Independence Day in Peru: https://www.journeymachupicchu.com/peru-independence-day/
If you want to know more about Peru, celebrations or hikes to Machu Picchu, contact our travel advisers today for details.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Peruvian Flag
What does Peru’s flag look like?
The Peruvian flag has three vertical bands, the outside bands are red while the middle band is white and has a coat of arms in the center.
Who made the Peru flag?
The Peruvian flag was thought up of by Jose de San Martin, also known as the liberator.
When was the Peru flag adopted?
The original Peruvian flag began to be used in 1820.
What does Peru’s flag mean?
The Peruvian flag’s colors are red and white. The red represents the blood spilled by heroes and the white represents liberty. The coat of arms has its own meaning.
