The flag of Paraguay, also known as the Bandera del Paraguay, features three equal horizontal stripes with the national coat of arms in the middle. The colors are red, white, and blue - red representing justice and the bloodshed during independence, white representing peace and purity, and blue representing freedom, liberty and patriotism.
What Makes This Flag Unique in the World:
One unique feature of the Paraguay flag is that the front and back sides are different. The flag of Paraguay is the only national flag in the world that has two distinct sides.
Front Side (Obverse):
On the front side, in the middle of the flag, there is the country's coat of arms, which represents the date of independence from Spain. The coat of arms depicts "República del Paraguay" and includes a five-pointed star surrounded by a green wreath of palm and olive branches, symbolizing peace and honor.
Back Side (Reverse):
The reverse shows the Treasury Seal (Sello del Tesoro): a golden lion guarding a staff topped with a red Phrygian cap (the classical symbol of freedom), surrounded by the motto "Paz y Justicia" (Peace and Justice).
History:
The current design of the flag of Paraguay dates to November 25, 1842. The design was based on the flag of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata. The flag has undergone several changes since it was first adopted, but the basic design of three equal, horizontal bands of red, white, and blue has remained unchanged.
2013 Flag Revision:
On July 15, 2013, President Federico Franco approved modifications to bring the flag's emblems closer to their original 1842 form, removing the red ring around "República del Paraguay" that had been added in 1957 during the Stroessner era.
Flag Day:
Paraguay celebrates Flag Day (Día de la Bandera) on August 14th each year.
Overall, the Paraguayan flag is a powerful symbol of the country's history and values.
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