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| Flag of Panama | |
|---|---|
| Name | Panama |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | 1925 (current form) |
| Designer | Manuel Amador Guerrero (attributed) |
Flag of Panama
The national banner of Panama is a rectangular emblem used as the primary symbol of Panamanian identity and sovereignty. It functions alongside national emblems such as the Coat of arms of Panama and the National anthem of Panama, and it appears in diplomatic settings including missions accredited to the United Nations and during visits involving heads of state like the President of Panama and foreign dignitaries from United States and Spain. The flag is displayed during civic commemorations such as Independence Day (Panama) and military ceremonies of formations like the Panama National Police.
The flag consists of four quadrants: two white quarters, one blue quarter, and one red quarter, with a blue five-pointed star in the upper hoist and a red five-pointed star in the lower fly. National colors echo palettes found in flags of nations such as United States and France, and they are often reproduced by manufacturers who also supply flags for organizations including the Organization of American States and sporting bodies like the Panama national football team. Reproductions follow legal standards set by the National Authority of Public Services (Panama) and are used in venues such as the Metropolitan Natural Park and on municipal buildings in the province of Panamá Province.
Origins of the flag date to the early 20th century during political developments involving the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty and the dissolution of the Colombian administration over the isthmus. Designs were proposed by figures associated with the independence movement including politicians from the Conservative Party (Panama) and the Liberal Party (Panama), and the adoption occurred amid maneuvering involving statesmen such as Manuel Amador Guerrero and diplomats interacting with representatives of the United States Department of State. The flag underwent formal recognition during administrations that included presidents connected to institutions such as the Panama Canal Company and later legislative validation by bodies like the National Assembly of Panama. Historical incidents involving the emblem include its appearance in ceremonies marking the transfer of the Panama Canal Zone and during commemorative events tied to the Thousand Days' War legacy and regional disputes with neighbors such as Colombia.
Colors and stars carry partisan and national references: blue has been associated with the Conservative Party (Panama), red with the Liberal Party (Panama), while the white fields symbolize peace and the aspiration to national concord espoused by political actors like Manuel Amador Guerrero and later presidents linked to the Liberal Republican Movement. The blue star has been interpreted in representations used by civic groups such as the National Institute of Culture (Panama) and in displays at cultural institutions like the Biomuseo, while the red star appears in parades involving organizations including the Panamanian Baseball Federation and student movements at the University of Panama. Artists and vexillologists referencing the flag include scholars from institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and publications comparing it to banners of the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
Official specifications set the flag's proportion at 2:3 and detail measurements for quadrant division and star size, guidance that influences production by textile firms supplying flags to embassies such as the Embassy of Panama in Washington, D.C. and to public agencies like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Panama). Construction methods vary from hand-sewn flags fashioned by artisans in districts like Casco Viejo to machine-stitched ensigns produced for maritime service on vessels registered at the International Maritime Organization-compliant registry. The stars are five-pointed and centered within their respective white fields, and manufacturing standards are adopted by suppliers who also provide ceremonial regalia for events at venues like the National Theater of Panama.
Protocol for hoisting, lowering, and half-mast display aligns with practices used by presidents at the Presidential Palace (Panama) and by representatives at commemorations such as National Mourning. The flag is used by state bodies including the Panama National Police and displayed at international gatherings such as meetings of the Central American Integration System and the Summit of the Americas. Regulations govern misuse and desecration, topics that have arisen in public discourse involving civil society organizations like the Panama Institute of Legal Studies and in judicial consideration by courts including the Supreme Court of Justice (Panama).
Variants include naval ensigns and historical banners used during the period of separation from Colombia, and municipal flags for districts such as Colón (city) and David, Panama. Related flags referenced in comparative vexillology include those of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras as well as political banners associated with parties like the Panameñista Party and movements that flew alternative designs during electoral campaigns. The national flag often appears alongside flags of international organizations such as the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development Bank during multilateral events hosted in Panama City.
Category:National symbols of Panama