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(2:3)
Pre-2006 National and State
Flag
image by Željko Heimer, 18 August 2003
(2:3)
Pre-2006 "Civil" Flag
image by Željko Heimer, 18 August 2003
See also:
In 1930, the National Congress rearranges the stars to its
actual design: in a semi-circular order. Officialy, the stars
have to be placed in a "arc" fashion, but there are no
specifications about the arc other than the horizontal placing:
centered. Also, there are many versions of the Venezuelan flag,
using different shades of blue on the central band. On official
buildings, military units and navy ships, the flag carries the
arms on the corner, centered on the yellow band. The colors and
the stars represent:
Yellow: Nobleness, love, power, and sovereignity (also, all the
venezuelan wealth)
Blue: Loyalty, Justice and Perseverence (also the ocean that
separates Venezuela from Spain, the Motherland)
Red: honor, bravery, strength and greatness (also, the blood of
all who fought for Venezuela’s liberation)
The stars represent the 7 united provinces who signed the
Independence Act, on July 5, 1811. This provinces were Caracas,
Cumaná, Barcelona, Barinas, Margarita, Mérida & Trujillo.
Jorge V. Alonso-Iglesias
at <www.ucab.edu.ve> (defunct) one finds:
"Our flag is made up of three horizontal stripes of equal
width. Yellow stands for the richnesses of the territory, blue
for the sea separating us from Spain and red for the blood shed
by our patriots during the Independence [War].
Our national flag was brought by General Francisco de Miranda in
his second expedition on March 12th, 1806 into "Vela de
Coro" ; this is why the Flag Day is held on March 12th. It
was recognised as national standard by Congress on July 15th,
1811 and was firstly hoisted as such on July 14th that
year."
Santiago Dotor , 30 December 1998
Coro, which is the oldest city in the mainland of Venezuela,
is directly on the shoreline. A lookout post was placed north of
the city, and was named "La Vela de Coro", literally
"The watch over Coro". The Spanish word
"vela" can both mean sail and vigil. This later is the
correct sense of this word, the place where the vigil, the watch,
took place.
Ricardo Kowalski, 15 September 1999
Flags in Venezuela are made in a very informal, quite crafty
way. As far as I know, There isn't any official guideline or
chart for the construction of the national flag, so there are
flags with smaller stars, narrower archs, longer stripes,
different colours.In the current constitution, it says, about the
flag, that this is the tricolori of yellow, blue and red.
Plain and simple. Not much further explanatios are set in the law
of National Symbols.
Guillermo Tell, 5 November 1999
According to [pay00], the
"plain" flag (YBR, 7 W stars, no Coat of Arms) is used
as alternative civil flag and ensign.
Ivan Sache, 14 January 2001
National Flag of Venezuela, 1930 - Established on July 15th by
disposition of the National Congress (as it must be), it
incorporates the constellation of stars in arc of circle with the
convexity upwards, perhaps, as remembrance of the crest that
until that year enriched some reproductions of the Coat of Arms
of the Republic. Still one stays effective in two variants: the
one of Civil Use with its three colors and seven stars and the
one of State Use, that adds the Venezuelan Shield of Arms in full
color at the canton. Nevertheless, the Law of National Flag, Coat
of Arms and Anthem effective from 1954 establishes in fact three
Venezuelan flags: Tricolor without Stars and Coat of Arms, for
Civil Use; Tricolor with Stars and Coat of Arms, for State
and Military use and the one of the Merchant Marine, which would
only take Stars and that the Venezuelan Soul did hers for Civil
Use actually making unthinkable the absence of the Stars.
Raul Orta, 9 May 2002
The "Law of National Flag, Shield and Anthem"
effective since 1954 is the only legal instrument which regulates
the matter in my all Country, in agreement it establishes the
Constitution in force since 1999. Article 2º of the mentioned
Law establishes three national flags, that is to say:
1. A field divided in three horizontal and equal stripes: yellow,
blue and red that correspond to the Civil Flag and Ensign;
2. The previous design to which adds seven five-pinted and white
stars in arc of circle with the convexity upward and the
Venezuelan Coat of Arms on the canton, that constitutes the State
and War Flag and Ensign;
3. The design described on numeral "1" which adds only
the seven stars in the same disposiciòn already described, that
even though it was established originally for the merchant marine
concludes consolidated by popular will like Civil Flag and Ensign
replacing in fact the indicated on the corresponding text.
However, the prevailing situation on my Homeland has
unquestionably generated a renovation and exaltation of the
Venezolanity in all its most genuine expressions. Even though the
Law determines a character distinction, the National Soul has
assumed indifferently the National Flag (with Stars) and the
National Pavillion (with Stars and Coat of Arms) like Emblem of
Identity. Even more, taking as axis the design of the National
flag diverse variants has been generated responding the
predominant feelings, which we have come compiling to share them
with you opportunely.
As far as the "finial", the Venezuelan "Ceremonial
Military Protocol and Regulation" in force establishes that
the spear to which of leans the National Pabellòn will carry a
"Moharra" with the Venezuelan Coat of Arms in relief
within a contour that simulates a spear-point. In another cases,
any type of "conventional" finials has been used: from
spheres, to streamlined flower or spear-points; even, there are
masts which lacks them. Nevertheless, the more spread custom has
been to raise or to fix the National flag on spears or mast
finished off on spear-points, doing an informal analogy with
those of the "llaneros" (plain men) that integrated the
Patriotic Forces during the Venezuelan War of Independence.
Raul Orta, 6 January 2003
According to Album 2000 Corr 3 [pay03]:
- National Flag (CSW/CSW (2:3)) - Horizontal tricolour of yellow
over blue over red with the coat of arms in the canton in yellow
stripe and sever white five-pointed stars in a arc in the middle
of the blue stripe. The exact position of the coat of arms and
especially the stars is never more detailed defined, so there is
no point in trying to establish a construction sheet. A notable
two versions of the stars are in use - both apparently as good as
the other - those with stars pointing upwards and those with
stars pointsing "outwards". The Album showes the
latter, and mentions the other in a footnotes. (see: 7 Stars). The consturction of the stars that I used
is one possibility, hopefully acceptable: diameter of the
imagined circle on which the centers of the stars are located
equals 5/9 of the hoist and is centered at the midpoint of the
edge between blue and red stripes. The stars I made with diameter
6/90, and I have put their centers every 24 degrees along the
imagined circle. This makes the outermost stars to be rotated 72
degrees, i.e. to point upwards again. The other version I made
with the imagined circle with diameter 8/9 of the hoist contered
in the center of the red stripe. Stars (also 6/90) are now
arranged in 20 degrees along the circumference, but all pointing
upwards. I hope that those with better knowlage on actual flags
in use could confirm that this are indeed acceptable versions,
more or less what is beling used .
- Alternative Civil Flag and Ensign (C--/C-- (2:3)) -
Yellow-blue-red tricolour with severn white fivepointed stars in
a arnc in a blue stripe.
This is, as Mr. Orta pointed out de jure the merchant flag (or
civil ensign), but it is for long now also used as de facto civil
flag and also as an alternative state flag. As for the state and
war flag, the exact disposition and size of stars is not
determined and variations are used. The Album showes the one with
"orientated" stars, but notes also that with all
upright stars.
Original Album 2000 [pay00] show
the same apart of the variant in stars noted only in footnote.
Album 95 [pay] show the
"National Flag and War Ensign" (and flag without Coat
of Arms as merchant ensign). Dimensions are given as 0.9 x 1.35 m
with star diameter 0.07 m, Coat of Arms 0.2x0.18 m. For the war
ensign dimensions are given as 0.8 x 1.08 m.. The first is 2:3,
though I am not sure from where the exact numbers are taken. The
size of stars and Coat of Arms are of particular interest, since
it seems that the particular regulation is not known by the
Venezuelan vexillologist (or probably this is a regulation
specific for some, say, military purpose and not applicable
otherwise). The war ensign of size 80x108 cm makes ratio of
20:27. This is quite squarish, and maybe this refers to the naval
colours or some other ceremonial type flag and not the ensign
used on the ships. I certainly hope this numbers get cleared
eventually.
It is often found in the vexillological literature that the
current Venezuelan flag is from 1954 - however, the merchant
ensign was not changed since 1930! In 1954 there was only a minor
change in the Coat of Arms inscription. Prior to 1930 the
merchant flag had different arrangement of stars in the blue
stripe (since 1905: seven in a circle, since 1863: one plus six
encircling it). We have many contradicting reports, one following
other.
Željko Heimer, 18 and 28 August 2003
The law which regulates the matter is effective since 1954. In
this law is establishes in fact three flags:
- The State and War Flag, called "Official Flag" or
"National Pavillion" : Horizontal tricolor yellow, blue
and red with a constellation of seven five-poiinted and
white stars disposed on the center of the blue stripe and the
Coat of Arms of the Republic at the canton on the yellow stripe;
- The Merchant Flag: equal to the previous one without the Coat
of Arms on the canton that actually is adopted in fact by all the
Nation as Civil Flag:
- The Civil Flag: without shield and stars, derogated in fact
because to the Venezuelan people is unthinkable see their flag
without stars.
Raul Orta, 18 August 2003
Politikens Flagbook, 2000, gives 1954 for the flag, and 1953
for the Coat of Arms.
Pedersen [ped73] - Alverdens
Flag i Farver, 1973, states most recently the Coat of Arms was
established in 1930 and 1953, though the origin is the Coat of
Arms of 1836. The State and Military flag and Ensign got its
present design in 1953. I presume its description mentions the
Coat of Arms without describing it, which means the design
changes whenever the Coat of Arms does. The Civil Ensign was
officially adopted 19 Febuary 1954, though the flag goes back to
1806. Since 1863 there are seven stars. Since 1830 the stars are
placed in an arc. However, the 1970 edition does not yet mention
what happened in 1953/4, and states that the National flag and
Civil Ensign was last established in 1930, as were the Coat of
Arms and the Military Ensign (etc.). This would suggest some form
of ruling has controled the design of these symbols over the
years, but official adoption of the flag wasn't until 1954.
Smith - FTTAAATW [smi75c] has
the stars first appearing in 1817, and becoming a permanent part
of the flag in 1859. He too give 19 Febuary 1954 as the official
adoption date.
Crampton - The world of Flags, 1990 [cra90f], finally describes the
following sequence:
- 4 August 1806: Miranda raises for the first time a Y-B-R
tricolour on Colombian soil.
- 5 Juli 1811: Venezuela gains independence from Spain, and under
that same tricolour.
- A few days later the yellow is increased, and a panel in the
hoist was added with an allegorical scene. [Everybody seems to
describe this flag-change as the yellow getting twice as large.
Does that mean the flag ratio changed?]
- 7 August 1819: Venezuela and Columbia joined to form Greater
Colombia, under this same flag.
- 26 July 1822: Ecquador joins Greater Colombia, with the flag
acquiring three blue stars in the yellow, instead of the panel.
- 30 April 1830: Venezuela seceded, replacing the stars with a
Coat of Arms in the center.
- 20 April 1836: The stripes reverted to equal width.
- 25 Febuary 1859: seven stars were added in the canton.
- 29 July 1859: The stars became white and were placed in the
center; 6 stars encircling a central one.
- 15 July 1930: The stars are placed in an arc.
- 1942 stars are omitted alltogether. [!]
- 1954 stars reoccur.
Znamierovski - The World Encyclopedia of Flags, 2002 [zna02] , states the flag was first
hoisted, on Colmbian soil, on 4 August 1806; that when Venezuela
declared independence this flag became its flag on 5 July 1811;
and that the state flag etc. was adopted on 17 Februari 1954, and
that the civil ensign is without the arms.
This leaves me with the fllowig questions:
- Was the flag raised for the first time 4 August 1806, as
Znamierowski has it, or was it previously hoisted elsewhere, as
Crampton allows?
- Did Venezuela adopt its first flag on 5 July 1811, or did it
merely fly Miranda's flag until it had had time to adopt one of
its own?
- Was the panel along all of the hoist, or just the yellow?
- Why does Pedersen claim the stars were placed in an arc in
1830? (Presumably, he is mistaken one century. [Does that mean
the 1930 change was to celebrate a century of independence?])
- Was there a different number of stars between 1859 and 1863? Or
what other change did occur in the later year?
- Were the stars really/officially removed from 1942 onward, or
was this a different type of flag occuring more often for some
reasoon.
- What /did/ they adopt on 17 and 19 February 1954?
[As usual there's something to complicate the issue further:
Siegel - Die Flagge, 1912, pictures two Merchant Ensigns:
- Venezuela: Handelsflagge 1858, which is an almost square
tri-colour, R-W-B with a shallow, tongued split, with on the
white stripe a yellow six-pointed star close to the fly.
- Venezuela: Handelsflagge, which is the Y-B-R tricolour, with in
this case seven stars in a ring-configuration.]
- What is this flag of 1858?
- At what date was that configuration of stars
adopted/established?
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 21 August 2003
Venezuelan pages in Smith 1982 [smi82]
(the FAAATW book in Croatian translation) show the variation of
the flag with stars upright, the civil ensign without the Coat of
Arms and the state and war flag and esnign with the Coat of Arms,
bit in ratio 2:3, with date of adoption given by the civile
ensign 19 February 1954 (strictly speaking, this is incorrect as
the civil ensign in this form was adopted in 1930 and was not
changed in 1954, not even slightly). Smith 1975 [smi75c] is practically the same as
[smi82] regarding
Venezuela.
Crampton's [cra90f] shows the
same flag with Coat of Arms.
In the 1939 Flaggenbuch [neu92]
there are nothing surprising either, however captions reveal that
some dignitaries used different flags back then. Therefore it is
useful to quote the captions (translated):
- War and State Flag (Ensign), Standard of the President of teh
State "G.M.", Flag of the War Minister "F.M."
(president of the state and war minister we may probably
translate more "fluently" as president of the republic
and minister of defence, to use the modern terminology) - The
flag is the usual nationa flag with the Coat of Arms (with stars
pointing "outwards").
- Merchant Ensign, National Flag for Privates (or if you wish
"civil flag and ensign"). The Coat of Arms-less flag.
Željko Heimer, 29 August 2003
No official shades have been issued with regard to either the
stripes or the arms, and no recommendations for the arms are
given in any official source. However, the UK Flag
Institute give yellow PMS 109C, blue PMS 280C and red 032C, BR20:
Yellow, red PMS 186C and blue PMS 280C, and the Album des
Pavillons yellow 116C, blue 286C and red 186C.
Christopher Southworth, 4 Maech 2005
Circular and straight up stars allignment (see
below)
images by Željko Heimer, 18 August 2003
In the national Venezolan flag the stars are for (hoist to
fly): Caracas, Cumana, Barinas, Barcelona, Margarita, Mérida and
Trujillo. The seven provinces revolted against Spain colonial
rule.
Jaume Olle , 14 February 1997
in last "Vexillacta" (a belgian vexillolgical
review), a note about the venezuelian flag states that the 7
stars are disposed so as to have a point orientated towards the
exterior of the imaginary circle of stars.
Armand Noel du Payrat , 20 December 1999
according to the Law of National Symbols they could be
arranged like that, as it did not specify, and we could also (and
usualy) find the version of the flag depicted above: the point of
th stars pointing straight up. As I've been paying attention to
any venezuelan flags I see on the street (and there are many: we
are on a national duel due to the mudslides and floods which we
suffered last week), and have noticed both variants used in very
similar proportions. My count: 35 (straight up) to 33 (circular
allignment).
Guillermo Aveledo , 20 December 1999
The real national flag have the stars in arc, but standing
over their two "legs", and not following the arc.
Pablo Acosta Ri'os, 15 June 2000
by Raul Orta and Ivan Sache, 12 June 2004
Gouda's Roem, a margarine factory, issued in c. 1950 a several
flag albums; text: R. J. J. Heirman (ex-teacher); drawings:
Leonard Truk. Editor: van Dijk's Mengbedrijven, Gouda.
From the albums here is a
Venezuela's flag with Coat of Arms in the canton and a bow of
seven black stars.
Jarig Bakker, 14 August 2001
In fact and according to our reliable sources, the Venezuelan
Vexillological History registers solely blue stars on the yellow
stripe and white stars on the blue stripe: black stars on the
blue stripe would be little visible even relatively close...
So, it is one is only a peculiar flag that probably is product of
a press error.
Raul Orta, 9 July 2002
Venezuelan Flag with black stars (1950): it appears on some
flags albums sponsored by Gouda's Roem company, a margarine
factory, with texts of Mr. R.J.J. Heirman (ex--teacher) and
illustrations of Mr. Leonard Truk, published by Dijk's
Mengbedrijven, Gouda, Netherlands. Unpublished in the Venezuelan
Vexillological History, seems to us a peculiar interpretation
that probably it is product of a press error; mainly, considering
which the black stars on the blue strip would be little visible
even relatively close.
Raul Orta, 8 June 2004
