The Story Behind The Panamanian Flag

Panama‘s flag is red, white and blue, divided into four quarters with two white rectangles – one blue, and one red. Either white rectangle boasts a single star, blue in the top left, red in the bottom right. Every color is symbolic in the way that it represents an important element to Panamanian life.

The white in the flag represents peace. The blue star is symbolic for purity and honesty, and it also represents the Conservative party. The red star stands for authority and law, and it also represents the Liberal party of Panama.

Panama‘s first President, Manuel Amador Guerrero, did not accept the first flag designed in 1903. It consisted of 13 horizontal red and yellow stripes, with a blue canton holding two golden suns. A narrow line represented the oceans uniting by way of the Panama Canal.

Though it was denied, Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla’s wife designed that first ever proposal for a Panamanian flag. She had taken inspiration from the flag of the United States, with elements that honor other countries, such as 13 stripes for the U.S. and using the color yellow for Panama’s connection to Colombia and Spain, whose flags both feature red and yellow prominently. She replaced the stars in the blue canton with two interconnected suns to represent North and South America.

Despite the heavy symbolism of Madame Bunau-Varilla’s flag design, it was rejected for appearing too similar to the U.S. flag. Instead, the President’s family designed the new flag. First, his son Manuel Encarnacion Amador, a recognized and talented artist, drew up a sketch which he then gave to Panama‘s first First Lady, Maria de la Ossa de Amador. She made Panama‘s flag on November 1, 1903, though the creation of the flag was not without difficulty due to the need to avoid the Colombian army.

Flag Day is celebrated every year on November 4, the day after Panama‘s separation from Colombia.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.