Puerto Rican Flag

The Puerto Rican flag consists of 5 alternate red and white stripes. On the left of the flag is a single white five-pointed star resting in a blue triangle.

The three red stripes symbolizes the blood from the brave warriors, the two white stripes victory and peace after obtaining independence, blue symbolizes the sky and sea and the white star is the island.

In 1952 when Puerto Rico became a commonwealth, the flag was officially adopted, but it symbolism was altered to distance the flag from its history, along the blue, it was changed to a darker tone to make it similar to the American flag.

The symbolism is explained thus. The white star stands for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico while the three sides of the equilateral triangle together represent the three branches of the Republican government (executive, legislative and judicial branches). The three red strips symbolize the blood that feeds those parts of the government. The two white stripes symbolizing the rights of man and the freedom of the individual, are a perpetual reminder of the need for vigilance of a democratic government is to be preserved.

The flag is not flown except in company of the U.S. flag. It should always stay to the left of the U.S. flag and both are to be flown at the same height. The Puerto Rican flag should be raised after the United States' flag is risen and put down before the United States' flag.

In 1995 the triangle color was changed again to sky blue.