Country profile: Peru

Peru's first flag was created on 21 October 1820 by General José de San Martín, in Pisco, shortly after his liberation army landed. It was divided into four by diagonals, with a sun in the centre.

Several versions followed, until the law of 25 February 1825, passed by Congress under Simón Bolívar, set the current design: three vertical bands, red, white and red.

The official flag flown on public buildings, the ‘national ensign’ (pabellón nacional), bears the coat of arms in the centre of the white band. The ‘national flag’ (bandera nacional), used by private citizens, has none.

The colours and coat of arms of the Peruvian flag are generally interpreted as follows:

• Red: the blood shed by the heroes of independence.
• White: peace, purity and justice.
• Coat of arms: a vicuña, a cinchona tree and a cornucopia spilling gold coins, representing the animal, plant and mineral kingdoms.

According to legend, San Martín chose red and white after seeing, on his arrival on the coast at Paracas, a flight of flamingos with red wings and white breasts.

7 June is Flag Day in Peru, in memory of the Battle of Arica (1880), during the War of the Pacific, where Colonel Francisco Bolognesi refused to surrender to the Chilean troops.

The Peruvian flag resembles that of Canada, which also has three vertical bands, red, white and red, with a maple leaf in the centre.