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Belize

original by Zeljko Heimer 17-FEB-96, modified by Mark Sensen 17-SEP-97

See also

City.Net for more detailed information about Belize.

Explanation of the flag

The white disk in the center has 50 olive leaves along its inner periphery. This represents the year 1950, when British Honduras (Belize's former name) began its quest for independence from the UK. When Belize became independent in 1981, the two red stripes were added to the previous flag.

In the center of the white disk there is a coat of arms divided in three sections. The left field holds an oar and a sledgehammer, the right one contains a saw and an ax, and the bottom one has a sailing ship. If one looks at the ship closely, one sees a red flag flying which might be a British Red Ensign.

Above the coat of arms, there is a tree, and below the c.o.a., one can see Belize's motto "Sub umbra floreo" -- I flourish in the shadow (referring to the dependence from the UK). There is a mulatto man holding an ax to the left of the coat of arms. On the right side, a black man holds an oar.

The coat of arms seems to have been slightly modified compared to the arms in the 'pre-independence' flag (without stripes) shown in W. Smith's book. Note the change of darkness of the green, and the substitution of the orange with yellow for the right section of the coat of arms. Also, the saw went from a blade saw to a bow saw. On the old flag, the men stand on the motto, whereas on the new one, they are on the ground, and the motto is smaller.

Zeljko Heimer 17-FEB-1996

History of the flag

The blue flag with a white disk (without the stripes) was adopted on February 2 1950, as British Honduras started its journey toward independence. The two red stripes were added on September 21 1981, when Belize officially became independent from the UK. Surprisingly, the motto (Sub umbra floreo) was not changed in 1981, even after independence from the UK.

The coat of arms shown on the flag was given to British Honduras on January 28 1907. It has remained mainly unchanged ever since, except for some minor changes which were discussed above.

Zeljko Heimer 17-FEB-1996

About the British Honduras Badge and Coat of Arms

According to Crampton's The World of Flags 1990, the coat of arms was granted in 1907 (see above). However, Crampton does not say which of the coat of arms or the badge came first. A possible theory would be that the badge was designed before the arms. In effect, the ship at sail is a clear sign of late 19th century Caribbean colony designs. Thus, the 1907 coat of arms must have been an attempt to make the badge more 'heraldically correct', and so, the badge must have come before the arms. This is an educated guess, but a guess nonetheless. Which preceded which is still unclear.

Roy Stilling 22-JUL-1996