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The flag of Venezuela dates from 1811, the beginning of that nation's struggle for independence. The basic design includes a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue, and red. Further modifications have involved a set of stars at the centre, and a coat of arms at the upper-left corner.

Contents 1 Original flag 2 19th-century changes 3 Origin of the flag with eight stars 4 1954 changes 5 2006 changes 6 See also 7 External links

The flag is the one primarily adopted by the National Congress of 1811, consisting of three equal horizontal stripes. This original design was by Francisco de Miranda, who on March 12, 1806 hoisted a flag with three stripes, yellow, blue, and red, on his ship headed to the Venezuelan port of Coro on his second attempt to initiate an independence movement (Previously, in Venezuela the Flag Day was celebrated in March 12, until August 3, 2006).

The yellow band stands for the wealth of the land, the blue for the waters separating Venezuela from Spain, and the red for the blood spilled by patriots during the independence struggle. Flag Day is celebrated in Venezuela on August 3 since 2006, in honor of the disembarkation of Francisco de Miranda in La Vela de Coro, 1806.

This format has remained largely unchanged since 1811, but underwent several modifications in the 19th and early 20th centuries as regards the stars and the Coat of Arms.

During the first half of the 19th century, seven stars were added to the flag to represent the seven colonial provinces of Barcelona, Barinas, Caracas, Cumaná, Margarita, Mérida, and Trujillo that had united against Spain during the War of Independence.

Flag of Angostura (November 20, 1817):

After the Guayana campaign, Simón Bolívar added the eighth star to the national flag in representation of the newly freed province. Bolívar issued the following decree:

Simón Bolívar. Supreme Leader of the Republic and Captain-in-chief of the Armies of Venezuela and Nueva Granada. Since the number of provinces that compose the Republic of Venezuela has increased with the addition of Guayana by decree on 15 October, I declare in decree: Only article. We shall add to the seven stars on that the Venezuelan national flag has one more star as a symbol of the province of Guayana, in this way, from now on there will be eight stars on the flag. Signed by me, and stamped with the country's official stamp in the government palace in the city of Angostura, November 20, 1817. Simón Bolívar. [1]

The Law of the National Flag, Coat of Arms and Anthem added the Coat of Arms to the flag on 17 February 1954. The coat of arms was not incorporated into the Civil or Maritime Flag, which is intended for non-governmental purposes, such as civilian use, merchant craft, and international sports competition.

On March 12, 2006, the flag was changed once again to the one depicted in the top image. The main changes are the addition of an eighth star, which President Hugo Chávez has called the "Bolívar Star" in honor of Simón Bolívar who had himself proposed the eighth star in 1817. This eighth star recognizes the contributions of the 19th century colonial province of Guayana (now one of the administrative regions of Venezuela), which joined in the fight for independence shortly after the original seven.

The Coat of Arms of Venezuela was also modified. At the suggestion of Chávez's eight-year-old daughter, Rosinés, the direction the horse is running in was reversed: formerly running to the viewer's right but twisting its head to the viewer's left, it now gallops and faces toward the viewer's left; in heraldry, however, this is dexter, the shield-bearer's right, and is the usual direction of motion.

Although the new flag was approved by the Venezuelan government it has caused significant controversy, and at the time of its official unveiling, Óscar Pérez, a spokesperson for the opposition group National Resistance Command, stated that the opposition would not use the new flag.

The opposition has complained about the significant cost involved in modifying not only all flags but all documents bearing the flag or coat of arms by the year 2011 as proposed by the government. However, the government says the 2011 proposal allows ample time for phasing in of the new flag as citizens, businesses, and other organizations are able to switch.

The changed direction of the horse on the coat of arms also caused a stir among the opposition, commentators, and comedians who have remarked that the horse's apparent "running to the left" is a not so subtle reflection of Chávez' left-leaning politics. Chávez says the latter represents the horse now being freed; he has made no reference to the attributed economic symbolism.

• Flag of Gran Colombia

• Venezuela on Flags of the World
• (Spanish) Ley de Bandera, Escudo, e Himno Nacionales - Law of the National Flag, Coat of Arms and Anthem.
• BBC Report on change of flag

	National Symbols of Venezuela
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