View source for Flag of Uruguay

{{short description|none}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name       = Oriental Republic of Uruguay
| Image      = Flag of Uruguay.svg
| Use        = 111111
| Symbol     = 
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption   = {{start date and age|1828|12|18|df=y}} (first design) <br />{{start date and age|1830|7|11|df=y}} (modification)
| Design     = Four horizontal stripes of blue with the upper hoist-side corner bearing the [[Sun of May]] in the centre over a white canvas.
| Designer   = [[Joaquín Suárez]]
| Nickname   = {{lang|es|Pabellón nacional}}<br>{{smaller|('National Pavilion')}}
}}

The '''[[national flag]] of [[Uruguay]]''' ({{Lang|es|bandera nacional de Uruguay}}), officially known as the '''National Pavilion''' ({{lang|es|Pabellón Nacional}}), is one of the three official flags of [[Uruguay]] along with the [[Artigas flag]] and the [[flag of the Treinta y Tres]]. It has a field of nine equal horizontal stripes alternating white and blue. The [[Canton (flag)|canton]] is white, charged with the [[Sun of May]], from which 16 rays extend, alternating between triangular and wavy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/uy-flag.html|title=Flag of Uruguay|work=[[The World Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613023107/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/uy-flag.html|archive-date=June 13, 2007|access-date=June 27, 2007}}</ref> The flag was first adopted by law on 18 December 1828, and had 19 alternating stripes of white and blue until 11 July 1830, when a new law reduced the number of alternating stripes to nine.<ref name="britannica">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/hispanic_heritage/article-9093983|title=Uruguay, flag of|last=Smith|first=Whitney|encyclopedia=Guide to Hispanic Heritage|publisher=[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201215950/https://www.britannica.com/hispanic_heritage/article-9093983|archive-date=December 1, 2011|access-date=June 27, 2007}}</ref> The flag was designed by [[Joaquín Suárez]].<ref name="britannica" />

==Symbolism and design==
[[File:Sol de Mayo-Bandera de Uruguay.svg|thumbnail|right|200px|Sun of May]]
{{Main|Sun of May}}
The horizontal stripes on the flag represent the nine original [[departments of Uruguay]], based on the U.S. flag, where the stripes represent the original 13 colonies. The first flag designed in 1828 had 9 light blue stripes; this number was reduced to 4 in 1830 due to visibility problems from distance. These stripes of blue and white were inspired by the [[flag of Argentina]], making the flag of Uruguay part of both the Stars and Stripes and Belgrano [[flag families]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Znamierowski |first=Alfred |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OwueMQEACAAJ |title=The World Encyclopedia of Flags: The Definitive Guide to International Flags, Banners, Standards and Ensigns, with Over 1400 Illustration |date=2013 |publisher=Lorenz Books |isbn=978-0-7548-2629-3 |pages=114 |language=en}}</ref>

The golden [[Sun of May]] represents the [[May Revolution]] of 1810; the Sun of May is a figurative sun that represents [[Inti]], the [[sun god]] and mythological founder of the [[Inca Empire|Incan Empire]]. It also appears in the [[flag of Argentina]] and the [[coat of arms of Bolivia]].

===Colors===
The specific color hues of the flag are not officially defined by law.  However, most representations use the following:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! [[File:Flag of Uruguay.svg|border|30px]] 
! style="background:#fcd116; color:black" | Yellow 
! style="background:#7b3f00; color:white" | Brown 
! style="background:#0038a8; color:white" | Blue
! style="background:#ffffff; color:black" | White
|-
| '''[[RGB color model|RGB]]'''   || 252-209-22 || 123-63-0 || 0-56-168 || 255-255-255
|-
| '''[[Hexadecimal]]'''  || #FCD116 || #7B3F00 || #0038A8 || #FFFFFF
|-
| '''[[CMYK color model|CMYK]]'''  || 0-17-91-1 || 0-49-100-52 || 100-67-0-34 || 0-0-0-0
|}

===Co-official flags===
The National Pavilion shares its official status with two other flags, although it possesses a higher hierarchical position amongst them:
{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100
|Flag of Artigas.svg|[[Artigas flag]]|Flag of the Treinta y Tres.svg|[[Flag of the Treinta y Tres|Flag of the ''Treinta y Tres'']]
}}

==Historical banners==

During [[Spanish Empire|Spanish rule]]:

{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100
|Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg|Flag of [[Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata]]
}}
Independence from Spain:

{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100
|Flag of Argentina (civil).svg|Flag of [[Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata]] from 1813 to 1821
|Flag of Artigas.svg|Flag of [[Liga Federal]] between 1815 and 1820
||}}

Flag of [[Cisplatina]], under Portuguese/Brazilian rule between 1821 and 1825:

{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100
|Flag of the Provincia Cisplatina.svg|[[Cisplatina|Flag of the Cisplatina]]
}}

Uruguayan independence and reunification with the United Provinces (1825-1828):
{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100
|Flag of the Treinta y Tres.svg|[[Flag of the Treinta y Tres|Flag of the ''Treinta y Tres'' in 1825]]
|Flag of Argentina (1861–2010).svg|[[United Provinces of the Río de la Plata|Flag of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata]]
}}

=== Historical flags ===
{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100
|Flag of Uruguay (1825-1828).svg|Flag of the Provincia Oriental as part of the United Provinces<br />(1825–1828)
|Flag of Uruguay (1828-1830).svg|Flag of the Oriental State of Uruguay<br />(1828–1830)
}}

=== Variations ===
During the [[Great Siege of Montevideo|Great Siege of Montevideo (1843–1851)]] Uruguay had two parallel governments, with two different flags:
{{gallery|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100
|File:Flag of Uruguay (Oribe).svg|Flag used by the [[Gobierno del Cerrito|Government of the Cerrito]] during the [[Uruguayan Civil War]].
|File:Flag of Uruguay (Rivera).svg|Flag used by the [[Gobierno de la Defensa|Government of the Defense]] during the [[Uruguayan Civil War]].
}}

== Protocol ==
In accordance with Law No. 9,935 of June 14, 1940, in all public and private educational institutes "the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag will be solemnly performed on June 19."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ley N° 9935 |url=https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/9935-1940 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.impo.com.uy}}</ref> Likewise, Article 28 of the Law No. 9,943, establishes that every natural or legal citizen of Uruguay must take an Pledge of Allegiance to the National Flag.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ley N° 9943 |url=https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/9943-1940 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.impo.com.uy}}</ref>

On June 19 of each year, the Promise of Allegiance to the Flag is taken for first-year primary school children and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag is taken for first-year secondary school children.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-28 |title=Historia de la fidelidad y jura a la Bandera en el mundo {{!}} Administración Nacional de Educación Pública |url=https://www.anep.edu.uy/15-d/historia-fidelidad-y-jura-bandera-en-el-mundo |access-date=2023-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628042228/https://www.anep.edu.uy/15-d/historia-fidelidad-y-jura-bandera-en-el-mundo |archive-date=2022-06-28 }}</ref>

Public educational institutes that do not carry out the ceremony may be subject to administrative sanctions and private ones may be fined.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Jura de la Bandera: ¿"Un símbolo de orgullo nacional" o un "simple papelito sellado"? |url=https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Noticias/La-Jura-de-la-Bandera--Un-simbolo-de-orgullo-nacional-o-un-simple-papelito-sellado--uc721617 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Montevideo Portal |language=es}}</ref> The lack of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag carries sanctions such as the impossibility of issuing professional or technical titles, and access to work in the public service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redacción |title=¿Para qué sirve la Jura de la Bandera? |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/-para-que-sirve-la-jura-de-la-bandera--201261910220 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=El Observador}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-20 |title=Jurar y prometer la Bandera: ¿cuál es la justificación de este evento? |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/educacion/jurar-y-prometer-la-bandera-cual-es-la-justificacion-de-este-evento |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=EL PAIS |language=en}}</ref>
{| width="85%"
|+'''Promise of Allegiance'''
|
: Summons: ''¿Prometéis respetar y honrar esta Bandera que representa la dignidad, la soberanía y la gloriosa historia de nuestra Patria, la República Oriental del Uruguay?''

: Response: ''¡Sí, prometo!''
: <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=PROMESA Y JURA DE LA BANDERA |url=https://www.dgeip.edu.uy/prensa/3424-promesa-y-jura-de-la-bandera/ |website=Administración Nacional de Educación Pública}}</ref>
| valign="top" |
: Summons: ''Do you promise to respect and honor this Flag that represents the dignity, sovereignty and glorious history of our Homeland, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay?''

: Response: ''Yes, I promise!''
:
|}
{| width="85%"
|+'''Pledge of Allegiance'''
|
: Summons: ''¿Juráis honrar vuestra Patria, con la práctica constante de una vida digna, consagrada al ejercicio del bien para vosotros y vuestros semejantes; defender con sacrificio de vuestra vida, si fuere preciso, la Constitución y las Leyes de la República, el honor y la integridad de la Nación y sus instituciones democráticas, todo lo cual simboliza esta Bandera?''

: Response: ''¡Sí, prometo!''
: <ref name=":0" />
| valign="top" |
: Summons: ''Do you swear to honor your Country, with the constant practice of a dignified life, dedicated to the exercise of good for yourselves and your fellow men; defend with the sacrifice of your life, if necessary, the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic, the honor and integrity of the Nation and its democratic institutions, all of which this Flag symbolizes?''

: Response: ''Yes, I swear!''
|}

== Gallery ==
{{gallery|noborder=y|whitebg=n|width=120|height=120
|File:Bandera Gigante Uruguay.jpg|Flag in the historical [[Estadio Centenario]], Montevideo.
|File:Bandera Uruguay.jpg|Flag in the [[Estadio Centenario]]
|File:Bandera de Uruguay.jpg|Flag in [[Colonia del Sacramento]]
|File:Banderas y Monumento Artigas en la Plaza Independencia - panoramio.jpg|
|File:Palacio Legislativo Flameantes Banderas 2.JPG|Flag in the [[Palacio Legislativo (Uruguay)|Palacio Legislativo]]
|File:Uruguay flag from 1924 Olympics.jpg|Historical Flag from the [[1924 Summer Olympics|1924 Olympic Games]]
|File:La Bandera.JPG|
|File:Bandiera dell'Uruguay a Otranto.JPG|Flag in [[Otranto]]
}}

==See also==
* [[Coat of arms of Uruguay]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|National flag of Uruguay}}
*{{FOTW|id=uy|title=Uruguay}}

{{National Symbols of Uruguay}}
{{South America topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of South America]]}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Uruguay, Flag Of}}
[[Category:Flags of Uruguay| ]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:National symbols of Uruguay|Flag]]
[[Category:1830 establishments in Uruguay|Flag]]
[[Category:Flags with cantons]]
[[Category:Quadcolor flags]]
[[Category:Flags displaying a sun]]
[[Category:Flags with blue, white and yellow]]
[[Category:Blue and white flags]]