History of the El Salvador Flag: 1822 Origins, 1865 Stars & the 1912 Restoration
Follow the evolution of El Salvador’s flag from the first blue-and-white banner of 1822 to the 1865 stars-and-stripes design and the return to the Central American colors in 1912.
1 The 1822 blue-and-white flag
Official Salvadoran history links the first blue-and-white provincial flag to 1822, when Manuel José Arce chose those colors during resistance to annexation by the Mexican Empire. His wife Felipa Aranzamendi and his sister Antonia Manuela are credited with sewing the banner.
The flag was blessed in San Salvador on February 20, 1822.
2 The Central American federation
On August 21, 1823, the United Provinces of Central America adopted a blue-white-blue flag. El Salvador shared that regional symbolism during the federal era, and the colors later became a recurring marker of Central American political identity.
3 The 1865 stars-and-stripes design
In 1865 El Salvador adopted a very different flag with alternating blue and white stripes and a red canton containing white stars. The number of stars reflected the country’s departments and increased as new departments were created.
4 The return to blue, white and blue
On May 17, 1912, El Salvador restored the blue-white-blue national flag tradition. President Manuel Enrique Araujo promoted the change, and the new flag was formally raised on September 15, 1912.
First Salvadoran blue-and-white provincial flag.
Central American federation adopts blue-white-blue colors.
Stars-and-stripes-inspired national flag introduced.
Blue-white-blue design restored.
5 FAQ
When was El Salvador’s current flag tradition restored?
The present blue-white-blue tradition was restored by law on May 17, 1912.
What flag did El Salvador use before 1912?
From 1865, the country used a striped flag with a red canton and white stars representing its departments.
Why did El Salvador return to blue and white?
The colors reconnected the country with its earlier Central American federal heritage.
