www.ebizguides.com
14
General Information
on a rectangle. It officially
measures 3.35 meters
by 1.89 meters. The blue
stripes,
that measure
0.63, symbolize the blue
sky; and the white stripe
symbolizes the desire for
peace and harmony that
has characterized the
Cuscatleca community.
The flag was adopted by Legislative Decree on
May 17, 1912 and it is the same as the one that
the Constituent Assembly of the Central America
Federation decreed on August 23, 1823. The flag
was sworn in at Campo de Marte on September
15, 1912 and was raised personally by Dr. Manuel
Enrique Araujo, the President at the time.
The Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms of El Sal-
vador is centered around
an equilateral triangle. The
lower segment of the trian-
gle depicts five volcanoes
rising out of a body of wa-
ter. In the upper segment
there is a rainbow, and the
cap of liberty emitting light ub all directions. In the
shape of a semi-circle the words “REPUBLIC OF EL
SALVADOR IN CENTRAL AMERICA” are embossed
in gold. At the base of the triangle it reads: “GOD,
UNION AND LIBERTY”. Five flags jut out of the tri-
angle, two from each side and one from its vertex.
Below the inscription “God-Union-Liberty” there are
two inter-twined laurel branches in the shape of a cir-
cle that end at the two upperside flags. The National
Emblem was created by the Salvadoran calligrapher,
Rafael Barraza Rodríguez, who won a contest over
thirty competitors, promoted by the then Ministry of
War and Navy in 1912.
National Anthem
The National Anthem of El Salvador was composed
by General Juan José Cañas and the Italian musician
Juan Aberle. It was formally played for the first time
on September 15, 1879, and it was legally adopted by
the Legislative Assembly, as the National Anthem of
the Republic of El Salvador on November 13, 1953.
The Coat of Arms
El Salvador’s flag
Chorus
Salute the Motherland, proud
to be called Her children
And let us swear our lives spiritedly
Without rest to its well-being
First Verse
Of peace enjoyed in perfect happiness
El Salvador always nobly dreamed.
To achieve this has been Her eternal
proposition,
To keep it, Her greatest glory.
With inviolable faith, the path of progress
She strives to follow
To fulfil Her great destiny
And conquer a happy future.
A stern barrier protects Her
Against the clash of vile disloyalty,
Ever since the day when Her soaring Flag,
Wrote Freedom with Its blood.
Chorus
Second Verse
Freedom is Her dogma and Her guide;
A thousand times She has defended it,
And as many times has She repelled
The hateful power of atrocious tyranny.
Her history has been bloody and sad,
Yet at the same time sublime and brilliant,
A source of legitimate glory
And a great lesson in Spartan pride.
Her innate bravery shall not waver:
In every man there is an immortal hero
Who knows how to uphold
The proverbial valour of old.
Chorus
Third Verse
All are self-denying and faithful
To the tradition of warlike ardour
With which they have always reaped fame
By saving the Motherland’s honour.
To respect the rights of others
And base Her actions on right and justice
Is for Her, without infamous intrigue,
The constant and most firm ambition.
And in following this line She persists,
Dedicating her tenacious efforts
In giving hard battle for battle;
Her happiness is found in peace.
Chorus