Living in Spain - National and Regional Flags

When you living in Spain you will quickly become aware of both the national and regional pride Spaniards have for their home and country.  This is reflected in the variety of flags flown here which reflect both the countries history and culture as well as the unique identity of each autonomous community.

The History of the National Flag

Spain’s national flag has taken an incredible journey through history and time to become the familiar emblem of the country we know today. During the middle ages Spain was divided into several kingdoms each with their own banner featuring heraldic images including coats of arms, crosses and lions. When the country was unified by the Catholic Monarchas of the late 15rh century Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile their symbols were combined to form a single flag. This showed the parts of the coat of arms of Castile and Leon with the red bars of Aragon. Subsequently in the 18th century Spain adopted and new naval flag with three horizontal stripes of red and yello which was inspired by the need for a flag that could easily be recognised at sea. As time progressed the coat of arms displayed on the yellow stripe were modified and during the era of the Spànish Republic a red, yellow and purple stripped flag wasa adopted for a short period before being replaced during the Spanish civil war with one similar to today’s banner but showing the yoke and arrow symbol of Franco’s Falange party. Following the death of Franco the current Spanish flag was officially adopted with its recognisable and historic red, yello and red horizontal stripes and a coat of arms the democratic ideals of modern Spain.

The regional flag of the community of Valencia

This is the flag that you will become very familiar with when you buy a property in the Costa Blanca and is officially known as the Reial Senyera (Royal Senyera), it represents the intertwined history of the Crown of Aragon and is the heraldic symbol used by the kingdoms and counties which were ruled by the Crown of Aragon including Catalonia, Aragon and Valencia. The flag has four red stripes on a yellow background and was adopted by Valencia as its official flag as long ago as 1377 when it is believed that King James I of Aragon granted its use to the city after the conquest from Moorish rule in 1238. In 1979 the modern flag of Valencia was born with the traditional Senyera and the addition of a blue vertical stripe on the hoist side to represent the Mediterranean Sea and the cities maritime history. The flag represents regional identity and pride and will often be seen in the Costa Blanca either a on its own or together with the national flag.

The flag of Alicante

Living in the Costa Blanca we are also close to and located in the province of Alicante and for this reason you will also be familiar with seeing a third flag flown regularly in the area. This flage is a gold fleece set against a red background, the Golden Fleece being a prestigious order of chivalry founded in 1430 by the Duke of Burgandy and later adpoted by Spanish monarchs, the red background is a common colour for heraldic banners symbolising valor and courage.

Flags from other Spanish regions

Catalonia also utilise the historic Senyera but, with a red cross on a yellow background, this is one of the oldest European flags and symbolises the four medieval counties of Catalonia. The Ikurrina is the flag of the Basque country with a green cross on a white background showing nationalism and representing hope with the green colour and peace with the white. Galicia features a blue cross on a white background, the blue cross of Santiago is a symbol of the Way of St. James Spain’s major pilgrimage route. The flag of Andalucia is white with a green stripe on the left hand side with the green representing the fertility of the regions land. Canary Islands flag has a white cross on blue showing the connection of the islands to the sea and their maritime history. Some other flages that are important to Spain’s culture and history are the flags of the Kingdons of Castille with its castle and that of the Kingdom of Aragon which is similar to the flag of Valencia and that of the Crown of Aragon with a red cross on a yellow background with four red stripes.

Cultural Significance of Flags in Spain

All flags play an important part in the culture of Spain representing identity, history and regional pride. When you live in Spain you will see them displayed on public buildings, in homes and during Fiestas and other cultural events. During both national and regional holidays flags are waved with enthusiasm to demonstrate both patriotism and a sense of belonging. More recently flags have also become important symbols for political and social movements and to express support for a variety of causes. 

Conclusion

Spain’s variety of flags are a reflection of the history and culture of this wonderful country telling it’s story and the unique identity of each of its regions. When you move to the Costa Blanca it is worth gaining an understanding of their importance so that you can have a deeper appreciation of the country, region and the people of our adopted home.