The Cuban Flag

The Cuban flag was created by Narciso López in 1849, and put together by Emilia Tolón.

The colors represented the aspiration for freedom that all men share: red, white and blue. Three blue stripes represent the states into which the island was divided at that time; two white stripes imply the force and dedication of the idealistic soldier for independence; a red triangle for equality, fraternity and liberty, and the blood shed in the pursuit of freedom; a white five-sided star, inside the red triangle, as a symbol of freedom between nations.

The flag is twice as long as it is wide.

There were several other attempts to establish a flag for a free and independent Cuba. The first Cuban flag was made by Joaquín Infante in the first decade of the 1800s, and was used by Cuban rebels in 1809-10 during a separatist conspiracy.

Another flag was used by the "Suns and Rays of Bolivar" (Los Soles y Rayos de Bolivar), a secret society organized by Cuban poet José María Heredia and José Francisco Lemus with the goal of liberating Cuba in 1823. The flag featured a brilliant golden sun.