See Portugal

Portugal’s flag is a bi-color, divided into two unequal stripes. One green, the other red. The national coat of arms is centered between the two colors, positioned equally from the top and the bottom.

The flag as seen today was adopted on June 30, 1911. This flag replaced the one used under the constitutional monarchy.

The green in the flag was not traditional for Portugal, and if fact represents the breaking away from the more religious monarchical flag.

It is said that the green in the flag demonstrates radical republican ideals that were sweeping across Portugal at the time. This is also true for the flag’s red side, representing the colors of the Portuguese Republican Party. After the Republican revolution in Portugal, the red and green in the Portugal flag were said to symbolize the “hope of the nation,” which was represented in the green, and the blood of those who dies defending it. This was intended to produce a more patriotic appeal, rather then a political one.

One other interesting symbol to note in the Portugal flag, is the blue arms crossed in the center of the shield. Like the Portuguese flag itself, it has gone through many symbolic changes. The current blue arms centered inside the flag of Portugal, are an evolution from the blue cross of king Alfonso I (actual cross, unlike today’s version).

The flag of Portugal has gone through many changes throughout its interesting history, each change representing the new ideas and events that have shaped the country. Regardless what steps it took to arrive at the current flag, what traditions were broken, and which symbols are debated, the green and red have a strong aesthetic value, and proudly display the strength and adaptation of Portugal.