The Secret History Behind Costa Rica's Flag
Costa Rica's flag got its red stripe because of the president's wife.
In 1848, as the country became a sovereign republic, Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno, wife of President José María Castro Madriz, suggested adding a red stripe to the blue-and-white flag. She admired France, where a new revolution was taking place that year, and wanted the flag to echo the French colors and the ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood.
The result is five horizontal stripes: blue, white, red, white and blue, with the red stripe wider than the others.
Many people know Costa Rica through one phrase, "pura vida", used as a greeting, a thank-you and a way of seeing life.
The date printed on every Costa Rica design in our catalog, September 15, 1821, is the day Central America declared independence from Spain.
A flag with a first lady's idea inside.
Looking for a gift with a story? See our heritage gift guide, or read the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Stories page.