The Secret History Behind the Dominican Republic's Flag
The Dominican flag has a white cross that touches all four edges, and it was designed by the man who dreamed up the country.
Juan Pablo Duarte, founder of the secret society La Trinitaria, conceived the flag. The first one was made by patriotic women, among them María Trinidad Sánchez, and it flew for the first time on February 27, 1844, the day the Dominican Republic declared independence from Haiti.
The cross divides the flag into four rectangles, two blue and two red. In the center are the national arms with an open Bible, a cross and the words "Dios, Patria, Libertad".
The flag was officially adopted on November 6, 1844, when the first constitution was approved.
The date printed on every Dominican Republic design in our catalog, February 27, 1844, is the day it first flew.
A cross, a Bible, and a flag sewn by hand before the country existed.
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.