The Secret History Behind Chile's Flag

Chile's flag hides the whole country in three colors.

White for the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, running the length of the country like a spine. Blue for the Pacific sky and ocean along its coast. Red for the blood of those who fought and won independence. Three colors, and between them, they sketch the geography of one of the longest, narrowest countries on Earth — over 2,600 miles from north to south.

At its heart sits a single white star on a field of blue — sometimes called La Estrella Solitaria, the Lone Star. It's a guide, a symbol of unity stretching from the driest desert in the world in the north to the glaciers of Patagonia in the south.

Chile's story as an independent nation began on September 18, 1810 — the date printed on every Chile design in our catalog, still celebrated today as Fiestas Patrias, one of the biggest holidays of the year.

One star, one nation, stretching the length of a continent.

Shop the Chile collection → — or explore the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Story Cards page.