The Secret History Behind Belize's Flag
Belize's flag is one of the very few national flags with human figures on it.
In the center, on a white disc, is the national coat of arms: two woodcutters, one Mestizo and one Creole, on either side of a shield with a mahogany tree and the tools of their trade, a paddle and a squaring axe. Mahogany logging was the industry that first brought British settlers to the area and was for a long time the mainstay of its economy.
The flag was adopted on September 21, 1981, the day Belize became independent. The royal blue field stands for the Caribbean Sea and the unity of the people, and the two red stripes, one at the top and one at the bottom, are read as the country's determination. The blue and the red are also the colors of the two main political parties, which makes the flag a symbol of national unity.
The date printed on every Belize design in our catalog, September 21, 1981, is Independence Day.
A flag that put its people in the middle.
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.