As the Chilean National Holidays 2024, known as “El Dieciocho,” approach, the traditional customs of national identity come to the forefront.
The so-called “chilenidad” is celebrated with ramadas or fondas, typical foods, and dances that highlight the country’s culture and folklore.
During the festivities, specifically on September 18th and 19th, it is mandatory to hoist the Chilean flag, but it must be done correctly to avoid a fine.
Here are some tips on how to properly display the Chilean flag.
How to correctly display the Chilean Flag?
The position in which the flag is used is regulated, and failure to comply with these rules can result in fines.
If you are going to hang the flag horizontally (for example, in a window), the star should be in the upper left corner when viewed from the front.
If you are going to hang it vertically, the star should still be in the upper left corner when viewed from the front. If using a flagpole, it should be white, and the flag should be at the top.
When displayed alongside foreign flags, the Chilean flag should not be smaller or positioned lower than the others. For apartment dwellers, it is not mandatory to display the flag if the building has one.
Is It mandatory to display the Chilean Flag during National Holidays?
Article 2 of Law No. 20.537 mandates the use or hoisting of the flag on specific “occasions or events determined by regulation”.
The dates of September 18th and 19th are included in these events, making it mandatory to display the flag during National Holidays.
What Is the fine for not displaying the Chilean Flag?
Law No. 20.537 also authorizes Carabineros of Chile to “enforce the rules regulating the use or hoisting of the national flag”.
The fine for not displaying the Chilean flag or for displaying it incorrectly during National Holidays ranges from 1 to 5 Monthly Tax Units (UTM), which is approximately between $63,452 and $317,260.
What are the colors of the Chilean Flag?
Law No. 2.597, enacted in 1912 and still in force, stipulates that the colors of the Chilean flag are turquoise blue, white, and red.
How Is the Chilean Flag composed?
According to the same law, the national flag is composed as follows:
The flag will be divided into two horizontal bands of equal width; the lower band will be red, and the upper band will be blue in its one-third closest to the hoist and white in the remaining two-thirds of its length, with a white five-pointed star in the center of the blue square. The diameter of the star will be equal to half the side of the blue square.
What do the colors of the Chilean Flag represent?
The most common interpretations hold that blue represents the sky, white represents the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, and red represents the blood shed by national heroes in the War of Independence.
Another version suggests that the colors of the current Chilean flag trace back to the tricolor bands used by Mapuche leaders (toquis) during the Arauco War against the Spanish conquest.
What does the star on the Chilean Flag mean?
The star on the flag symbolizes the unity of the Chilean state and also represents its three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.
How many flags has Chile had?
Chile has had three flags since the beginning of its independence process. The “Flag of the Old Fatherland” from 1812 was the first.
It was never officially legalized and consisted of three colors: blue, white, and yellow, arranged in horizontal stripes.
The “Transition Flag” was adopted on May 26, 1817, consisting of three horizontal lines with the colors blue, white, and red.
Finally, on October 18, 1817, the current flag of Chile, known as “The Lone Star,” was legalized.
