07/20/2023
Colombian Independence Day is celebrated on July 20th. To rule the region independently from Spain’s colonial era, the ‘Junta de Santa Fe’ began in Santa Fe de Bogota, the viceroyalty’s capital. The event sparked independence movements throughout Latin America, resulting in a decade-long rebellion that culminated in the establishment of the Republic of Gran Colombia, including present-day Colombia, mainland Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, parts of northern Peru, and northwestern Brazil. Gran Colombia disintegrated in 1831; however, it was among the most powerful countries in the Western Hemisphere. It influenced the political development of new Latin American states.
Criollos (natives born of Spanish heritage) who desired independence grabbed the opportunity after the Napoleonic wars in Europe. There were uprisings and declarations of juntas (Military governments) in the months preceding July 20th of 1810, but the rebellion officially began on that date, and led to the establishment of Columbia as an independent state.
The flag of Columbia is a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue and red. The yellow stripe takes up a half of the flag and the blue and red take up a quarter of the space each, an unusual stripe ratio for a flag. The flags of Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela are derived from the flag of Gran Colombia. Venezuela opted for a more conventional tricolor with equal stripes.