Red and yellow have been colors associated with Spain for centuries now- it was 1785 when the King of Spain adopted the colors to distinguish his shops from those of other countries- the present layout was adapted on July 19th, 1927 for national and civil usage and the colors were originally taken from the arms of both Castile and Aragón the two regions that were united by Ferdinand and Isabella to make the Kingdom of Spain.
Spain was a republic from 1931 to 1939 and the flag shifted from it's usual layout to an equal horizontal tricolor of red, yellow and purple. The purple is thought to have referred to either the arms of León or Granada. The original format was restored with the victory of the Nationalists in 1939.
The arms are set towards the hoist and reflect the regions of Spain. The first and fourth quarters of the shield represent Castile and León. The others recall Aragón and Navarre. The base is the pomegranate of Granada and the whole shield is supported by the Pillars of Hercules and the motto is Latin: 'Plus Ultra' which means 'above all.'
Ladies and Gentlemen- Spain! And remember, until next time keep your flags flying- FREAK or otherwise!
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