Though the meaning of Cuba's flag is deeply tied to what the country's people value and how they see themselves, the country's flag actually got its start in the United States, and in fact has much in common with Old Glory.
The Cuban flag was designed by two people: a poet by the name of Miguel Teurbe Tolon, and a general named Narciso Lopez.
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Lopez called upon Tolon, his friend, to bring to life his vision for a flag representing Cuba's quest for liberation from Spanish rule. Lopez, then the leader of a group of Cuban exiles who opposed Spain's ruling of their country, encouraged his followers to adopt the design in 1849. They were in New York City at the time, but Lopez later carried the flag in two unsuccessful battles against the Spanish: at Cárdenas in 1850 and Playitas in 1851. Thus, the flag made its debut more than a half-century before its official adoption in 1902.
Tolon used colors and shapes to represent the kinds of values and characteristics important to the Cuban identity. While it may come as a shock considering the poor relationship between the U.S. and Cuba over the past several decades, the flag's design was partially inspired by the American flag.
Both have a red, white, and blue theme and feature stars and stripes.
According to World Atlas, the red triangle on the left-hand side of the flag is modeled after the Masonic symbol for equality. The triangle also symbolizes strength and constancy. The white stripes represent purity, and in particular the purity of their cause, which was independence.
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It took 50 years for Lopez and Tolon's design to achieve official status. Following the conclusion of the Spanish-American War, the American flag flew briefly, from Jan. 1, 1899, to the Cuban flag's adoption on May 20, 1902.
The flag has remained an enduring symbol of Cuba's independence, even during and after the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
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