International Color Guide - Peru

The Color Traditions of Peru's Indigenous People Drive the Country's Modern Conventions As Well.

Peru has had several different flags, but most have been red and white, colors chosen by a national hero during the country's war for independence.

In the center of the flag is a cinchona tree (the source for quinine), a shield with the image of a llama, and a yellow cornucopia filled with coins, all framed by a green wreath.

The indigenous peoples of Peru, the Quechua, Aymara, and Tupac Katari among them, weave cloths that are highly symbolic of their spiritual lives. The color and pattern of the weaving can identify where it was woven, the cloth's function, as well as the user's gender and social status.

The Tupac Katari honor a very involved flag, which is square and consists of 49 squares of red, orange, yellow, white, green, purple, blue, light blue, pink, dark red, coffee, lead, ochre, black and light green. Each color has its own special meaning.

Color symbolism is evident in Peruvian funerals. A pink and white wreath is seen at a service for a single person or child. Black, purple and green are used in wreaths for married people.

	White wreaths are used at the funerals of single persons or children. White is a color associated with angels, good health, and time. White used with red has patriotic connotations.
	Black is a funeral color, associated with grief and mourning. But it is also the favored color of clothing for men.
	Red is the color for children and unmarried people. Red can symbolize a healthy soul, and for some native peoples, it is symbolic of the earth. Red combined with white has patriotic connotations.
	For the Tupac Katari Indians of Peru, blue stands for space. A woman who wears a blue shawl is either engaged or married.
	Green can be symbolic of economy for the Tupac Katari.
	Orange should not be used in any memorial arrangements. The Tupac Katari Indians associate orange with society and culture.
	For some native populations, gray is the funeral color.