The bandera dominicana, or Dominican flag, features a centered white cross that divides the flag into four rectangles. The top and bottom rectangles are blue, while the left and right rectangles are red. The colors symbolize freedom, bloodshed for independence, and the sky. At the center of the cross, there is a coat of arms that includes a Bible and a cross, representing the importance of faith in the Dominican Republic. The flag was officially adopted on November 6, 1844, shortly after the country gained independence from Haiti.