<P> The country of Chile's flag consists of two unequal horizontal bands of white and red and a blue square the same height as the white band in the canton, which bears a white five - pointed star in the center . It was adopted on 18 October 1817 . The Chilean flag is also known in Spanish as La Estrella Solitaria (The Lone Star). </P> <P> It has a 3: 2 ratio between length and width, it is divided horizontally into two bands of equal size (being the lower red). The upper area is divided once: in a square (blue), with a single centered white star; and rectangle (white), whose lengths are in proportion 1: 2 . </P> <P> The star may represent a guide to progress and honor while other interpretations refer to its reference to an independent state; blue symbolizes the sky and the Pacific Ocean, white is for the snow - covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence . </P> <P> According to the epic poem La Araucana, the colors were derived from those from the flag flown by the Mapuche during the Arauco War . "Flag Day" is held each year on the ninth of July to commemorate the 77 soldiers who died in the 1882 Battle of La Concepción . </P>

What does the star on chile's flag represent