historia DE LA MONJA BLANCA COMO FLOR NACIONAL

La historia de la Monja Blanca como Flor Nacional inicia a finales de

1933, durante una exposición internacional de flores en Miami
Beach, Florida, al sureste de Estados Unidos. Terminada la
exposición, la señora Letitia Southerland, presidenta de ese evento,
escribió una carta al presidente Jorge Ubico para agradecerle haber
ordenado enviar un grupo de orquídeas. Entre esas flores, escribía
Southerland, destaca por su belleza una variedad alba de la virginalis
forma alba -Monja Blanca-, y habiendo sido informada que
Guatemala no tiene su flor nacional, sugirió respetuosamente que
dicha orquídea sea tomada muy en cuenta (Grimaldi, 2001).
Esta sugerencia de la señora Southerland fue remitida a la Casa de
Gobierno y al día siguiente se publicó un Acuerdo Gubernativo donde
Ubico acuerda que la Monja Blanca, que se da en los bosques de Alta Verapaz, sea la Flor Nacional
(Grimaldi, 2001).
Ante el peligro de su extinción, el presidente Juan José Arévalo emitió un Acuerdo Gubernativo en
1947 prohibiendo completamente la libre colecta y exportación de la planta, sus bulbos y sus flores,
así como también la de todas las especies de la familia de las orquídeas. Más tarde, la Monja Blanca
también está incluida en la organización de Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de
Fauna y Flora Silvestres, la entidad internacional que regula y controla la flora y la fauna en vías de
extinción (Grimaldi, 2001).

HISTORIA GENERAL DE LA ORQUÍDEA

La Monja Blanca es una variación de color o semialbinismo presente en la especie Lycaste virginalis
(Archila, s.f.).

Aunque su descubrimiento para la ciencia se dio a mediados del siglo XIX, es una planta que ha sido
utilizada por la cultura maya y asociada a rituales de fertilidad durante cientos de años (Archila, s.f.).

Con la llegada del comerciante inglés George Ure Skinner a Guatemala inició una historia de saqueo
de materiales dentro de los que la especie en mención formó parte importante por sus flores llamativas.
Miles de éstas fueron saqueadas de los bosques guatemaltecos y enviadas a Europa (Archila, s.f.).

En 1840, fue descrita bajo el género Maxillaria basado en dos flores secas que George Ure Skinner le
envió a George Bateman, quien se las envió al famoso botánico inglés Lindley, quien la publicó en el
Edwards´s Botanical Register (Archila, s.f.).

ORCHID GENERAL HISTORY

The White Nun is a variation of color or semialbinism present in the species Lycaste virginalis (Archila, s.f.).

Although its discovery for science occurred in the mid-nineteenth century, it is a plant that has been used by
Mayan culture and associated with fertility rituals for hundreds of years (Archila, s.f.).

With the arrival of the English merchant George Ure Skinner to Guatemala, he began a history of looting of
materials in which the species in question was an important part of its striking flowers. Thousands of these were
looted from Guatemalan forests and sent to Europe (Archila, s.f.).
In 1840, it was described under the genus Maxillaria based on two dried flowers that George Ure Skinner sent to
George Bateman, who sent them to the famous English botanist Lindley, who published it in the Edwards's
Botanical Register (Archila, s.f.).

Orgullo patrio

De acuerdo con el historiador Francisco Reyes, antiguamente en Cobán las personas solían mantener
en sus casas -más grandes que las actuales- un huerto y un jardín, en donde sembraban rosas y
árboles de níspero donde colocaban una maceta de chut con orquídeas, y preferiblemente una Monja
Blanca por haberse convertido en símbolo patrio.

Protección de la Monja Blanca

Tras el decreto que declaraba a la Monja Blanca como flor nacional, la depredación de la orquídea se
incrementó, por lo que en 1946 el presidente Juan José Arévalo emitió un nuevo decreto para
protegerla, en la que se prohibía la recolección y exportación de la planta. Dicho decreto fue ampliado
en 1947 para extender la prohibición a los pseudobulbos y flores, así como al resto de especies de la
misma familia botánica.

Flor de Semana Santa

La Monja Blanca también se volvió muy importante para adornar las andas de Semana Santa en Alta
Verapaz. Juan Medina, un poblador de Cobán, adorna desde hace años el anda de Viernes Santo con
aproximadamente 3,000 orquídeas moradas y 100 blancas. Sin embargo, conseguir 100 flores blancas
se ha vuelto cada vez más difícil.

Acuñando la flor

Ya finalizando el siglo XX, en 1997 la Monja Blanca fue utilizada como una de las caras de la nueva
moneda de 50 centavos, la cual sigue siendo utilizada en la actualidad.
Homeland pride According to the historian Francisco Reyes, formerly in Cobán people used to keep in
their houses - larger than today - an orchard and a garden, where they planted roses and loquat trees
where they placed a pot of chut with orchids, and preferably a White Nun for having become a national
symbol. White Nun Protection After the decree declaring the White Nun as a national flower, the
predation of the orchid was increased, so in 1946 President Juan José Arévalo issued a new decree to
protect it, which prohibited the collection and export of the plant . This decree was extended in 1947 to
extend the ban to pseudobulbs and flowers, as well as to other species of the same botanical family.
Easter flower The White Nun also became very important to decorate the Easter Week in Alta Verapaz.
Juan Medina, a resident of Cobán, has been adorning the Good Friday walk with approximately 3,000
purple and 100 white orchids for years. However, getting 100 white flowers has become increasingly
difficult. Coining the flower Already at the end of the 20th century, in 1997 the White Nun was used as
one of the faces of the new 50-cent coin, which is still used today.

HISTORY OF THE WHITE NUN AS A NATIONAL FLOWER

The history of the White Nun as a National Flower begins in late 1933,
during an international flower exhibition in Miami Beach, Florida, in
the southeastern United States. After the exhibition, Mrs. Letitia
Southerland, president of that event, wrote a letter to President Jorge
Ubico to thank her for ordering to send a group of orchids. Among
those flowers, Southerland wrote, a alba variety of the alba form
virginalis -Monja Blanca- stands out for its beauty, and having been
informed that Guatemala does not have its national flower, it
respectfully suggested that said orchid be taken into account
(Grimaldi, 2001 ).
This suggestion of Mrs. Southerland was sent to the Government
House and the following day a Government Agreement was
published where I agree that the White Nun, which occurs in the
forests of Alta Verapaz, is the National Flower (Grimaldi, 2001).
Given the danger of its extinction, President Juan José Arévalo issued a Government Agreement in
1947 completely prohibiting the free collection and export of the plant, its bulbs and its flowers, as well
as that of all species of the orchid family. Later, the White Nun is also included in the organization of
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the international entity that
regulates and controls flora and fauna in danger of extinction (Grimaldi, 2001).
 SIGNIFICADO
Además de simbolizar la belleza y gran riqueza fértil de Guatemala, la Monja Blanca representa paz,
hermosura, arte y pureza.

MEANING
In addition to symbolizing the beauty and great fertile wealth of Guatemala, the White Nun represents
peace, beauty, art and purity.
HISTORY OF THE WHITE NUN AS A NATIONAL FLOWER The history of the White Nun as a National

Flower begins in late 1933, during an international flower show in Miami Beach, Florida, in the

southeastern United States. After the exhibition, Ms. Letitia Southerland, president of that event, wrote

a letter to President Jorge Ubico to thank her for ordering to send a group of orchids. Among those

flowers, Southerland wrote, an alba variety of the form virginalis alba -Monja Blanca- stands out for its

beauty, and after being informed that Guatemala does not have its national flower, it respectfully

suggested that such an orchid be taken into account (Grimaldi 2001) This suggestion from Mrs.

Southerland was sent to the Government House and the following day a Government Agreement was

published where I accept that the White Nun, which is located in the forests of Alta Verapaz, Mar la Flor

Nacional (Grimaldi, 2001) . Given the danger of its extinction, President Juan José Arévalo issued a

Government Agreement in 1947 that completely prohibits the free collection and export of the plant, its

bulbs and its flowers, as well as all species of the orchid family. Later, the White Nun is also included

in the organization of the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the

international entity that regulates and controls the endangered flora and fauna (Grimaldi, 2001).