Flag of Brazil
\nThe modern
Brazilian Republican flag was officially adopted on
November 19,
1889. The concept was the work of Raimundo Teixeira Mendes, with the collaboration of Miguel Lemos and Manuel Pereira Reis. The design was executed by Décio Vilares.\nIt is a green flag with a large yellow rhombus in the center. Within the rhombus there is a blue circle, with white stars of five different sizes and a white band running through it. The motto
Ordem e Progresso ("Order and Progress") is inscribed in the band. The current Brazilian flag is this same
November 19 1889 flag with some minor changes.
There was a previous flag designed by the Republicans, inspired by the flag of the
United States of America. This flag was almost never used except
November 15-
19 1889.
\n
The temporary Republican Brazilian Flag, November 15 -19 1889.
Symbology
\nIt is often said that Brazil's national colors (green and yellow) represent the country's natural richness. Green would represent the exuberant forests of the Amazon Rainforest, the Atlantic Jungle, and the Pantanal, while the yellow rhombus would represent the country's gold reserves: Brazil had once the largest gold mines in world and, between 1500 to 1900, more gold was extracted from Brazilian territory than had previously existed in the whole world.
Actually, Brazil's current flag was inspired by the flag of the former Brazilian Empire:
\nThe Empire Flag, September 18 1822 - November 15 1889
On the imperial flag, the green represents the Bragança Royal Family of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil; and the yellow represents the Castela e Lorena Royal Family of Leopoldina, Pedro's wife.\nIn the centre the old imperial flag bore the Royal Coat of Arms.
On the modern republican flag, the coat of arms has been replaced by the blue circle, which depicts the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of November 15, 1889 – the day the Republic of Brazil was declared. It is shown as seen from outside of the celestial sphere (i.e. the view is mirrored). Each of the 27 stars represents a different state and the Federal District. The number of stars changes within the creation of new states and, since the founding of the republic, has risen from 21 stars.
The star that represents the Federal District is Sigma Octantis, and its position near the south celestial pole makes it visible across almost the whole country, year round. Also, given its polar position, all the other stars depicted on the flag trace appear to rotate around Sigma Octantis. Choosing this star to represent Brazil's capital is therefore particularly apt (although it is a much fainter star than any of the others).
The motto Ordem e Progresso ("Order and Progress") is inspired by Auguste Comte's motto of positivism: "L'amour pour principe et l'ordre pour base; le progrès pour but" ("Love the Principle and Order the Basis; Progress the Aim").
The current national flag and ensign of Brazil were adopted on May 12, 1992 (Law number 8.421 May 11, 1992).
The Stars
\nThe constellation of the Southern Cross is on the meridian (indicated by the number 6 in the diagram). To the south of it is Polaris Australis (Sigma Octantis, numbered 7), representing the Federal District.
\nA list of constellations and stars on the map:\n#
Procyon (α Canis Minoris),\n#
Canis Major, with the largest star depicting
Sirius,\n#
Canopus (α
Carinae),\n#
Spica (α
Virginis)\n#
Hydra\n#
Crux\n#
Sigma Octantis (σ Octantis; south pole star)\n#
Triangulum Australe\n#
Scorpius, with the largest star depicting
Antares
The stars representing the Brazilian states (except
Sigma Octantis which represents the capital or Federal District):
\n \n | STATE | \n STAR | \n CONSTELLATION | \n SIZE | \n
\n \n | Amazonas | \n Alpha Canis Minoris (Procyon) | \n Canis Minor, the Little Dog | \n 1 | \n
\n \n | Mato Grosso | \n Alpha Canis Majoris (Sirius) | \n Canis Major, the Great Dog | \n 1 | \n
\n \n | Amapá | \n Beta Canis Majoris (Mirzam) | \n Canis Major, the Great Dog | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Rondônia | \n Gamma Canis Majoris (Muliphen) | \n Canis Major, the Great Dog | \n | \n
\n \n | Roraima | \n Delta Canis Majoris (Wezen) | \n Canis Major, the Great Dog | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Tocantins | \n Epsilon Canis Majoris (Adhara) | \n Canis Major, the Great Dog | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Pará | \n Alpha Virginis (Spica) | \n Virgo, the Virgin | \n 1 | \n
\n \n | Piauí | \n Alpha Scorpii (Antares) | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 1 | \n
\n \n | Maranhão | \n Beta Scorpii (Graffias) | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Ceará | \n Epsilon Scorpii | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Alagoas | \n Theta Scorpii (Sargas) | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Sergipe | \n Iota Scorpii | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Paraíba | \n Kappa Scorpii | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Rio Grande do Norte | \n Lambda Scorpii (Shaula) | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Pernambuco | \n Mu Scorpii | \n Scorpius, the Scorpion | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Mato Grosso do Sul | \n Alpha Hydrae (Alphard) | \n Hydra, the Water Serpent | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Acre | \n Gamma Hydrae | \n Hydra, the Water Serpent | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | São Paulo | \n Alpha Crucis (Acrux) | \n Crux, the Southern Cross | \n 1 | \n
\n \n | Rio de Janeiro | \n Beta Crucis (Becrux) | \n Crux, the Southern Cross | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Bahia | \n Gamma Crucis (Gacrux) | \n Crux, the Southern Cross | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Minas Gerais | \n Delta Crucis | \n Crux, the Southern Cross | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Espírito Santo | \n Epsilon Crucis | \n Crux, the Southern Cross | \n 4 | \n
\n \n | Rio Grande do Sul | \n Alpha Trianguli Australe | \n Triangulum Australe, the Southern Triangle | \n 2 | \n
\n \n | Santa Catarina | \n Beta Trianguli Australe | \n Triangulum Australe, the Southern Triangle | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Paraná | \n Gamma Trianguli Australe | \n Triangulum Australe, the Southern Triangle | \n 3 | \n
\n \n | Goiás | \n Alpha Carinae (Canopus) | \n Carina, the Keel of Argo | \n | \n
\n \n | CAPITAL | \n STAR | \n CONSTELLATION | \n SIZE | \n
\n \n | Brasília, DF (Federal District) | \n Sigma Octantis (Polaris Australis) | \n Octans, the Octant | \n 5 | \n
\n
Other Brazilian Flags
\nThe list below identifies other flags also used in Brazil prior to the foundation of the Republic:
\nChrist's Order Flag (1332 - 1651)
\nRoyal Flag (1500 - 1521)
\nDom João III Flag (1521 - 1616)
\nSpanish Flag (1616 - 1640)
\nRestoration Flag (1640 - 1683)
\nPrince Flag (1645 - 1816)
\nDom Pedro II Flag (Portugal 1683 - 1706)
\nRoyal Flag, XVII century (1600 - 1700)
\nPortugal United Kingdoom, Brazil and Algarves (1816 - 1821)
\nConstitutional Regime Flag (1821 - 1822)
\nImperial Flag (1822 - 1889)
External References
\n*Brazilian Army (in Portuguese)\n
Category:Brazil\nBrazil
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