Brazil is one of the most beloved tourists in Latin America. But paradise nature and a warm climate do not mean stability and prosperity, the path of the state to sovereignty was difficult and long. Echoes of history can be found in the symbolism of modern Brazil. What exactly is her coat of arms and flag showing?
History of the adoption of the main character
The modern version of the emblem was approved in November 1889. This happened on the nineteenth, and four days earlier the country became a republic. The adopted coat of arms of Brazil consists of a central emblem framed by coffee tree branches and tobacco leaves. These plants are selected as the most important in the country's agriculture. In the center is a blue circle, which depicts the constellation of the Southern Cross. Twenty-seven stars drawn next to it represent twenty-six states and the Federal District. On the blue ribbon is the official name of the state - Republica Fedetativa do Brasil. Under this text is written the date of creation of the republic, November 15, 1889. It is such a coat of arms of Brazil was adopted then and is still used today.
Logo Details
Each of the parts that make up the emblem of Brazil has a certain meaning and dimensions approved by a special decree. The round shield in the center should be blue and contain silver stars of the Southern Cross, surrounded by a blue border with gold contours. Along the edges are twenty-seven silver stars. The basis for the shield is a five-pointed star, which is made in yellow and green with a red frame around the edge. This image is located on a silver sword with a blue handle, in the center decorated in red. The weapon is on a wreath of coffee tree branches with fruits and flowering tobacco, connected by a blue ribbon. The wreath is located on a golden star, which has twenty rays. Below the coat of arms of Brazil is complemented by a blue ribbon on which the official name of the country and the time of its foundation are written in gold letters.
Previous symbol options
The republic appeared only a little more than a century ago, before that Brazil was an empire, and even earlier - a colony. Each historical stage is associated with certain variants of state symbols. In the period from 1500 to 1816, when the country was colonized, the coat of arms of Brazil looked as follows. The white shield depicted a green tree, from whose crown stands a black Catholic cross.
After gaining independence as a monarchy, Brazil acquired symbolism in which features appeared that were known to contemporaries. A green shield with a royal emblem in the center was surrounded by coffee tree and tobacco branches. In addition, twenty-seven silver stars are already located on the blue border. The emblem crowned the crown, but with this condition the emblem was very similar to what can now be seen in the drawings and photos. The coat of arms of Brazil was changed in 1831 and existed in a new form until the republic itself. The changes affected mainly the appearance and form of the royal crown crowning the emblem. From narrower and wider, it became round, with a golden cross on top and rubies and sapphires in the lower part - before the stones were red and green. Branches of plants iconic for the country remained unchanged.
State cloth
You should study the flag and coat of arms of Brazil at the same time to find out maximum information about the country's heraldry. The modern symbol is a green rectangle with an emblem in the center. It was developed in 1889 according to the design of Deciu Vilares. In the middle of the flag is a yellow rhombus, on it is a blue sphere. This area is crossed by a white bar on which the words Ordem e Progresso, or “Order and Progress” are written, an expression related to the philosopher Auguste Comte and the positivism maxim that was popular in the country in the nineteenth century.
Inside the blue sphere is the Southern Cross, shining over Rio de Janeiro on November 15, 1889, when the Republic was proclaimed. Five stars symbolize the states. These are Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Espiritu Santo and Minas Gerais. The white stripe on the sphere is considered the celestial equator, the ecliptic or the zodiac belt - there is no official opinion on this subject. However, there is a theory that it does not have a specific meaning at all, its place does not mean anything and serves only to place the maxim of positivism by Auguste Comte.