The modern coat of arms of Brazil and the flag of the country: the history and meaning of symbols

Brazil - one of the most beloved by tourists in Latin America. But the paradise nature and warm climate do not mean stability and prosperity, the state's path to sovereignty was complex 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 symbol

The modern version of the emblem was approved in November 1889. It happened on the nineteenth day, and four days earlier the country became a republic. The adopted coat of arms of Brazil consists of a central emblem framed by branches of the coffee tree and leaves of tobacco. These plants are chosen as the most important in the country's agriculture. In the center is a blue circle, which depicts the constellation of the Southern Cross. The twenty-seven stars drawn next to him 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 was written the date of the creation of the republic, November 15, 1889. It was this coat of arms of Brazil that was then adopted and is still used today.

Details of the emblem

Each of the parts from which the arms of Brazil is composed, has a certain value and dimensions approved by a special decree. The round shield in the center should be blue and contain the silver stars of the Southern Cross, surrounded by a blue border with golden outlines. Along the edges - twenty-seven silver stars. The basis for the shield is a five-pointed star, which is made in yellow and green with a red border around the edge. This image is located on a silver sword with a blue handle, centered in red. The weapon is on a wreath made of a branch of a coffee tree with fruits and a flowering tobacco tied with a blue ribbon. The wreath is located on a golden star, which has twenty rays. Beneath 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 character variants

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. Between 1500 and 1816, when the country was colonized, the coat of arms of Brazil looked as follows. The white shield represented a green tree, of which the black Catholic cross stands out from the crown .

After gaining independence as a monarchy, Brazil acquired a symbolism in which features known to contemporaries appeared. A green shield with a royal emblem in the center was surrounded by branches of coffee tree and tobacco. In addition, twenty-seven silver stars have already settled on the blue border. Crown crown crowned, but with this condition the emblem was extremely similar to what can now be seen in the drawings and photos. The arms of Brazil were changed in 1831 and existed in a new form to the republic itself. Changes mainly concerned the appearance and form of the royal crown crowning the emblem. From narrower and broader it became round, with a gold cross on top and rubies and sapphires at the bottom - before the stones were red and green. Branches of significant plants for the country remained unchanged.

State cloth

You should study the flag and the coat of arms of Brazil at the same time to learn about the heraldry of the country maximum information. The modern symbol is a green rectangle with an emblem in the center. It was developed in 1889 according to Desiou Villares. In the middle of the flag is a yellow diamond, on it - a blue sphere. This sphere is intersected by a white band on which the words Ordem e Progresso, or "Order and Progress" are written, is an expression associated with the philosopher Auguste Comte and the maxim of positivism that was popular in the country in the nineteenth century.

Inside the blue sphere there is a Southern Cross that shone 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 band on the sphere is considered to be the celestial equator, ecliptic or zodiacal belt - there is no official opinion on this matter. However, there is a theory that it has no specific meaning at all, its place does not mean anything and serves only to accommodate the maximum of positivism by Auguste Comte.