The
Flag of Brazil - Description of the Brazilian Flag
The description of
the Brazilian Flag is as follows:
The overall
Brazilian flag background is
green
With a large yellow
diamond in the center
The diamond bears a
blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for
each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same
pattern as the night sky over Brazil
The globe has a
white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Brazilian flag represent the
following:
Yellow -
the Brazilian gold reserves
Green -
the Amazon Rainforest, the Atlantic Jungle, and the Pantana
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Brazilian flag is
described Emblem -reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Brazilian flag is described as 10:17
The Meaning
& History of the Brazilian Flag - Brazil's current flag was
inspired by the flag of the former Brazilian Empire
November 19th 1889
- The Brazilian Republican flag was officially adopted
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Brazilian
Flag Etiquette
Brazilian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic
Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Brazilian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Brazilian
State Flag of
Brazilian
Military Flag of
Brazilian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Brazilian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Brazilian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Brazilian should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Brazilian flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Brazilian should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Brazilian flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Brazilian, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Brazilian Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Brazilian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Brazilian flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Brazilian flag to the top, then lowering the
Brazilian Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Brazilian flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Brazilian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Brazilian flag
The Brazilian flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Brazilian
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Brazilian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Brazilian
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding Brazilian Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Brazil
Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the
Atlantic Ocean
Brazilian Land Size : 8,456,510 sq km
Brazilian Climate / Weather : mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Brazilian
Population : 184,101,109
Former Name(s) :
n/a
Brazilian Capital
City: Brasilia
Brazilian GDP:
$1.379 trillion (2003 est.)
Brazilian Main Industries :
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin,
steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and
equipment
Main Colors of the
Brazilian Flag : Green and Yellow
Commonly mis-spelt
as Brasilian
South America - Concise
History of the Mesoamerican civilisations
Mesoamericans were the ancient
civilisations of South America which is now divided into 12
independent countries consisting of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname,
Uruguay, and Venezuela
The diverse civilizations of
ancient Mesoamerica included the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Incas
and Mayans
5000-1200 BC
The Ancestors of the people of South America were believed to
have been nomadic Asian hunter-gatherers who crossed over the
frozen Bering Strait and into North America. From there they
traveled to the lands of South America and were the descendents
of the great Mesoamerican civilisations and established corn
cultivation, pottery and the use of stone tools
The Olmecs - 1200 BC- 300 AD
The Olmecs were the first true civilisation of South America and
were the ancestors of the later cultures
The Mayan Civilisation - 300 -
1500's
The Mayans empire covered Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras,
and El Salvador. The Mayans developed astronomy and hieroglyphic
writing
The Toltec Civilisation - 900's -
1100's
The Toltecs ruled Mexico and Guatemala from the 10th to the 12th
century
The Aztec Civilisation - 1100'S-
1500'S
The Aztecs' rose to power in Mexico during the 12th and 13th
centuries and remained in control until the arrival of the
Spaniards in the 16th Century
The Inca Civilisation - 1438 - 1535
The empire of the Incas covered Peru, Bolivia, northern
Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador. The amazing rise of the Incas was
achieved in less than one hundred years and covered an area of
nearly 400,000 square miles
The Spanish conquistadors - 1535
The later civilisations of South America abruptly ended in 1535
when the Spanish conquistadors seized control
Concise History of
Brazil & its Flag
1500 22nd
April - Pedro Alvares Cabral (1460-1526), Portuguese explorer
and master of the Nina in 1492, discovered Brazil and claimed it
for Portugal
1540 Spanish
conquistador Cabeza de Vaca was appointed governor of the
Brazilian province of Rio de la Plata
1550 African
slaves were shipped to Brazil to work sugar plantations
1624 The
Dutch conquered Salvador
1636 Nov 17
- Brazilian general Henrique Dias won a decisive battle against
the Dutch
1661 Aug 6,
Holland sold Brazil to Portugal for 8 million guilders
1763 The
Brazilian capital was changed from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro
1789 Joaquim
Jose da Silva Xavier launched the first Brazilian rebellion
against Portugal
1792 Jose da
Silva Xavier was hung, drawn and quartered by the Portuguese
1810
Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon
1822 Sep 7,
Brazil declared its independence from Portugal
1822-1889
Pedro I ruled Brazil starting the period of the Brazilian
monarchy
1832 Apr 8,
Charles Darwin began a trip through Rio de Janeiro
1888 May 13,
Slavery was abolished in Brazil and 4 million slaves were freed
1889 Nov 15,
Brazilian monarchy was overthrown and a republic was established
1931 Oct 12,
The 98-foot statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro was
unveiled on the top of Corcovado Mountain as a Brazilian monument to
100 years of independence from Portugal
The
statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeirowas designed by
Brazilian artist Carlos Oswald and French sculptor Paul Landowski
1964 Apr 2,
A military coup in Brazil led by Gen. Humberto Castello Branco
1964-1985 A
military dictatorship ruled over Brazil
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The
Brazilian Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Brazilian Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
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