![[Paraguaçu, MG (Brazil)]](../images/b/br-mg-554.gif)
7:10 image by
Dirk Schönberger, 16 August 2010
Last modified: 2011-02-05 by ian macdonald
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7:10 image by
Dirk Schönberger, 16 August 2010
The flag of the Municipality of Paraguaçu has the same proportions as
the national flag, 14 units hoist by 20 units fly. It is quartered diagonally
with the coat of arms on the center.
Source: www.oiaqui.com.br/acidade.htm
Joseph McMillan, 27 May 2002
The official website is at
http://www.paraguacu.mg.gov.br/
The flag is shown on the official site at
http://www.paraguacu.mg.gov.br/web/principal.php?go=15
Dirk
Schönberger, 16 August 2010
There is more information about the flag on the municipal website:
The flag of Paraguaçu has the same proportions as the national flag, that is
14:20. It is quartered per saltire blue-white, with, in the middle, the
municipal coat of arms in proportions 7:7 Blue represents justice, strength,
nobleness, dignity, zeal and loyalty. It also represents serenity and the quest
of God by the man through the blue firmament. White represents peace, purity and
religious feelings.
The coat of arms is described on another page:
The shield is classic, in Ibero-Flemish of Portuguese shape, as used in
Portugal when Brazil was discovered. Its white field heraldically represents
(sic) peace, purity, religious feelings, and commitment to order and work.
The charges are the following:
- A river, placed in the top of the
shield, represents river Sapucaí, the main river of the region, which separates
Paraguaçu from the neighbouring municipality of Elói Mendes. The three small
fishes recall that the river is well-stocked with fish and has three islands;
- Mercury's winged helmet, placed under the river, represents the local trade;
- A five-pointed star, placed under the helmet, on the right part of the shield,
represents the Guaipava District;
- A mountain range, placed under the
helmet, on the left part of the shield, represents the Serra da Matinada;
-
The Scapular of Mount Carmel, placed vertically in the lower half of the shield,
recalls that the Virgin of Carmel is the patron saint of Paraguaçu;
- A
chapel, placed on the left of the Scapular, recalls the first sanctuary built in
Paraguaçu in 1810;
- A cogwheel, placed on the right of the Scapular,
represents the regional industry;
- A cow, placed under the cogwheel,
emphasizes the significance of cattle-breeding for the region.
The shield
is surmounted by a mural crown argent with eight towers, three crowns and two
half-crowns being visible. The open doors of the towers symbolize the
hospitality of the inhabitants of Paraguaçu. Argent heraldically means (sic)
friendship, work, prosperity, truth, loyalty, nobleness and integrity.
The shield is surrounded on left by a coffee branch and on right by a branch of
"marolo" (Annona coriacea Mart., aka soursop), both branches being
fructed. Coffee, introduced locally in 1885, is the base of the economy of the
region, while marolo is native from the region.
The white scroll,
heraldically representing (sic) harmony, peace and purity, is charged with the
name of the town, in blue capital letters. The years placed on left and right,
are the foundation year of the settlement (1911 - State Law No. 556, 30 August
1911) and the year it was granted the rank of "cidade" (town) (1925 - Law No.
893, 10 September 1925), respectively.
http://www.paraguacu.mg.gov.br/web/principal.php?go=13.
Ivan Sache, 20 August 2010
