image by Joseph McMillan
Last modified: 2008-08-02 by ian macdonald
Keywords: sao paulo | guarulhos | cross (red) | lozenge (white) | coat of arms | cross (latin) | crescent | anhuma |
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The flag was designed by Arcinóe Antônio Peixoto de Faria and approved by
Law No. 1679 of 7 December 1971. It is blue with a red cross bordered in white, with the municipal coat of
arms on a white lozenge on the center. The cross symbolizes the Christian spirit of Guarulhos; the coat of arms
the municipal government; and the lozenge the seat of government. The arms of the cross show that the municipal
power reaches throughout the territory of Guarulhos, with the blue quarters of the flag representing
the rural areas of the municipality. The colors are assigned the usual significance in
Brazilian municipal heraldry. The coat of arms was originally designed by Affonso de E.
Taunay and blazoned by Clovis Ribeiro. This design was modified most recently by Law No. 3761 of
24 April 1991. The current shield is blue with a white Latin cross in the center.
In chief is a white crescent moon, representing Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. (The original name of
the settlement was Aldeia de Nossa Senhora da Conceição.) On either side and below the cross
are the heads of an Indian chief, the bandeirante priest João Alvares, and another European,
apparently a helmeted soldier. The motto scroll is inscribed Vere pavlistarvm sangvis mevs, meaning "Truly
Paulista [i.e., of São Paulo] is my blood." The scroll is displayed upon crossed sheaves of sugar
cane and wheat, principal agricultural products of the municipality. The supporters are two anhumas,
the large but reclusive birds that gave their name to the Tietê de Anhembi (river of the anhumas) in
the first years of São Paulo.
Source:
www.citybrazil.com.br/sp/guarulhos/geral.htm
Joseph McMillan, 3 September 2002
