Last modified: 2016-02-29 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: mirando do douro(freguesia) | miranda de l douro | strikestick | mitre | base(wavy) |
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Like all toponyms in the municipality, this commune has two names: Miranda do Douro in Portuguese and Miranda de l Douro in Mirandese (the local syncretic dialect complex of Asturian-Leonese, co-official language of Portugal and given a standard orthography), each is the translation of the other and both refer to the namesake city. This in turn mentions the nearby river Douro. The names in brackets are Mirandese, the local language.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 13 Feb 2016
It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain yellow field.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 13 Feb 2016
Shield Azure, three dancing strikestick pairs set per fess, each pair with its sticks set per saltire, each ribboned Or, in chief a bishop’s mitre Or and on a wavy base Argent two barrulets wavy Azure. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll reading in black upper
case letters "FREGUESIA DE MIRANDA DO DOURO". In spite of the bilingual status (enshrined in the Constitution of 1999), the scroll of the CoA is not bilingual, according to the law (signed in 2001).
Meaning:
The base wavy is representing River Douro. Also featured is a token of the local bishopric, seated in the city from 1545 to 1580 and, along with its cathedral, a topic of local pride and an important landmark in history. Also featured on the arms are the sticks used in the local traditional dance, a pair for each dancer, who holds them on each hand and strikes them on the same held by each of the other dancers, with vigorous pair switching. This is a male-only tradition and the folk costume for this dance includes a skirt and a beflowered strawhat. Men past the age of such frolicking gaze on chanting, dressed in long capes embroidered with intrincate designs.
Source: this webpage (slightly different).
António Martins-Tuválkin, 13 Feb 2016
Flag and arms published in the official journal Diário da República: III Série on 10 August 2001
António Martins-Tuválkin, 13 Feb 2016
Mirando do Douro (Miranda de L Douro) Commune is one of the 13 communes of the Mirando do Douro Municipality; it had 2254 inhabitants in 2011 and covers 37.5 km².
António Martins-Tuválkin, 13 Feb 2016
back to Mirando do Douro Communes click here