Posts Tagged ‘National symbols of Colombia’

National symbols of Colombia

The National symbols of Colombia are the symbols which represent the national identity of the Republic of Colombia as a sovereign state. The national symbols intend to represent the Colombian identity by creating visual, verbal cultural iconic representations of the national people, values, goals, and history.

These symbols are often rallied around as part of celebrations of patriotism and are designed to be inclusive and representative of all the peoples of the national community.

National Flag of Colombia

The Colombian flag was defined in 1934 by the Decrees 861 of 1934, expedited by the Government of Colombia during the presidencies of General Pedro Nel Ospina and Enrique Olaya Herrera.

As defined in the Constitution of Colombia Decree number 861 of May 17, 1934 in Article 1, the pavilion, flag and standard of the Republic of Colombia is composed by the yellow, blue and red colors distributed in three horizontal stripes. The yellow top stripe is positioned in the upper area of the flag and has a width of half of the entire flag horizontally. The other two stripes the middle blue and the bottom red will each be a fourth of the total area of the flag. The yellow color represents Colombia’s gold and natural wealthiest; the blue color represents the two oceans that border Colombia, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, rivers and the sky; the red color represents the blood of the patriots that fought against the Spanish monarchy to gain the independence of Colombia. Authorized variations of the Colombian flag also represent the merchant flag of Colombia, the War flag of Colombia exclusively used by the Colombian Army. The flag with the Colombian coat of arms is of exclusive use of the armed institutions of Colombia.

Other variations on the interpretation of the colors exist, such as, “Yellow, for the sun and land of the people. Blue, for the water that holds up the people and finally, Red, for the blood shed by the people who fought for the independence of Colombia.”

Coat of arms of Colombia

The coat of arms of Colombia is considered the symbols of all symbols in Colombia. The coat of arms integrates the major symbols for which the Colombian identity prevails. It was updated by Protocol based in Decree 1967 of 1991 as stated in the Colombian Constitution of 1991. The coat of arms of Colombia is only used in the center of the flag of the President of Colombia, war flag of Colombia and official documents. It can also be used for educational or display purposes within the guidelines of respect for the symbol.

The Coat of Arms was introduced on May 9th, 1834.

The coat of arms is in the shape of a shield (Swiss form) and is 6 parts wide by 8 parts high. It is divided into three distinct horizontal sections.

The upper section, on a blue field, has in its center an open gold pomegranate with red grains inside, a golden stem and leaves. On each side of the pomegranate there is a recumbent golden cornucopia, the one on the left pouring coins toward the pomegranate, and the one on the right full of tropical fruits. The pomegranate (granada) denotes the name of the country at the time the coat of arms was introduced (La Nueva Granada) and the cornucopias symbolize the wealth of the land, its minerals and the rich soils of the tropical zone.  The middle section shows a Phrygian cap (the symbol of freedom) on a platinum field (a Colombian precious metal).  The lower section shows the Panamanian Isthmus separating the two adjacent silver seas, with a black ship, sails unfurled, on each of them.  The Isthmus no longer belongs to Colombia.  The condor, representing freedom, perches at the top of the coat of arms.  Hanging from its beak is a laurel wreath, intertwined with a golden waved ribbon tied to the emblem. The words “Libertad y Orden” (Freedom and Order) are written in black on the ribbon.

Four tilted lances rise from the sides of the coat of arms, two on the right and two on the left, from which hang four Colombian flags which surround the emblem. The flags are bound together at the bottom tip of the shield.

The national bird

The national bird of Colombia is the Andean condor which is represented in the coat of arms posing over the centered shield with its wings wide open as covering the rest of the symbols under its wings and with an extended golden tape within its claws reading “Liberty and Order”. The condor holds in its peak a crown of laurels which symbolizes the achievement of the patriotic warriors for gaining the independence and its head faces towards the word “Liberty” in the golden tape.

The Andean condor inhabits the Andes mountain range. Although it is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion, this species belongs to the New World vulture family Cathartidae. The condor is one of the largest birds on Earth with a wingspan ranging from 274–310 cm (108–122 in) and weighting up to 11–15 kg (24–33 lb) for males and 7.5–11 kg (16–24 lb) for females, but overall length can range from 117 to 135 cm (46 to 53 inches). The adult plumage is of a uniform black, with the exception of a frill of white feathers nearly surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large patches or bands of white on the wings which do not appear until the completion of the first moulting. As an adaptation for hygiene, the head and neck have few feathers, exposing the skin to the sterilizing effects of dehydration and ultraviolet light at high altitudes, and are meticulously kept clean by the bird. The head is much flattened above. In the male it is crowned with a dark red caruncle or comb, while the skin of the neck in the male lies in folds, forming a wattle. The skin of the head and neck is capable of flushing noticeably in response to emotional state, which serves to communicate between individuals. Juveniles have grayish-brown general coloration. Head and neck of blackish skin and brown ruff.