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Parati, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

by Joseph McMillan

About the Flag

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About the Flag of Parati

The flag was adopted 12 August 1967. Red, white, and blue, are the colors that have traditionally decorated the houses of the city, today a national monument. The colors are arranged in three vertical stripes, with the coat of arms on the center. On the red stripe in the hoist, a large white star symbolizes the first district, and on the blue stripe two small stars symbolize the second and third districts. The stars are placed in a triangular form, recalling the strong influence of Freemasonry in the history of the municipality. The coat of arms was adopted 30 November 1960. Quarterly: 1st quarter green with an Indian feathered headdress above two crossed arrows, all gold (representing the original inhabitants, Indians of the the Guaina tribe); 2nd quarter red with a white elliptical stamp outlined in gold bearing the Portuguese royal arms surrounded by the word "Remédios," the first four letters reading from bottom to top to dexter of the shield and the last four reading from top to bottom on the sinister (from the seal used in colonial times to authenticate acts of the municipal government; Our Lady of Remedies has been patron saint of the town since 1646); 3rd quarter, divided vertically white and blue with the outline of the municipality overall in yellow, on the blue field a fish naiant silver (for the plentiful fishery of the surrounding waters); 4th quarter, blue with the corner of a colonial house and an iron rail (characteristic of the colonial-style houses that led to Parati's designation as a national monument). Supporters are a branch of coffee and a stalk of sugarcane. Red scroll inscribed 1660 Paraty 1844 (the dates Parati achieved town and city status respectively). The shield ensigned with a a silver mural crown with five towers visible, the center one charged with a red oval bearing a yellow fleur-de-lis (representing Our Lady of Remedies). With regard to the colors, gold is intended to signify strength, silver innocence, red intrepidity, blue serenity, and green abundance.
Joseph McMillan, 23 July 2002