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Pratânia, São Paulo State (Brazil)

image by Ivan Sache, 10 January 2013
Based on: http://www.citybrazil.com.br/sp/pratania/geral_detalhe.php?cat=9

Description of the Flag

See also:

Description of the Flag

A white off-centred cross on a bllue flag with the municipal arms on a white disk on the cross.

Official website at http://www.pratania.sp.gov.br
Dirk Schönberger, 9 January 2013

The municipality of Pratânia (4,599 inhabitants in 2010; 17,982 ha) is located in central São Paulo State, 285 km of São Paulo.

Pratânia was established at the confluence of river Claro and Jacu. At the time, river Jacu was known as Rio Prata (Silver River) and the first settlement was named Vila da Prata. What was originally believed to be silver was indeed galenite. The district of Prata de Botacatu was established on 29 July 1889, as part of the municipality of Botacatu, and transferred by Decree No. 9,775 of 30 November 1938 to the municipality of São Manuel. Since they already existed a district named Prata in Minas Gerais, Prata de Botacatu was renamed Pratânia on 30 November 1944. The municipality of Pratânia was established by State Law No. 8,550 of 30 December 1993.

http://www.camarapratania.com.br - Website of the Municipal Council

The primary source is the website of the Municipal Council.

The symbols of Pratânia are prescribed in Article 4 of the Municipal Constitution, adopted on and last amended on, as "a flag, the coat of arms and the municipal anthem". The flag and the coat of arms of Pratânia, designed by Lauro Ribeiro Escobar, are prescribed by Municipal Law no. 1 of 7 January 1997.

The flag is blue with an off-centered white cross. Over the intersection of the cross' arms is placed a white disk charged with the municipal coat of arms. The flag is in size 14 units x 20 units. The width of the cross' arms is 4 units, the vertical median of the cross being located 7 units from the hoist. The diameter of the disk is 9 units and the height of the coat of arms is 7.5 units. The cross is a symbol of faith, emphasizing the Christian feelings of the inhabitants of Pratânia and the town's patron saint, Jesus Christ. The disk is a symbol of eternity, emphasizing the permanence of the obtained political emancipation. The meaning of the colors is the same as for the coat of arms, argent on the coat of arms matching white on the flag.

http://www.camarapratania.com.br/conteudo.php?l=27 - Website of the Municipal Council

Photos of the flag:
http://suzanochacara.blogspot.fr/2010/03/arautos-do-evangelho-realizam-missao.html http://sandrodalio.blogspot.fr/2011/08/policia-civil-de-sao-manuel-prende-mais.html http://sandrodalio.blogspot.fr/2011/09/major-rubin-filia-se-ao-psdb-nesta-2.html http://www.citybrazil.com.br/arquivos/imagens/galfotos/gfu_800_00021567.jpg

The coat of arms is "An Iberic shield, argent, a cross patty gules surrounded by two eagle's heads affronty of the same beaked and crowned sable in base two fesses wavy azure a chief vair of two rows. The shield surmounted by an eight-towered mural crown argent ports sable. The shield supported dexter by a sugarcane and sinister by a branch of orange tree the two proper. Below the shield a scroll azure inscribed with the writing 'PRATÂNIA" in letters argent."

The Iberic shield, used in Portugal at the time of discovery of Brazil, evokes the first colonizers and builders of the country. Argent (silver) is a symbol of felicity, purity, temperance, beauty, verity, frankness, integrity and friendship. Argent also recalls the early name the place, Vila da Prata (Silver Town). The cross patty is the symbol of the deep Christian faith of the inhabitants of Pratânia and the town's patron saint, Jesus Christ. The cross also recalls the first church dedicated to Jesus Christ, which was the mark of permanent settlement of the place. The eagle's heads are a symbol of power, prosperity, victory, generosity, liberality, aspiration to highness, which culminated with the "coronation" of Pratânia as a municipal seat. Gules (red) is a symbol of audacity, valor, bravery, intrepidity, magnanimity, honour and nobleness. Sable (black) is a symbol of prudence, strength, constancy, simplicity, knowledge, science, gravity, honesty, firmness, moderation, silence and secret. The fesses wavy represent rivers Jacu and Claro, around which was founded Vila da Prata, named for River Jacu's nickname, Rio da PRata (Silver River). The chief vair represents leatherware for which the town is renowned. The mural crown is a symbol of municipal emancipation. The open ports are a symbol of hospitality. The sugarcane and the orange tree branch represent the fertility of the generous soil of Pratânia and the main source of income for the municipality.

http://www.camarapratania.com.br/conteudo.php?l=26 - Website of the Municipal Council
Ivan Sache, 10 January 2013