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Palmas, Paraná (Brazil)

image by Ivan Sache, 6 February 2022

About the Flag

About the Flag

The municipality of Palmas (42,887 inhabitants in 2010; 1,567 ha) is located on the border with Santa Catarina, 380 km south-west of Curitiba. Built at an elevation of 1,115 m, Palmas is Paraná's oldest permanent settlements and coldest town, with an average temperature of 16 °C.

Palmas and the neighboring region (Campos de Palmas, lit. Palm groves) were discovered in 1720-1726 by Zacarias Dias Côrte, a pioneer from Curitiba seeking gold. The name of Campos de Palmas was coined by Major Atanagildo Pinto Martins, who commanded a Royal expedition in 1814-1819. The expedition was guided by Cacique Yongong, who explained that the region was well-known to the natives as Bituruna / Ibituruna, "The Highlands / The Palm Lands". However, the local historian Roselys Velloso Roderjan believes that the Major rather named the place to Campos de Palmas as a tribute to the Count of Palma, then President of the São Paulo Province, to which today's Paraná belonged at the time.
The parish of Palmas was established by Provincial Law No. 22 promulgated on 28 February 1855. Law No. 155, promulgated in 1838, prescribed the building of a road linking Guarapuava to Palmas. Law No. 484 promulgated on 13 April 1877 made of Vila do Senhor Bom Jesus dos Campos de Palmas the seat of a municipality, which was inaugurated on 14 April 1879. The diocese of Senhor Bom Jesus da Coluna dos Campos de Palmas (diocese of Palmas-Francisco Beltrão since 1987), with its seat in Palmas, was established on 14 January 1958.

The Palmas Question was a bone of contention between Brazil and Argentina, which both claimed sovereignty on Campos de Palmas. The Treaty of Montevideo, signed on 25 January 1890 between Argentina and the Provisory Government of the new Brazilian Republic, shared the disputed area between the two countries; however, the Brazilian Congress rejected it in 1891, claiming that the Minister who had signed the treaty was legally not allowed to leave parts of the national territory to Argentina. Commissioned for arbitration, President of the USA Grover Cleveland stated on 5 February 1895 that the disputed territory should remain Brazilian. The town of Clevelândia, located in the disputed area, was named as a tribute to the American president.

https://pmp.pr.gov.br/
Municipal website

The flag and arms of Palmas are prescribed by Municipal Law No. 458 promulgated on 21 May 1971.

The symbols were designed by Jorge Antônio da Costa Guimarães, with the support of Josué Guimarães to elaborate the coat of arms.
The flag is composed of a quadrilateral divided in three vertical stripes of the same shape and dimension, red, white and green.
The green color, symbol of hope, represents the forests and fields that are the main sources of income for the municipality.
The white color, on which the municipal coat of arms is applied, symbolizes peace, frost and snow, which are peculiar characteristics of local winters.
The red color represents faith, associated with the cloak of Lord Jesus portrayed on the Campos de Palmas column. It recalls the first pioneers' faith; under his protection, the entire vast region located between rivers Iguaçu and Uruguay developed and evolved materially and spiritually.

The coat of arms is in classic shape, surmounted by a mural crown. Its design brings together historical data and natural conditions, distinguishing the municipality from the others. In the center is featured a facsimile of the column erected in front of the episcopal palace, recalling the Campos de Palmas column, with a bovine on the left side, symbol of livestock, a pioneer and basic activity in the region, on the right side, two pine trees, recalling the forests that gave rise to industrial development, making of the municipality of Palmas one of the first wood producers in southern Brazil. On either side of the shield, a branch of yerba mate (Paraguayan ilex) and a palm; the first for being one of the sources of wealth, and the second for being a native plant, which gave rise to the name of the municipality. The mural crown with towers symbolizes centuries-old traditions. The shield's field is green and yellow.

https://pmp.pr.gov.br/website/views/simbolos.php
Municipal website

Photo of the column
https://mapio.net/pic/p-57976584/

Photos
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4862181883805710
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4582365771787324

image by Ivan Sache, 6 February 2022

The flag is also used with the coat of arms in grey tones, mirrored.

Photos
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4725561430801090
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4205602226130349

Ivan Sache, 6 February 2022