São João Commune (Portugal)

Freguesia de São João, Concelho de Lajes do Pico, Açores

Last modified: 2016-01-16 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: sao joao(lajes do pico) | mountain | paschal lamb | sperm whale | goshawk | quina |
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• About the flag
• Presentation of São João

• Lajes do Pico Municipality
• Portugal

About the Flag

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a field quartered of blue and white.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Jan 2016

Shield Argent with base wavy of Argent and Vert superimposed by a sperm whale Sable, issuant from base a mountain Sable, superimposed by a torteau fimbriated Or and charged with a Paschal Lamb statant Argent, in central chief a goshawk Maron holding with his claws an inescutcheon Azure charged with five plates in quincunx. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "SÃO JOÃO - PICO".
Meaning:
The Paschal Lamb is an attribute of St. John the Baptist, patron saint and name giver of the commune. The mountain is representing Mount Pico (Port.: Ponta do Pico), Portugal's highest mountain. The base wavy is representing the sea. The goshawk is a local symbol of the Azores, which means "goshawk islands". The quina is a national symbol often connected with the goshawk.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Jan 2016

Flag and arms published in the official journal Diário da República: III Série on 17 March 1994
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Jan 2016

Presentation of São João

São João Commune is one of the six communes of the Lajes do Pico municipality (q.v.); it had 423 inhabitants in 2011 and covers 32.3 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Jan 2016

back to Lajes do Pico Communes click here