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Canas, São Paulo State (Brazil)

image by Joseph McMillan

About the Flag

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About the Flag of Canas

The flag of Canas is a vertical tricolor, green, white, and red (the image at the source page shows blue-white-red, but the description clearly says green, and the reference is to Italy, not France). The colors are ascribed the usual heraldic significance, but primarily represent the flag of Italy, the homeland of the founders of Canas. In upper hoist, all in gold, are a star, symbolizing the area of Caninhas (location of the first settlement), a tau cross, symbolizing St. Anthony (whose image was brought from Italy and who became the patron of the settlement) and a fleur-de-lis, symbolizing Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The municipal coat of arms is on the center of the white stripe. The coat of arms of Canas is green with three escutcheons across the chief: one with the Italian flag, one with the Italian arms, and one with what is described as a cross paty but is actually the cross of the Order of Christ. On the field, in yellow, are emblems of three aspects of local agriculture: a plow, two stalks of cane (in Portuguese cana), and a stylized tractor. In base is a smoking chimney. The shield is surrounded by stalks of cane. The motto scroll rests atop rice sheaves and is inscribed "1887 - CANAS - 1993 - 1997." The shield is topped with a mural crown with five towers visible, the gates open to show red within. The three inescutcheons represent the Italian immigrants who settled Canas and the Portuguese navigators who first explored the area. The dates are those of arrival of the first Italian immigrants, of Canas's achievement of municipal status, and of the inauguration of the first elected prefect. The flag was designed by Vicente de Paulo.
Source: www.coneleste.com.br
Joseph McMillan, 18 March 2003