The flag of Norte de Santander was institutionalized in 1978. This department of the Republic of Colombia was created at the beginning of the 20th century by the national assembly of that country.
Law 25 of 1910 unified the old provinces of Cúcuta, Ocaña and Pamplona in a single department. This law also determined that San José de Cúcuta, formerly the department of Cúcuta, was the capital of this recent political division.
This department, like the Santander department, bears the name of an important leader of Colombian independence: Francisco de Paula Santander.
In 1981 this leader became the vice-presidency of Gran Colombia. After the separation of this, he became the first constitutional president of Colombia.
History
The flag of Norte de Santander was created by ordinance. In this administrative act it was determined that the departmental emblem should preserve the proportions of the national flag «2: 3»; that is, two meters wide by three meters long.
This ordinance dated November 27, 1978 also establishes that the Norte de Santander insignia must be made up of two stripes with the same width: a red one at the top and a black one at the bottom.
Also, this flag has four yellow stars that represent the four provinces that made up the department: Cúcuta, Pamplona, Ocaña and Chinácota.
These are arranged in a rhomboid way: one on the red band, another on the black one, a star on the right side between the two bands and another equal to the left side.
Meaning
Vexillology is the science in charge of studying the meaning of the elements present in the flags. According to this science, each color has a special significance, although it recognizes that it varies from nation to nation and from state to state.
Thus, for example, the color black is related to determination, ethnic heritage or the defeat of enemies. Red, for its part, represents power, revolution, vitality and war.
Now, in the specific case of the Flag of Norte Santander, the use of the color red corresponds to the traditional meaning, as it represents the blood shed by the patriots in the War of Independence and their heroism.
In fact, in this territory the first of the six great battles that, in the end, gave independence to the nation was fought. This took place on February 28, 1813 in Cúcuta. It was a victory for the independentistas under the command of Simón Bolívar.
On the other hand, the black color of the flag does have a particular meaning. This refers to one of the most important natural resources in that town: oil.
In Colombia, the discovery of black gold was made in the 16th century, in what is now known as Barrancabermeja (Santander Department).
Later, deposits were found in other places, such as Catatumbo, Norte de Santander. There, oil exploitation dates back more than half a century and is a key element for the north-eastern economy.
References
- Law No. 25. Official Gazette of the Republic of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, July 28, 1910.
- Francisco de Paula Santander. (s / f). In Biographies and lives. Retrieved on November 14, 2017, from biografiasyvidas.com
- Flag of the Republic of Colombia. (s / f). In Flag of Colombia. Retrieved on November 14, 2017, from Banderadecolombia.com
- General Information North of Santander. (s / f). Government of Norte de Santander. Retrieved on November 14, 2017, from nortedesantander.gov.co
- Creech, C. (s / f). Color Meanings in Flags. Retrieved on November 14, 2017, from allstarflags.com.
- On February 28, 1813, Simón Bolívar won the battle of Cúcuta. (2015, January 03). In Colombia reports. Retrieved on November 20, 2017, from colombiainforma.info.
- Mayorga García, F. (2002). The oil industry in Colombia. History Credential Magazine. Bogotá - Colombia, edition 151, July. Retrieved on November 20, 2017, from banrepcultural.org.