The Pereira flag was adopted in 1923, 53 years after the founding of this city was made official. The Villa de Pereira is the capital of the department of Risaralda, Colombia.
Its name is due to José Francisco Pereira Martínez, considered one of the precursors of Colombian independence. This lawyer and his brother, Manuel, took refuge from the Spanish army in these territories.
After his death in 1863, several caravans moved from Carthage to the site to fulfill his wish: to found a city.
Two years later, part of the large lands acquired by him were donated to the founding settlers of the Villa de Pereira.
You may also be interested in the history of the Pereira coat of arms.
History
The first five decades of the 20th century were crucial for the development of Pereira. But mainly the twenties of this century stand out for having meant a change of pace in this city.
For example, in 1927 it already had a tram network, and in 1928 the second automatic telephone plant in South America began to operate.
In that decade many people joined the commercial projects that took her from a village to a prosperous city.
It is in this context from where the initiative arises to adopt, not only the representative flag of this entity, but the shield and the anthem.
These emblems were presented by the Pereira Municipal Council, through agreement number 39, dated October 19, 1923.
In the specific case of the flag, it must be present in all civic events of a municipal nature.
Its measurements must be 2.40 m long by 1.20 m wide. This insignia must be hung from a pole the length of the flag. In addition, it must be free up to 20 cm at the top for the tip of the spear.
Meaning
A central yellow triangle is arranged on the Pereira flag. Two of the vertices of this triangle are in the upper and lower corner on the left.
This arrangement causes two lateral triangles to form that are scarlet red in color. The image of the Phrygian cap of freedom appears in the triangle in the center.
The official portal of the Municipal Council of Pereira explains that all the elements of this flag as a whole mean: "That with the red blood of the children of Pereira, freedom stands on the wealth of its soil."
In this sense, it is very significant that the image of the Phrygian cap is used. Since the French Revolution, this conical cap has represented one of the most prevalent values of revolutionary political ideas: freedom.
Colombia and other South American nations have adopted this icon in many of their national symbols.
The Phrygian cap is part of the coat of arms of the Republic of Colombia since New Granada was formed, once Gran Colombia was dissolved.
In that shield and in the current one it appears on a spear. This was an allusion to the Venezuelan llaneros horsemen who were feared by the royalist armies. In the case of the Pereira flag, it is on a pike.
References
- History of the Pereira Foundation. (s / f). Council of Pereira. Retrieved on November 20, 2017, from concejopereira.gov.co
- Arango Collazos, O. (2017, July 26). A hero of these lands. Retrieved on November 20, 2017, from elpereirano.com
- Acevedo Tarazona, Álvaro. (2009). Pereira to the reunion of its history. History Credential, 236 edition, August. Retrieved on November 20, 2017, from banrepcultural.org
- Diego Andrés Rosselli Cock. (s / f). To no Pereira… Retrieved on November 20, 2017, from encolombia.com
- The three symbols of Pereira. (2013, August 02). Retrieved on November 20, 2017, from eldiario.com.co
- Rincón, C. (2015). Avatars of cultural memory in Colombia: Symbolic forms of the State, museums and literary canon. Bogotá: Editorial Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.