The flag of Puno, Peru, is one of the most important symbolic elements of the Provincial Municipality of Puno. It represents the union between the history and the culture of a city that gained greater notoriety for the impact of its folklore on society.
Important organizations worldwide have recognized her for her cultural trajectory. For example, the Candelaria Festivity is a festival that is celebrated in Puno and was declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
On July 28, the anniversary of national independence is commemorated, a history of glory and pride for the people of Puno.
It is a day in which each resident of the municipality of Puno, by obligation of the law, places the flag on the facades of homes, commercial establishments and both private and public institutions.
Failure to comply with this decree may give rise to sanctions by the corresponding authorities.
History
The story behind the flag of Puno is a mystery. It is unknown who was the creator of its design and even the date on which it was established as the flag of the city.
Currently there are laws where it is specified that the color of the flag is light blue and not any other type of blue.
Various researchers have highlighted the fact that at some point in history there was a slight but noticeable change from the original color.
Due to the fact that the reliable information around this flag is almost non-existent, several researchers also highlight the fact that there is no evidence of any municipal document that explains the change in tonality.
On July 12, 2012, the official decree of the mayor's office No. 04 was carried out in which, by order of the mayor, it is encouraged to highlight the identity of Puno to ensure respect for national symbols during national holidays.
Description and meaning
The flag of the municipality is composed of two horizontal stripes. The color of the upper band is light blue and that of the lower band is white. Both stripes are the same size.
The blue color corresponds to a sky-blue color that represents the blue sky of Puno and its beautiful views.
The infinity of the sky is considered a symbol of trust and, at the same time, it is an icon of the pre-Inca era.
The white color symbolizes the purity, dignity and virtue of the Andean people. This highlights one of the main characteristics of its inhabitants: friendliness.
In the center of the flag is the coat of arms of the city. This shield refers to the story behind one of the heroes of the municipality, Joaquín Antonio de Orellana, who saved the city from a siege.
The shield was granted by King Carlos IV of Spain in 1805. That is why its elements have many similar features with the Spanish shields of the early nineteenth century.
References
- Basadre, Jorge. (1983). History of the Republic of Peru. Seventh edition. Lima: Editorial Universitaria.
- Bourricaud, Francois. (1967). Changes in Puno. Ed. Specials. Mexico.
- Puno (nd). Retrieved on November 19, 2017, from Wikipedia.
- Renique, José Luis. (2009). The battle for Puno. Lima: IEP, Sur and CEPES.
- Vera, Eland. (2010). Political culture in Puno. The device of ethnocultural identity. Lima: IEP, UP and Network for the Development of Social Sciences in Peru.