ZULIA STATE FLAG: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY

The flag of the Zulia State of Venezuela was created by the Zulia artist José Antonio and is one of the most recent in the country. It is one of its national symbols since 1991 and represents the Zulia people and their history.

This flag stood out among the 403 proposals that were presented in a contest called to decide which would be the flag that would represent the state of Zulia. It sought to capture the main characteristics of the region and took as inspiration both its landscapes and the motto with which its capital city is known.

In that contest were as members of the jury:

-José Bauza, for the Legislative Assembly of the State of Zulia.

-Lic. Luís Tirado member of the Academy of History of Zulia.

-Lic. Aquilina Morales teacher at the University of Zulia.

-General Néstor Lara member of the National Armed Forces.

After being among the 21 finalists, they chose the proposal by Urdaneta and in January 1991, the then governor of the state Oswaldo Álvarez Paz, decreed it as the flag of Zulia according to Decree No. 231.

Only five days after the decree, the Zulia flag was raised for the first time in connection with the celebration of the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Province of Maracaibo from the Spanish Empire.

How was created?

On August 5, 1990, the Government of Zulia state, together with the Ministry of Education and the Legislative Assembly created a contest called "A Flag for Zulianos."

All the inhabitants of the state of Zulia could participate in this contest, and around 400 proposals were submitted.

Of these 400 proposals, 21 were preselected, and finally, on October 29, 1990, the Flag presented by Mr. José Antonio Urdaneta was chosen.

On January 23, 1991, through Decree No. 231 of the Zulia State Government, it was officially named as the flag of the Zulia state.

Meaning of the colors of the Zulia flag

Blue upper stripe

The blue strip represents both Lake Maracaibo and all those rivers that are in the Zulia territory.

The creator of the Flag decided to represent Lake Maracaibo, not only for its beauty, but also for what it represented during the War of Independence, since the last Battle for the Independence of Venezuela was fought there.

Black lower stripe

The sun is located in the center of the flag and represents all the wealth of the state while honoring the motto of the city of Maracaibo "The city of the beloved sun."

The Lightning

The lightning bolt is also located in the center of the flag. It crosses the sun diagonally, and represents the Catatumbo Lightning, an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs in the Catatumbo River Basin.

This phenomenon causes rays and flashes that can be seen from different parts of the state of Zulia and other places in Venezuela.

decree

Republic of Venezuela

Zulia State Governorate

DECREE No. 231

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE ZULIA

In use of the powers conferred by Article 63 of the Zulia State Constitution and Article 2 of the Organic Law of the Political Regime, it decrees:

1-It is established as the Flag of the Zulia State, the one declared winner in the contest called to choose it designed by Mr. JOSÉ ANTONIO URDANETA ANDRADE, formed by blue and black colors, in united, equal and horizontal stripes, in the order that is expressed, from top to bottom; in the middle a yellow sun that occupies the halves of the blue and black stripes crossed by a white ray on a broken diagonal that alternately forms incoming and outgoing angles; whose tips are directed from the upper left to the lower right.

2-It is established as "DAY OF THE FLAG OF THE ZULIA STATE", on January 28 of each year when the entire area of the Zuliana Region will be a single temple to pay tribute to it.

3-The Flag of the Zulia State that will be used by the Government and the other official, state public institutions, unlike those that are not, will carry the shield of Zulia in the upper end close to until.

4-The Secretaries of Government and Education are in charge of the execution of this Decree.

Given, signed, sealed and countersigned in the Government Palace of the Zulia State, in Maracaibo, on the twenty-third day of January, nineteen hundred and ninety-one.

Years: 180º of Independence and 131º of the Federation.

LS (SIGNED.) GOVERNOR OF THE STATE ZULIA

Countersigned;

LS (FDO.)

GOVERNMENT SECRETARY