SHIELD OF NORTE DE SANTANDER: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The shield of Norte de Santander was created in 1978 through an ordinance that also included the creation of the flag and seal of the department of Norte de Santander.

This department of the Republic of Colombia is one of the two that bears the name of the first constitutional president of New Granada, today Colombia: General Francisco de Paula Santander.

In this sense, the department was created in 1910, after many territorial divisions.

This is the product of the segregation of the provinces of Cúcuta, Ocaña and Pamplona in the department of Santander, dictated by Law 25 of July 14 of that year.

The Norte de Santander coat of arms was created on November 27, 1978 through ordinance number 8, where the first article implemented the creation of the seal and the coat of arms of the department.

In this article, it was pointed out that the shield would be the same model of the shield that represents Gran Colombia registered in 1821, with a legend written in the oval of the shield entitled “Norte De Santander Department”. This article was approved in the constituency of the town of the Rosary of Cúcuta.

History

The ordinance that decrees the creation of the shield of Norte de Santander is number eight, dated November 27, 1978.

In his first article he declares that the coat of arms would be the same as that approved for Greater Colombia in 1821.

The approval of this shield had been carried out within the framework of the celebration of the Constituent Congress of the Villa del Rosario de Cúcuta in that year.

Thus, the article of the law that regulates national insignia reads as follows:

“From now on, instead of weapons, it will be used two cornucopias full of fruits and flowers from cold, temperate and warm countries, and from the Colombian phases, which will be made up of a bundle of lances with the safety crossed, bows and arrows. crossed, tied with tricolor ribbon at the bottom ”.

Thus, the current shield of this entity meets the same description, except that it bears the legend: North Department of Santander.

Description and meaning

Within the civil emblems of a nation or state, its coat of arms is considered the most important symbol, since it symbolizes the prestige of these territories.

These national symbols have acquired special relevance in certain historical periods. For example, in Europe in the 1920s, the new states used them as a way to claim some form of membership in the concept of the nation state.

In Latin America one of these periods was during the independence process, when using them to establish identity in battle.

This was not the case with the Norte de Santander shield, as the department was created after that period.

However, it followed the same course as most of the states created from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. These took their heraldic inspiration from an ancient state or national heritage.

Meaning

The shield of the department of Norte de Santander has an oval shape with a blue background that symbolizes the obligation to comply with and protect the laws of the homeland, the qualities that its inhabitants possess, obedience, prudence and loyalty.

Within the field there are four historical elements that characterize the department.

A bow, ax and crossed arrows

They are located in the middle of the field of the shield tied by a ribbon. These types of symbols are called fasces.

The lances pay tribute to the Roman consuls and represent the strength, fortitude, prudence, unity and military valor of its inhabitants.

The ax represents the right to life or death and speedy justice, the bow and arrows pay tribute to the indigenous races.

The cornucopias

The cornucopias are two gold-colored horns that are located on the left and right side within the field of the shield.

Inside they symbolize abundance and prosperity, wealth, splendor, constancy in the labor field of its inhabitants, light and power.

Inside the horns are flowers and fruits.

The flowers and the fruits

They are located inside the cornucopias and represent the cold and warm places of their lands.

The flowers symbolize agricultural purity, wealth, religions, the courageous hearts of its inhabitants, victory and humility.

The fruits symbolize stability, love, the union of families, cooperativism, abundance, work, planting and gratitude for the food of each day.

The edge of the shield

It is silver in color and represents faith, firm obedience, vigilance, and steadfastness.

Within the border at the bottom of the shield is a saber-colored star (black) that symbolizes modesty, discretion, battle heroes, greatness, light, truth and peace that characterizes the department of Norte de Santander.

Inside this silver border you can also see the motto in saber letters that say: "Department of Norte de Santander".

References

1. (nd). "Escudo de Norte de Santander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." es.wikipedia.org It was consulted on September 28… 2017.
2. (nd). "Shield of Norte de Santander - Esacademic." esacademic.com It was consulted on September 28… 2017.
3. (nd). «Norte de Santander Flag Shield Anthem Department of Norte….» todacolombia.com. It was consulted on September 28… 2017.
4. (nd). «The Academy of History of Norte de Santander - www.laopinion.com It was consulted on September 28… 2017.
5. (nd). «KNOWING CUCUTA: SYMBOLS OF CUCUTA. cucutamitierraconocela.blogspot.com It was consulted on September 28… 2017.