- Main national symbols of Barranquilla
- Shield
- flag
- The iguana, symbol of the city
- Flower
- Tree
- Anthem
- References
The patriotic symbols of Barranquilla represent the history, customs and traditions of this city located in the north of Colombia.
The elements that make up many of these symbols synthesize a culture full of color, joy, commerce and nature, marked mainly by an African heritage that was later mixed with certain traditions of Arab and Jewish migrants.
Barranquilla Carnival
This city began to settle in the early seventeenth century on the western side of the Magdalena River, which on this route is close to its mouth.
Since then it has become an important commercial port thanks to the abundant merchandise that arrived from Spain.
Main national symbols of Barranquilla
Shield
The Magdalena River is the protagonist of the Barranquilla coat of arms and two ships with inland traffic navigate its waters.
It is guarded by two cannons and a soldier in late 19th century clothing that symbolizes sovereignty and patriotism.
Next to the soldier, the Barranquilla flag is raised and in the background you can see part of the Colombian mainland with an intense green that represents nature.
A brand titles the representation with the words "Patriotism Award."
flag
The Barranquilla flag combines three geometric shapes:
- A red outer rectangle that symbolizes the blood shed by the patriots who achieved independence from Spain
- A yellow rectangle that represents the sun
- A smaller one in its center referring to the abundant nature of the region and hope.
The three rectangles contain a large star located in the center, golden in color. Its eight points represent the districts that the province of Barranquilla had at the time of its creation.
The iguana, symbol of the city
In Barranquilla it is very common to meet large iguanas that display their colors and appearance of small dinosaurs.
In parks and areas surrounding the city, they stay in the treetops or even walk through the meadow in an unprepared way.
Flower
The flower that symbolizes the city of Barranquilla is the endemic Cayenne in the area. For its bright colors and its aroma it is very recognized in the world.
It is propagated by cuttings and has simple and shiny leaves, ovate, denticulate or not. Its most common colors are red and purple.
Tree
The tree that symbolizes the city of Barranquilla is the purple oak. In addition to its beauty, it has a great ecological importance because it favors ecological restoration in dry areas, soil conservation, erosion control and the promotion of beekeeping.
Anthem
In 1928 a contest was opened by the Barranquilla Public Improvement Society to compose the anthem of the city, promoting values such as civility, discipline and loyalty.
The winning score was composed by the Panamanian musician Simón Urbina, from the departmental Police band.
References
- Carbó, EP (1996). The Colombian Caribbean: a regional history, 1870-1950. Oxford University Press.
- Nichols, TE (1951). The Caribbean gateway to Colombia: Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla and their connections with the interior, 1820-1940. University of California, Berkeley.
- Williams, RL, & Guerrieri, KG (Eds.). (1999). Culture and customs of Colombia. Greenwood Publishing Group.
- Lascar, A. (2014). To the rescue of traditions: Emotional Design and Cultural Values, A Case Study Based on Barranquilla's Carnival. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 3 (4), 77.
- Grau, EC (2011). Learning Social Sciences in urban settings Classroom project »Marking steps for our city, Barranquilla». Nodes and Knots, 3 (30).