Last modified: 2022-03-05 by ian macdonald
Keywords: parana | palmas |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
The municipality of Palmas (42,887 inhabitants in 2010; 1,567 ha) is located
on the border with Santa Catarina, 380 km south-west of Curitiba. Built at an
elevation of 1,115 m, Palmas is Paraná's oldest permanent settlements and
coldest town, with an average temperature of 16 °C.
Palmas and the
neighboring region (Campos de Palmas, lit. Palm groves) were discovered in
1720-1726 by Zacarias Dias Côrte, a pioneer from Curitiba seeking gold. The name
of Campos de Palmas was coined by Major Atanagildo Pinto Martins, who commanded
a Royal expedition in 1814-1819. The expedition was guided by Cacique Yongong,
who explained that the region was well-known to the natives as Bituruna /
Ibituruna, "The Highlands / The Palm Lands". However, the local historian
Roselys Velloso Roderjan believes that the Major rather named the place to
Campos de Palmas as a tribute to the Count of Palma, then President of the São
Paulo Province, to which today's Paraná belonged at the time.
The parish of
Palmas was established by Provincial Law No. 22 promulgated on 28 February 1855.
Law No. 155, promulgated in 1838, prescribed the building of a road linking
Guarapuava to Palmas. Law No. 484 promulgated on 13 April 1877 made of Vila do
Senhor Bom Jesus dos Campos de Palmas the seat of a municipality, which was
inaugurated on 14 April 1879. The diocese of Senhor Bom Jesus da Coluna dos
Campos de Palmas (diocese of Palmas-Francisco Beltrão since 1987), with its seat
in Palmas, was established on 14 January 1958.
The Palmas Question was a
bone of contention between Brazil and Argentina, which both claimed sovereignty
on Campos de Palmas. The Treaty of Montevideo, signed on 25 January 1890 between
Argentina and the Provisory Government of the new Brazilian Republic, shared the
disputed area between the two countries; however, the Brazilian Congress
rejected it in 1891, claiming that the Minister who had signed the treaty was
legally not allowed to leave parts of the national territory to Argentina.
Commissioned for arbitration, President of the USA Grover Cleveland stated on 5
February 1895 that the disputed territory should remain Brazilian. The town of
Clevelândia, located in the disputed area, was named as a tribute to the
American president.
https://pmp.pr.gov.br/
Municipal website
The flag and arms of
Palmas are prescribed by Municipal Law No. 458 promulgated on 21 May 1971.
The symbols were designed by Jorge Antônio da Costa Guimarães, with the
support of Josué Guimarães to elaborate the coat of arms.
The flag is
composed of a quadrilateral divided in three vertical stripes of the same shape
and dimension, red, white and green.
The green color, symbol of hope,
represents the forests and fields that are the main sources of income for the
municipality.
The white color, on which the municipal coat of arms is
applied, symbolizes peace, frost and snow, which are peculiar characteristics of
local winters.
The red color represents faith, associated with the cloak of
Lord Jesus portrayed on the Campos de Palmas column. It recalls the first
pioneers' faith; under his protection, the entire vast region located between
rivers Iguaçu and Uruguay developed and evolved materially and spiritually.
The coat of arms is in classic shape, surmounted by a mural crown. Its
design brings together historical data and natural conditions, distinguishing
the municipality from the others. In the center is featured a facsimile of the
column erected in front of the episcopal palace, recalling the Campos de Palmas
column, with a bovine on the left side, symbol of livestock, a pioneer and basic
activity in the region, on the right side, two pine trees, recalling the forests
that gave rise to industrial development, making of the municipality of Palmas
one of the first wood producers in southern Brazil. On either side of the
shield, a branch of yerba mate (Paraguayan ilex) and a palm; the first for being
one of the sources of wealth, and the second for being a native plant, which
gave rise to the name of the municipality. The mural crown with towers
symbolizes centuries-old traditions. The shield's field is green and yellow.
https://pmp.pr.gov.br/website/views/simbolos.php
Municipal website
Photo of the column
https://mapio.net/pic/p-57976584/
Photos
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4862181883805710
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4582365771787324
image by Ivan Sache, 6 February 2022
The flag is also used with the coat of arms in grey tones, mirrored.
Photos
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4725561430801090
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradepalmas/photos/4205602226130349
Ivan Sache, 6 February 2022