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Lajeosa e Forcalhos United Commune (Portugal)

Last modified: 2016-03-08 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: lajeosa(sabugal) | forcalhos | base(wavy) | bridge | topinambur | star(5-point) | bull(head) |
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União das Freguesias de Lajeosa e Forcalhos, Concelho de Sabugal, Distrito da Guarda


See also:

Former Lajeosa commune (until 2013)

[Lajeosa (Sabugal) commune (until 2013)] 2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 4 Mar 2016

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain red field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2016

Coat of arms

Shield Argent with base wavy of Azure and Argent, issuant from base a one arched bridge Gules masoned Sable, above a topinambur shrub leaved Vert with seven sunchokes Purpure, in chief a 5-point star Azure. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "LAJEOSA - SABUGAL".
Meaning:
The star is an attribute of St. Mary, as Our Lady of the Snows being the local patron saint.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2016

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 15 November 1996
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2016


Presentation of Lajeosa

Lajeosa Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Sabugal Municipality; it had 201 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 14.8 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2016


Former Forcalhos commune (until 2013)

[Forcalhos commune (until 2013)] 2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 4 Mar 2016

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain red field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2016

Coat of arms

Shield Or, a so called "fork" (Port.: forçao)Gules, in base a bull's head caboshed Sable armed Argent. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "FORCALHOS - SABUGAL".
Meaning:
All charges are referring to local bull fighting traditions. Especially the "forçao" ("forcalhos" is derived from that word), a tool to tease and fatigue the bull, is also a canting element. "forçao" it is the local northeastern mainland Portuguese alternative to "forcado", of several meanings; apparently in this case the red object on the arms is may be formed as a pitchfork, made of complete trunks of trees. Seems that Klaus-Michael's source is right and established lexicography is incomplete: This ungainly contraption shown on the arms of Forcalhos Commune and blazoned as a forçao is indeed the bullfighting implement and not a pitchfork.
Source: this poster displays use advertising a local bullfighting event
António Martins-Tuválkin and Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4/5 Mar 2016

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 21 December 2000, draft of flag and arms made by João Teixeira, Vicente Bárbara e José Ramos Pinheiro
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2016


Presentation of Forcalhos

Forcalhos Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Sabugal Municipality; it had 88 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 18.4 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2016


back to Sabugal Communes click here