Cuba is an island nation located in the Caribbean. The coat of arms of Cuba was adopted in 1906, and the flag in 1902. They are the main state symbols that represent the republic in the world. Each of their details tells about the difficult history of the country and its geographical features. What do the flag and coat of arms of Cuba represent? You will find a description and description of these symbols below.
Cuba: historical and geographical information
The Republic of Cuba is completely located on the islands. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It is separated from North America by the Florida and Yucatan straits. The area is 110,860 square kilometers, and the population is 11.1 million people.
Prior to arriving on the Columbus Islands in 1492, local Indian tribes lived here. After the discovery of the territory by the Europeans, the Indians began to exterminate, and the Spaniards and slaves brought from Africa settled the islands.
At the beginning of the 19th century, a struggle was unfolding in Cuba against the power of the colonialists. Actually, it influenced the origin of the state flag and coat of arms. Born in 1848, they are filled with symbols of freedom, dignity and independence. The flag, in turn, resembles that of the United States, because it was the United States that supported the rebellion against Spain.
After the overthrow of the Spaniards, the struggle for power over Cuba did not end. A change of several dictatorships followed. The last turned out to be Castro's socialist regime, which is still in effect.
Coat of arms of Cuba and its description
The coats of arms were local independence fighters, many of whom were forced to leave for the United States because of this. Their ideas and beliefs were later embodied in the national symbols of the state. Miguel Tolon, Narsiso Lopez, Jose Sanchez-Isnaga, Cyril Wilverde, Juan Masias and Jose Aniceto participated in the creation of the flag and coat of arms of Cuba.
The shield of the coat of arms has a triangular shape. His composition is divided into three parts. The upper part is oriented horizontally. It depicts the rising sun over the sea, whose rays are made yellow and blue. Under it is a golden key connecting the two banks.
Two-thirds of the coat of arms of Cuba are divided vertically. The left part is filled with oblique stripes of blue and white. On the right side is a palm tree growing on the slopes of the mountains. Above the shield is a red Phrygian cap. On the sides, the arms of Cuba are framed by green branches with red fruits: on the left is an oak branch, on the right is a laurel.
Character Meaning
The emblem of Cuba is filled with numerous details, each of which has its own meaning. The Phrygian cap came from European traditions. It is a symbol of freedom and became popular during the French Revolution. In antiquity, this headdress could be worn by freed slaves. The star on it symbolizes independence.
The rising sun on the shield of the coat of arms also symbolizes freedom. The golden key below it is Cuba, and the coast around it is the peninsula of Florida and Yucatan. This emphasizes the key geographical and political significance of the republic, located right at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico.
The alternation of blue and white stripes on the left side of the coat of arms is sent to the flag of Cuba and have the same meaning. On the right side, palm trees and mountains indicate the local nature and landscapes. The palm also symbolizes the stamina and resilience of the inhabitants of the country.
The branches framing the coat of arms are also depicted for a reason. The oak branch means the strength of the Cuban people, and the laurel branch speaks of its honor.
Republic flag
The Cuban flag was adopted in 1902 and is significantly different from the coat of arms. It has a rectangular shape with a ratio of width to length 1: 2. The flag cloth is divided into five equal horizontal stripes. Three blue stripes, two white. On the side of the shaft is a red triangle with a white five-pointed star in the center.
The main drafters of the flag are Miguel Tolon and Narsiso Lopez. They called his colors "the colors of freedom," and called the triangle "a symbol of strength and order." They gave the flag the poetic name of the "lonely star" and first used it in 1850 with an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the power of the colonialists.
According to the official decoding of the flag, the three blue bars indicate the regions into which Cuba was divided by the Spaniards. White stripes indicate the path to independence, and a white star - the desire for freedom. The red triangle is a symbol of revolution and blood shed to achieve freedom and independence.