Cuba is an island nation located in the Caribbean Sea. The coat of arms of Cuba was adopted back 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? Characteristics and descriptions of these symbols can be found below.
Cuba: historical and geographical reference
The Republic of Cuba is located entirely 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.
Before Columbus arrived in 1492, local Indian tribes lived here. After the discovery of the territory by Europeans, the Indians began to be exterminated, and the islands were settled by the Spaniards and slaves brought from Africa.
At the beginning of the 19th century, a struggle was unfolding in Cuba against the power of the colonialists. Actuallyshe influenced the origin of the national 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 uprising against Spain.
After the overthrow of the Spaniards, the struggle for power over Cuba did not end. Several dictatorships followed. The last was the socialist regime of Castro, which is still in force.
The coat of arms of Cuba and its description
The authors of the coat 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, Narciso Lopez, José Sanchez-Isnaga, Cyril Wilverde, Juan Macías and José Aniceto participated in the creation of the flag and coat of arms of Cuba.
The coat of arms shield has a triangular shape. His composition is divided into three parts. The top is oriented horizontally. It depicts the sun rising over the sea, the rays of which are made of yellow and blue. Beneath it is a golden key that connects the two shores.
Two-thirds of the Cuban coat of arms divided vertically. The left side 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 coat of arms of Cuba is framed by green branches with red fruits: on the left - an oak branch, on the right - a laurel.
Meaning of symbols
The coat of arms of Cuba is filled with numerous details, eachof 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, freed slaves could wear this headdress. The star on it symbolizes independence.
The rising sun on the shield also symbolizes freedom. The golden key below it is Cuba, and the shores around it are the Florida peninsula and the 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 refer to the flag of Cuba and have the same meaning. On the right side, a palm tree and mountains indicate the local nature and landscapes. The palm tree also symbolizes the resilience and inflexibility of the inhabitants of the country.
The branches framing the coat of arms are also depicted for a reason. The oak branch symbolizes the strength of the Cuban people, while the laurel branch speaks of their honor.
Flag of the Republic
The Cuban flag was adopted in 1902 and is significantly different from the coat of arms. It has a rectangular shape with a width to length ratio of 1:2. The cloth of the flag is divided into five equal horizontal stripes. Three blue stripes, two white stripes. On the side of the pole is a red triangle with a white five-pointed star in the center.
The main compilers of the flag are Miguel Tolon and Narciso Lopez. They called its colors "the colors of freedom", and the triangle was called "a symbol of strength andThey gave the flag the poetic name of the "lone star" and first used it in 1850 in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the power of the colonialists.
According to the official interpretation of the meaning of the flag, the three blue stripes represent the regions into which Cuba was divided by the Spaniards. The white stripes speak of the path to independence, while the white star speaks of the desire for freedom. The red triangle is a symbol of the revolution and the blood shed to achieve freedom and independence.
