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São Simão, São Paulo State (Brazil)

Last modified: 2013-03-02 by ian macdonald
Keywords: sao paulo | são simão |
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São Simão, SP (Brazil) image by Dirk Schönberger, 9 February 2013
Based on: http://www.saosimao.sp.gov.br


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Description of the Flag

A red off-centred cross with a white fimbriation with the municipal arms on a white disk on the cross.

Official website at http://www.saosimao.sp.gov.br
Dirk Schönberger, 9 February 2013

The municipality of São Simão (14,350 inhabitants in 2010; 61,796 ha) is located 50 km of Ribeirão Preto and 300 km of São Paulo.

São Simão was founded by Simão da Silva Teixeira, a member of the pioneer's expedition that left Taubaté. Lost in the middle of nowhere, Simão do Silva Teixeira invoked the protection of God and of St. Simon, promising to erect a chapel on the place where he would find water. Local historians claim that this is only a legend, since old maps show a place named Tamanduá that existed years before the expedition. The district of São Simão was established by Imperial Law No. 26 of 8 March 1842. The municipality of São Simão was established on 4 March 1895.

São Simão is the "Cradle of Proclamation of the Republic". Following the foundation on 3 December 1870 of the Republican Party, Republican Clubs were established in several towns; the Itú Convention gathered in the town of Itú on 18 August 1873. The São Simão Republican Party was inaugurated in 6 February 1885 in a meeting presided by General Francisco Glicério. On 31 January 1888, the Councillor Manoel Dias do Prado tabled at the Municipal Council a petition for the call of a Constituent Assembly, whose main task would be abrogation of Article 4 of the Empire's Constitution, which read "The reigning dynasty is the one of Peter I, current Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil". The petition was approved by the majority of the councillors. The Imperial authorities sacked the Republican councillors on 20 March 1889 but the decision was invalidated by a court on 31 August 1889. São Simão's petition elicited similar acts in several São Paulo municipalities, such as São João da Boa Vista (6 February 1888), Itatiba (15 February 1888) and Itú (15 February 1888). The Republic was eventually proclaimed on 15 November 1889.

São Simão is also a proud pioneer of the "Municipalist" movement. In 1896, following an epidemic of yellow fever, the State government decided to take the control of health policy in São Simão. On 26 May 1896, the Municipal Council released a petition stating that the decision was unconstitutional and represented an interference of the State in the municipal affairs. This was a first step to the call for a Congress of Municipalities, the first of that kind in Brazil, which was held in São Paulo on 19 August 1896.

http://www.saosimao.net - Unofficial website

The symbols of São Simão are prescribed in Article 5 of the Municipal Constitution as "the coat of arms, the flag, the anthem, and other symbols established by Municipal legislation".

http://www.saosimao.sp.gov.br/images/stories/atos_oficiais/leiorganica/2009/20091026224300.pdf  - Municipal Constitution

The flag, designed by Arcinoé Antonio Peixoto de Faria, is blue with an off-centered red cross fimbriated in white. Over the intersection of the cross' arms is placed a white disk charged with the municipal coat of arms.

The coat of arms represents the municipal government, while the disk that inscribes it represents the town as the seat of the municipality. The circle is a symbol of eternity, being a geometrical figure without either a beginning or an end. White is a symbol of peace, friendship, work, prosperity, purity and religious feeling. The arms of the cross represent the municipal power spreading all over the municipal territory. Red is a symbol of dedication, patriotic love, audacity, intrepidity, courage and valiance. The quarters represent the rural estates located on the municipal territory. Blue is a symbol of justice, nobleness, perseverance, zeal, loyalty, recreation and beauty.

http://www.saosimao.sp.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84 - Municipal website

The flag, designed by Lauro Ribeiro Escobar, is "Azure a Latin cross argent surrounded by two stars of the same, in base a three-peaked mound of the second a fess wavy of the first a Liberty Cap gules. The shield surmounted by a mural crown argent ports gules. The shield supported dexter by a branch of coffee and sinister by a sugarcane the two proper. Beneath the shield a scroll azure inscribed with the motto 'BERÇO DA PROCLAMAÇÃO DA REPÚBLICA' in letters argent."

The Iberic shield, used in Portugal at the time of discovery of Brazil, evokes the first colonizers and builders of the country. Azure is a symbol of justice, beauty, sweetness, nobleness, incorruptible firmness, virtue, dignity, zeal, loyalty and recreation. It also represents the beauty of the local landscape and the mildness of the climate, as well as the colour of the sky over São Simão. The three-peaked mountains, representing the topography of the region, are a symbol of greatness, knowledge, nobleness and firmness. Argent is a symbol of felicity, purity, temperance, truth, frankness, beauty, integrity and friendship, as well as of harmony. The Liberty Cap is the emblem of Liberty and of the Republic. Red is a symbol of audacity, valour, bravery, nobleness, valiance, intrepidity, magnanimity and honour; it evokes the historical event that took place in the Municipal Council of São Simão on 31 January 1888. The fess wavy recalls the foundation of the town. The cross recalls that the foundation of the town was a Christian act and also represent the deep Christian faith of the people. The stars are a symbol of light through the night, celebrity, bright future, safe guidance, aspiration to highness and to sublime acts. The mural crown is a symbol of municipal emancipation. The open ports are a symbol of hospitality. Gules is the colour of Law and Justice, meaning that São Simão is the seat of a "comarca" and recalling the dictum "Justice is Found Through These Ports". The coffee branch and the sugarcane represent the fertility of the generous land, being main crops and highlighting agriculture as the main source of income for the municipality. The motto reads "Cradle of the Proclamation of the Republic".

http://www.saosimao.sp.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85 - Municipal website
Ivan Sache, 10 February 2013