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Colonia (Uruguay)

Last modified: 2025-02-07 by rob raeside
Keywords: uruguay | colonia |
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[Colonia Department flag] image by Ethan Dubrow, 20 January 2025
based on photo from https://www.facebook.com
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Description of the flag

The flag consists solely of the shield centered on a white background, which isn't unusual for many Latin American countries. I believe the capital city of Colonia, Colonia del Sacramento, shares the same flag/coat of arms.
Ethan Dubrow, 20 January 2025

Although the flag has been used for well over than a decade, it wasn't until 26 December 2023 that Resolution N° 1448/023 was passed, approving its official use. Under Decree Nº 017/2023, the flag was instituted as an official departamental symbol:
"Article 1°. Instituting as an Official Flag of the department of Colonia, the Official Coat of Arms of the department of Colonia which was approved the 10th of January 1978, centered over a rectangular cloth of the color white."
Daniel Rentería, 29 January 2025


Shield

[Colonia Department flag] image by Ethan Dubrow, 20 January 2025
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org

The shield is divided into an azure top (chief) containing a rotated Southern Cross constellation of five white stars, a red bottom-left containing a three-headed stalk of wheat, and a white bottom-right containing a top-down view of a bee facing upwards.
Ethan Dubrow, 20 January 2025

According to https://www.juntacolonia.gub.uy/escudo-oficial-del-departamento-1978-2/:
The coat of arms of Colonia Department was adopted on 10 January 1978. Intendant Yamandú Viglietti announced on 30 December the past year the choice of the design by Wilfredo Pérez Martínez and Miguel González Cámpora, under the pseudonym "Patricio".

Following is the jury which composed the contest: as President the Director of the National Museum of Plastic and Visual Arts, Professor Angel Kalenberg; Secretary: The Director of the General Archive of the Nation, Professor Abelardo García Viera; and other members: Fernando Assunçao, delegate of the Ministry of Education and Culture in the Commission of the Historical, Artistic and Cultural Heritage of the Nation; the Intendant of Colonia, Col. Yamandú Viglietti, and the Director of Works of the Intendency, Professor Architect Domingo Fernández Blixen.

Southern cross (in its natural form) - Location in the southerly lying Río de la Plata basin
Stars (silver) - an image of happiness, greatness, peace, and prudence.
Azure - color of the sky; representing temperance as a virtue, perseverance, reward, and loyalty, as well as promoting agriculture.

Bundles of wheat- where civilization first flourished, in agriculture; the four ears at the same time represent the cardinal directions.
Gold - a symbol of wealth, prosperity, nobility, and charity; strength and independence, gained by wealth, is the fruit of all inhabitants.
Gules - promotes the service of the call to arms and represents the defense of sovereignty.
Daniel Rentería, 29 January 2025


Variant with name

[Colonia Department flag] image by Ethan Dubrow, 20 January 2025

I found a minor variant of the flag, which is practically identical to the original except underneath the coat of arms reads "COLONIA" in thick black letters.
Source: https://www.colonia.gub.uy

Ethan Dubrow, 20 January 2025