Coat of arms of Cuba. Description and characteristics

Cuba is an island nation located in the Caribbean Sea. 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 is the flag and the coat of arms of Cuba? Characteristics and description of these symbols you will find 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. From North America it is separated by the Florida and Yucatan straits. The area is 110 860 square kilometers, and the population is 11.1 million people.

Before arriving at the islands of Columbus in 1492 there lived the local tribes of the Indians. After the discovery of the territory by Europeans, the Indians began to be exterminated, and the islands were inhabited by Spaniards and African slaves brought from Africa.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, a struggle was under way in Cuba against the power of the colonialists. Actually, it influenced the origin of the state flag and the 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. There followed the replacement of several dictatorships. The last was the socialist regime of Castro, which still operates.

Coat of arms of Cuba and its description

The authors of the arms were local fighters for independence, many of whom were forced to leave for the United States because of this. Their ideas and convictions were later embodied in national symbols of the state. Miguel Tolón, Narciso Lopez, Jose Sanchez-Isnaga, Cyril Villverde, Juan Macias and Jose Aniceto participated in the creation of the flag and the coat of arms of Cuba.

The shield of the emblem has a triangular shape. His composition is divided into three parts. The upper part is oriented horizontally. It depicts the sun rising above the sea, the rays of which are made in yellow and blue. Under it is a golden key that connects the two banks.

Two-thirds of the coat of arms of Cuba is divided vertically. The left side is filled with oblique stripes of blue and white colors. On the right side there 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 there is an oak branch, on the right is a laurel.

Meaning of symbols

The coat of arms 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 headpiece could be worn by freed slaves. The star on it symbolizes independence.

The rising sun on the shield of the emblem also symbolizes freedom. The gold key under it is Cuba, and the banks around it are the Florida peninsula and the Yucatan. Thus, the key geographical and political significance of the republic located right at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico is emphasized.

The alternation of blue and white bands on the left side of the coat of arms refers to the flag of Cuba and have the same meaning. On the right, palm trees and mountains indicate local nature and landscapes. Palma also symbolizes the steadfastness and inflexibility of the inhabitants of the country.

Branches framing the coat of arms are also depicted for a reason. The oak branch signifies the strength of the Cuban people, and the laurel says of his honor.

Flag of the Republic

The Cuban flag was adopted in 1902 and differs significantly from the coat of arms. It has a rectangular shape with a ratio of width to length of 1: 2. The flag is divided into five equal horizontal strips. There are three blue bands, two white ones. On the side of the shaft is a red triangle with a white five-pointed star in the center.

The main compilers of the flag are Miguel Tolón and Narciso Lopez. Its colors they called "colors of freedom", and the triangle was called "a symbol of strength and order." They gave the flag the poetic name of a "lonely star" and first used it in 1850 with an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the power of the colonialists.

According to the official interpretation of the meaning of the flag, the three blue bars mean the regions to which Cuba was divided by the Spaniards. White stripes talk about the path to independence, and the white star - about the pursuit of freedom. The red triangle is a symbol of revolution and blood shed for achieving freedom and independence.