^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Monteiro Lobato, São Paulo State (Brazil)

image by Joseph McMillan

About the Flag

See also:

About the Flag of Monteiro Lobato

A blue Scandinavian-style cross, bordered white, divides the field into four fields, alternately green and red. The municipal coat of arms is placed on a white disk overall.
Source: www.valedoparaiba.com
Joseph McMillan, 19 March 2003

The municipality of Monteiro Lobato (4,123 inhabitants in 2010; 33,274 ha) is located in the Paraíba Valley, 130 km of São Paulo.

Monteiro Lobato was successively known under four different names: Freguesia das Estacas, Freguesia de Nossa Senhora do Bonsucesso do Buquira, Vila das Palmeiras do Buquira and Vila do Buquira. In Tupi- Guarani, Buquira means "the birds' river". The municipality of Buquira was established on 26 April 1880. In 1934, it was downgraded to a district incorporated to the municipality of São José dos Campos. Reestablished in 1948, the municipality was renamed Monteiro Lobato the next year.

The municipality is named for the writer José Bento Monteiro Lobato (1882-1948), who started his writer's career in the Buquira Estate. He "portrayed" the estate in his famous children books under the name of "Sítio do Picapau Amarelo" (Yellow Woodpecker Farm).

The symbols of Monteiro Lobato are prescribed in Article 2 of the Municipal Constitution, adopted on 5 April 1990, as "the flag, the coat of arms and the anthem, representative of its culture and history".

http://monteirolobato.sp.gov.br/legislacao/LEI%20ORGANICA%20MUNICIPAL.pdf > - Municipal Constitution

The flag is prescribed by Municipal Law No. 600 of 3 May 1985.

A blue Scandinavian-style cross, bordered white, divides the field into four fields, alternately green and red. The municipal coat of arms is placed on a white disk overall.

Photo of the flag [this is the original source, updated]:
http://www.valedoparaiba.com/cidadesdaregiao/?pagina=cidade&cidade=Monteiro%20Lobato&menu=934 -"Enciclopédia VP" website

The coat of arms is prescribed by Municipal Law No. 213 of 20 November 1962. " Portuguese shield, quarterly, 1. Vert an escutcheon vert a chief serrated azure a fess argent charged with a canoe sable, 2. Gules a a cross argent two stars or, 3. Argent a fleur-de-lis or [faceted argent and sable on the image], 4. The main and most significant heraldic figure of São Paulo State, the State flag, charged with a book and quill or [argent on the image]. The shield surmounted by a mural crown or ports gules. Beneath the shield a scroll gules inscribed with the motto 'DEO ANTE OMNIA' [God Prior To Anything]."

The first quarter recalls the exploration and first settlement of the place. The second quarter recalls the Christian origin of the people and is a tribute to the patron saint of the town. The third quarter shows a fleur-de-lis as a symbol of nobleness; this is a tribute to the Baron of Tremembé who offered the land to build the municipality. The fourth quarter represents São Paulo State and the writer Monteiro Lobato, the municipality' namesake.

http://monteirolobato.sp.gov.br/pagina.php?pag=omunicipio_simbolo - Municipal website
Ivan Sache, 2 February 2013