The

flag of Brazil

is green with a large yellow diamond in the center. Inside the diamond is a blue circle (globe) with white stars of five different sizes and a white strip. In this white strip is the slogan written in green:

Ordem e Progresso

('Order and Progress'). The

Brazil flag

is sometimes called Auriverde, Portuguese for '(of) Gold and Green'.

The colours and design of the

Brazil flag

are derived from the flag of the Brazilian Empire; the imperial symbol was replaced by a blue globe with stars and the motto. The current flag of Brazil was officially adopted on 19 November 1889, four days after Brazil became a republic. A few small changes have been made since that time, most recently on 11 May 1992 when 4 stars were added.



Colours

Each colour of the Brazil flag has a symbolic meaning. The yellow represents the wealth of the Brazilian soil, including the gold reserve. The green symbolizes the flora and fauna, particularly the Amazon rainforest, the jungle along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pantanal.

By the way, these colors had a different symbolic meaning in the flag of the Brazilian Empire. The blue and white colors stand for the Virgin Mary, symbolizing the Catholic nature of the Brazilian society.

Slogan

The slogan 'Ordem e Progresso' is the best known motto of Positivism. It is mentioned in a quote of philosopher Auguste Comte: "L'amour et l'ordre pour principle pour base; pour le progrès but" ("Love as a principle and order as the basis; progress the goal").

'Order and Progress' was the justifying principle for many oligarchic and authoritarian regimes in Latin America between 1870 and 1930. They conceded that democracy is a better form of government, but for a democracy to function properly, the population had to be educated and economic and material progress should be made first.

Firmament

The stars on the Brazil flag make up the Southern Cross - symbolic constellation of the southern hemisphere - and some constellations around it. The flag shows the stars (constellations) as seen from Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889, the day the Brazilian Empire was replaced by a republic.

Years after the proclamation of the republic, it was decided that the stars would represent the states, as in the flag of the United States. Then the flag was modified slightly to 21 stars. Each star represents a state since then. The Federal District has its 'own' star: Sigma Octantis, a star which is located close to the celestial south pole, which is visible year-round in almost the entire country.

At times when Brazil got more states by splitting larger states, the flag of Brazil was changed by adding a star. The last change took place in 1992, since then the Brazilian flag shows the current number of 27 stars.