Portuguese National Symbols

Oldest borders of Europe

Portuguese Flag - Monarchy ( )  This was the flag adopted during the constitutional monarchy that lasted until 1910.

Portuguese Flag - Republic (since 1910) Green represents the hope of a nation. The red in the flag symbolizes courage and the blood of Portuguese soldiers killed in combat. Red is also the colour of democratic revolutions in Europe.

The golden armillary sphere represents the world that Portuguese navigators discovered in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The five blue corners symbolize the five Moorish kings that D. Afonso Henriques defeated in battle. The 7 castles symbolize the fortified cities he conquered from the Moors.

Portuguese Anthem  Composed by Alfredo Keil and written by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça during the resurgent nationalist movement ignited by the 1890 British ultimatum to Portugal concerning its African colonies.  Adopted as the national anthem of the Portuguese Republic in 1911

Portuguese Anthem Heróis do mar, nobre povo, Nação valente, imortal, Levantai hoje de novo O esplendor de Portugal! Entre as brumas da memória, Ó Pátria, sente-se a voz Dos teus egrégios avós, Que há-de guiar-te à vitória! Às armas, às armas! Sobre a terra, sobre o mar, Às armas, às armas! Pela Pátria lutar Contra os canhões marchar, marchar! Heroes of the sea, noble people, Brave, immortal nation, Raise today once more Portugal’s splendor! Amidst the mists of memory O Fatherland, the voice is heard Of your egregious grandfathers That shall lead you to victory! To arms, to arms! Over the land, over the sea, To arms, to arms! To fight for our Fatherland Against the cannons, march, march!

Portuguese Fado  Fado is, by self-earned right, the very expression of the Portuguese soul.  It is the oldest urban folk music in the world  On 27 November 2011, Fado was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

Carlos do Carmo Amália Rodrigues Mariza