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Our Symbols:
As a tradition, each Spaniard city and territory would have it's own Coat of Arms. Today, each Municipality also has it's very own flag and Anthem to add to it's own identity as well.
>Coat of Arms: (Escudo de Armas)
The San Germán Coat of Arms was designed in the year 1970 petitioned by Dr. Luis J. Torres Oliver, designed by Roberto Beascochea, Attorney at Law, and approved by the Institute of Puerto Rican culture, being the president Ricardo Alegría. The design of the Coat of Arms and it's acceptance as a city symbol were part of the 4th centenary (1570-1970) celebrations of the founding of the city in it's actual location. On November 14th 1972 it was officially declared the Coat of Arms of the Municipality of San Germán by the Municipal Assembly.
Symbolism of our Coat of Arms: By Roberto Beascoechea, Attorney at Law
Excerpt from: Vélez Dejardín, José. Los Municipios de Puerto Rico; San Germán Ciudad Fundadora de Pueblos. Hato Rey: Departamento de Educación de Puerto Rico, 1991.
The San Germán Coat of Arms has the following symbolism according to the great historical tradition of the San German people.
First Quarter:
The Episcopal Miter and Staff (crosier) represents Saint Germain, Bishop of the French town of Auxerre and patron of the city. Both Miter and Staff are Liturgical emblems. The Miter is by excellence the symbol of Episcopal dignity and the Staff, the power of bishops to pasture the herd. The green background is representative of Christianity, adopted by Rome to represent certain Catholic qualities. Green is also representative of the Christopher Columbus Coat of Arms, as well as the green pastures of the first settlement of San Germán in the coasts of Guánica and Guayanilla. The quarter has other more profound symbolisms.
Second Quarter:
Exhibits the Arms of the Kingdoms of Aragón and Sicily; Kingdoms over which Ferdinand the Catholic, King of Spain reigned during the colonization of America and Puerto Rico. Since Heraldical tradition establishes that the Husband's Arms should be preceded by the Wife's Arms, these Arms are preceded by the Arms of Mrs. Germana de Foix, second wife to the Catholic King.
Third Quarter:
Presents the combined Arms of the County of Foix and the Kingdom of France, family Arms of Mrs. Germana de Foix, from which her name perpetuates the city of San Germán. With her marriage to Ferdinand the Catholic, Mrs. Germana de Foix becomes the Queen of Aragón, Sicily, Valencia, Mallorca, Cerdeña, Córcega, Naples and Jerusalem, between other monarchy titles.
Fourth Quarter:
Shows the symbol of the Ponce de León family, Puerto Rico branch. The Ponce de León family in Spain, having many branches, used the crowned and purple Lion symbol, shown always with a silver background. For some reason, in Puerto Rico, the Lion always appeared without the crown. This commemorates the first governor of the island, and gives proper credit to the person who allowed the conquest of western Puerto Rico.
The wall crown in top of the Coat of Arms is the symbol of a city or a municipality, and is properly worn on top of the Coat of Arms of a city. Five towers indicates a city status while three towers indicate the status of Ville or Town. San German has a City status given by the King of Spain in 1877, and as such, it shows the proper 5 towers.
>San German's Flag:
The flag of San Germán was designed by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and presented to the city by the Cultural Society of San Germán, presided by Dr. Luis Torres Oliver, during the Great Civic-Cultural Parade of the 4th Centenary celebrations held on December 6th, 1970. On November 14th 1972 it was declared the official flag of the Municipality of San Germán by the Ordinance No. 15 Series 1972-73 of the Municipal Assembly.
Our Flag Symbolisms:
Violet: Color of the Coat of Arms of Juan Ponce de León, first governor of Puerto Rico.
White: Indicates the purity of San German's work. Related as well with the dignity of the families who first colonized the Party of San Germán. According to the historian Fray Iñigo Abbad, the families who first came to San Germán were from the most distinguished families in the Americas and Puerto Rico. It also may symbolize the purity of the Guanajibo River crossing our city, considered as healing waters and exported to Europe for years.
Green: It shows religious dignity, and it was one of the colors of the Christopher Columbus coat of Arms an of his son Diego, Viceroy of the Americas. It also means the green of our pastures.
In the middle of the flag, the San German Coat of Arms shows.
>San German Anthem (Spanish, English Translation):
| Original Version | English Translation Translated by Michael González |
|
San Germán es mi pueblo querido en sus lomas alegres nací y no encuentro otro sitio en el mundo donde yo pueda ser mas feliz
Es antigüo, legendario y muy culto y fue cuna de hombres grandes de ayer de poetas, maestros y artistas y de damas muy nobles también
Porta Coeli se levanta orgulloso cual reliquia de un tiempo que fue En sus muros antigüos aun vibra Un pasado de gloria y de fé.
Yo no cambio mi pueblo querido por París, Nueva York ni Berlín Porque allá no se ven golondrinas Como siempre las vemos aqui
Dios bendiga este pueblo tan mío Este pueblo en donde nací Del que puedo yo estar orgulloso Donde siempre me siento feliz |
San Germán is my dear town In it's happy hills I was born And I can't find another place in this world Where I could be happier than here
It's antique, legendary and educated And was cradle for important men from long ago A cradle for poets, teachers and artists And for refined women as well
Porta Coeli stands proud what a relic of times long gone In it's old walls still vibes A past of glory and faith.
I would not change my dear town for Paris, New York or Berlin Since you can't see Swallow birds The way we always see them here
God bless this town so mine This town where I was born Of which I can be so proud Where I will always be happy. |
Copyright Ó 2003 - Michael González Casiano
Pictures and maps in this website have been taken from different websites and books, except for the pictures taken by the Webmaster during February and March 2003 where stated. Information has been taken from different sources and may not be accurate.
