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Maranhão (Brazil)

2:3 by Joseph McMillan
Adopted 21 December 1889; reinstated 28 July 1947

Flag of the State of Maranhão
19th Century Merchant Ship Pennant

Flag of the State of Maranhão

According to the poet Joaquim de Souza Andrade (Sousandrade), who created the flag, the colors of the stripes represent the racial fusion of the Brazilian ethnic groups. The white star with the blue background symbolizes Maranhão. It is the same Beta of Scorpio that appears on the Brazilian flag.
Zeljko Heimer, 13 March 1996

The bars represent the racial fusion of the people of Maranhão and of Brazil as a whole (Indians, whites, and and blacks); the blue field represents the sky.
Jaume Ollé, 28 June 1996

The flag of the State of Maranhão was instituted by decree number 6, of 21 December 1889. It is made up of nine interspersed horizontal stripes--three red, four white, and two black--with a blue square in the upper corner adjoining the lance [i.e., in the upper hoist], and having on the center [of the blue square] a white five pointed star. The square occupies one-third of the flag's length and half its width.
Dov Gutterman, 21 January 1999

Official information on the Maranhão flag is at http://www.ma.gov.br/simbolos.htm.
"Elso," 13 February 2000