National symbols of Barbados
National emblems of Barbados are the symbols that are used in Barbados to represent the independent nation. The emblems reflect different aspects of its cultural life and history.
List of symbols
Symbol | Image | Started on |
---|---|---|
National flag | 30 November 1966 | |
Coat of arms of Barbados | 14 February 1966 | |
Motto | Pride and Industry | 14 February 1966 |
National anthem | In Plenty and In Time of Need | 30 November 1966 |
National Pledge
|
The National Pledge | 2 April 1973 |
President's Standard | 30 November 2021 | |
Prime Minister's Standard | [1] | |
National colours | ultramarine gold black |
|
National dish | Flying Fish
|
|
Floral emblem
|
Caesalpinia pulcherrima |
|
National Animal | ||
National bird | Pelecanus occidentalis
|
|
National Dress for men
|
Proposed | |
National Dress for women
|
Proposed |
Former List of symbols
Symbol | image | Started-Ended |
---|---|---|
Colonial Municipal seal(s)
| ||
Bridgetown City Corporation | 1942 | |
Colonial flag(s)
| ||
Union Flag | 1632–1801 | |
Union Flag | 1801–1871 | |
Barbados & Windward Is. | 1871–1885 | |
Crown colony | 1885–1958 | |
Province of Barbados (West Indies Federation) |
1958–1966 | |
Vice-Royal insignia | Governor's Flag[2] |
1870–1966 |
Queen Elizabeth II Royal Cypher
|
1953–2021 | |
Post-Colonial flag(s)
| ||
Royal Standard
|
1966–2021 | |
Viceroy insignia | Governor-General |
1966–2021 |
Flag
The trident centred within the flag is a representation of the mythological Neptune, god of the sea. The trident in its original unbroken form was taken from the former colonial seal, which itself was replaced by the current coat of arms. Used within the national flag, the left and right shafts of the trident were then designed as 'broken' representing the nation of Barbados breaking away from its historical and constitutional ties as a former colony.
The three points of the trident represent in Barbados the three principles of democracy—"government of, for and by the people." The broken trident is set in a centred vertical band of gold representing the sands of Barbados' beaches. The gold band itself is surrounded on both sides by vertical bands of ultramarine (blue) representing the sea and sky of Barbados.
The design for the flag was created by Grantley W. Prescod and was chosen from an open competition arranged by the Barbados government. Over a thousand entries were received.[3]
Heraldry
The
Golden Shield
The Golden Shield in the coat of arms carries two "
Flower
The national flower is the Pride of Barbados or Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw., which grows across the island.
National heroes
In April 1998, the Order of National Heroes Act was passed by the
The eleven official National Heroes of Barbados are:
- Bussa(−1816)
- Sarah Ann Gill (1795–1866)
- Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806–1871)
- Dr. Charles Duncan O’Neal (1879–1936)
- Clement Osbourne Payne (1904–1941)
- Sir Grantley Herbert Adams (1898–1971)
- Rt. Hon. Errol Walton Barrow(1920–1987)
- Sir Hugh Worrell Springer (1913–1994)
- Sir Garfield St. Aubyn Sobers (born 1936)
- Sir Frank Walcott (1916–1999)
- Rihanna (born 1988)
See also
References
- ^ Prime Minister's Flag, Flags of the World online
- ^ Governor's Flag
- ^ "Government of Barbados National Flag". Barbados.gov.bb. 12 November 2003. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
- ^ Government of Barbados – National Heroes Archived 2008-09-05 at the Wayback MachineHistory of Barbados, The Parliament of Barbados Archived 2007-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- List of colonial symbols, FOTW
- List of medals awarded by the Government, Medals of the World
- Great seals of Barbados, Hubert de Vries
- Great Seals of William + Mary and George III, History box