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Brazil: Flag Day

Dia da Bandeira, 19 November

Last modified: 2003-07-05 by joe mcmillan
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[Brazil] 7:10 by Joseph McMillan
Flag adopted by Law No 8421 of 11 May 1992; basic design by Decree No 4 of 19 November 1889

See also:

Flag Burning Ceremony

Article 32 of the Brazilian flag law says, "Flags in a bad state of repair should be delivered to any military unit to be incinerated on Flag Day [19 November] according to the special ceremonial procedure." The Armed Forces Regulation on Honors, Salutes, Signs of Respect, and Military Ceremonial, 8 August 2000, sets out this ceremonial procedure in article 162:

  • The flags to be incinerated are deposited on a pyre or in a metal receptacle located near the flag pole where the Flag Day flag-hoisting ceremony is to take place [a special ceremonial raising of the flag at noon before the assembled troops], and soaked with alcohol.
  • The commander directs the reading of the Order of the Day, setting out the significance of the day and of the ceremonies.
  • After the reading, a party consisting of the oldest member of the unit and the best turned-out set fire to the flags.
  • The flags having been incinerated, the ceremony proceeds with the singing of the Hymn to the Flag. In the navy, the singing is preceded by a 21-gun salute.
    • The ashes are placed in an urn and buried at an appropriate location on the military post or cast into the sea in the case of a ship. Apparently, state military police units (which are sort a like a gendarmerie, but under state rather than federal authority) also conduct this ceremony.
    Joseph McMillan, 28 October 2002