Coat of arms of Belize
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Belize was adopted upon independence in 1981. It differs only slightly different from the arms used when Belize was a British colony (the Union Jack has been removed, and a Mestizo has replaced one of the Afro-Belizean woodcutters supporting the shield).[1][2]
| Coat of arms of Belize | |
|---|---|
| |
| Armiger | Belize |
| Adopted | 1981 (standardised in 2019) |
The wreath around the arms is formed of 50 leaves, symbolising the year 1950, "when Belizeans began the struggle for independence".[1] Within the wreath is a mahogany tree, in front of which is a shield split per chevron and per pale. The upper sections of the shield show the tools of a woodcutter, while the lower section shows a ship under sail. These are symbolic of the importance of mahogany in the 18th- and 19th-century Belizean economy.[3] The motto is Sub umbra floreo ("Under the shade I flourish"), a reference to the country's forests and to its establishment as a colony under British protection.[1]
The flag of Belize features the coat of arms in its centre.
Historical versions
Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1819–1907
Coat of arms of British Honduras, 1907–1967
Coat of arms of British Honduras/Belize, 1967–1981
Coat of arms of Belize (1981-2019)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.png)
