In the present interpretation of the coat of arms the condor represents the commitment of the new generations to dominate the huge national territory by an army of powerful wings. The first section demands the Colombians the exploitation of its natural resources; the second reminds that freedom has to be conquered every day; the third symbolizes the privileged geographical position of Colombia in the continent and in the world, especially the fact that this country has coasts on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Amazon is present too. This coat of arms of the Republic was officially established by Law 3º on May 9, 1834 and had some modifications which are registered in a decree Nº 861 of 1924.
The national anthem was composed in 1887 with verses penned by Rafael Nuñez and the music of Italian-born composer Oreste Sindici to celebrate the independence of Cartagena. Act 33 of October 28, 1920, signed into law by president Marco Fidel Suarez, made the anthem official. On November 11, 1887, the national anthem was publicly sung for the first time ever in a small makeshift variety theater housed in the former building of the Cathedral’s public school. A 25-voice choir belted out the anthem with the accompaniment of an orchestra led by maestro Sindici. The anthem is made up of one chorus and eleven stanzas. Coro ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! ¡Oh júbilo inmortal! En surcos de dolores El bien germina ya. Cesó la horrible noche, La libertad sublime Derrama las auroras De su invencible luz. La humanidad entera, Que entre cadenas gime Comprende las palabras Del que murió en la cruz. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! "¡Independencia!" grita el mundo americano; se baña en sangre de héroes la tierra de Colón. Pero este gran principio: "el rey no es soberano". Resuena, y los que sufren, Bendicen su pasión. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! Del Orinoco el cauce Se colma de despojos; De sangre y llanto un río Se mira allí correr. En Bárbula no saben, Las almas ni los ojos, Si admiración o espanto Sentir o padecer. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! A orillas del Caribe Hambriento un pueblo lucha. Horrores prefiriendo A pérfida salud. ¡Oh si!, de Cartagena la abnegación es mucha, y escombros de la muerte desprecia su virtud. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! De Boyacá en los campos El genio de la gloria, Con cada espiga un héroe, Invicto coronó. Soldados sin coraza Ganaron la victoria; Su varonil aliento De escudo les sirvió. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! Bolívar cruza el Ande, Que riegan dos océanos: Espadas cual centellas Fulguran en Junín. Centauros indomables Descienden a los llanos, Y empieza a presentirse De la epopeya el fin. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! La trompa victoriosa En Ayacucho truena; Que en cada triunfo crece Su formidable son. En su expansivo empuje La libertad se estrena Del cielo americano Formando un pabellón. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! La Virgen sus cabellos Arranca en agonía, Y de su amor viuda, Los cuelga del ciprés. Lamenta su esperanza Que cubre losa fría, Pero glorioso orgullo, Circunda su alba tez. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! La patria así se forma Termópilas brotando; Constelación de cíclopes Su noche iluminó. La flor estremecida, Mortal el viento hallando, Debajo los laureles Seguridad buscó. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! Más no es completa gloria Vencer en la batalla, Que al brazo que combate Lo anima la verdad La independencia sola El gran clamor no acalla: Si el sol alumbra a todos, Justicia es libertad. ¡Oh gloria inmarcesible! Del hombre los derechos Nariño predicando, El alma de la lucha Profético enseñó. Ricaute en San Mateo, En átomos volando, "deber antes que vida", con llamas escribió.
El Bambuco is the national dance, although there are other typical dances as "la Jota chocoana", which is a parody of the Spanish dance "la jota" and the "Contradanza", that is a dance typical of the black population in the Pacific region.
The national flower is the orchid, of the Cattleya trianae variety. It is called so in honor of the Colombian naturalist José Jerónimo Triana. It was chosen as the national flower based on the decision of the Colombian Academy of History in 1936, although it has not been stated by law yet. The Colombians orchid are considered the most beautiful of the world.
The national tree is la Palma de Cera del Quindío (Ceroxylon quindiuense). It is a very beautiful tree, of an extraordinary strength and a legendary long life. It is exclusive of the Colombian Andes. It reaches the height of 70 meters. It was chosen as the national tree of Colombia by the Preparatory la Commission of the Second South American Congress of Botany heId in Bogotá in 1949. Later it became a symbol of Colombia by Law 61 of 1985.
The majestic Andean condor (Vultus gryplus) is always associated with the glories of the homeland. It appears in the national coat of arms. It is the biggest and most important bird in the Andes. Of all the birds, it can fly the greatest heights. They are proverbial by their majesty and nobility; their long life is a myth. It has been called the "eternal bird". Its strength and power are enormous. It is said that it can cover a distance of up to 200 miles in a day. It only flies on sunny days. It has a black plumage, with some blue sheen as the steel. Its strong winds have a white area. Its prominent fleshy comb on the forehead is white. It lives in the highest mountains of the Andes.
Football is the national sport. Also important are tennis, golf and skiing in Nevado del Ruiz Valleys.
