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Mesão Frio (Santo André) Commune (Portugal)

Freguesia de Mesão Frio (Santo André), Concelho de Mesão Frio, Distrito de Vila Real

Last modified: 2026-07-18 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: sao nicolau(mesao frio) | sta. cristina(mesao frio) | vila jusa | base(wavy) | triplemount | mitre | eagle(white) | sword | arrows(2) | scissors | barrels(2) | mount | grapevine | cross(patriarchal) |
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[Mesão Frio (Santo André) commune flag ] 2:3, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Nov 2024
See also:

Mesão Frio (Santo André) Commune

Flag

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain blue field.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Nov 2024

Coat of Arms


[ Mesão Frio (Santo André)commune CoA] image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 30 June 2026

Shield Or a triplemount Sable with snow capped Argent peaks issuant from base wavy of Argent and Azure, on central chief a saltire Azure, below a mitre Gules with scarves of the same at dexter and a barrel Gules ringed Argent and nailed Sable at sinister. Mural crown Argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case serifed letters "MESÃO FRIO (SANTO ANDRÉ)".
Meaning:
A base wavy is part of all pre-2013 communes, now merged. They are a representation of the Douro River, being the eastern boundary of the commune. The triplemount appears at least on the arms of former São Nicolau Commune and former Santa Cristina Commune. It is a representation of the mountains of the Serra do Marão. The saltire is an attribute of the name giver of the commune, St. Andrew. The mitre stands for former São Nicolau Commune, the barrel for former Santa Cristina Commune.
Meaning:
The snow capped triple mountain is inspired by the municipal arms, a local motif created in the 1930s and shared by several communal coats of arms.
Indeed the name chosen for this new entity (see below) is puzzling, as it by rights should be simply "Mesão Frio" (and this the scroll would read "Freguesia de Mesão Frio", as usual for communes synonymous with the municipal seat), as it results from the merger of what was argueably the urban territory of town Mesão Frio (São Nicolau) with two mostly rural communes, whereto urban sprawl had however taken place, differently named as they were. Why was instead chosen a novel hagiographic appellation (170 years after the separation between civil administration communes and Catholic parishes) I do not know, but seems to me that deriving Saint Andrew from the joining of Saint Christine and Saint Nicholas is a somewhat blasfemous, not to mention chronologically unexpected.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Nov 2024 and António Martins-Tuválkin, 30 June 2026

Published in Diário da República: II Série on 23 May 2014, see here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Nov 2024

Presentation of Mesão Frio (Santo André)

Mesão Frio (Santo André) is the only commune of Mesão Frio Municipality created by a merger during the 2013 changes. It had 1615 inhabitants in 2021 and covers 7,41 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Nov 2024

Former São Nicolau commune (until 2013)

Flag

[São Nicolau commune CoA (until 2013)] image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 4 July 2026

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain yellow field.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
António Martins-Tuválkin, 4 July 2026

Coat of Arms

[São Nicolau commune CoA (until 2013)] image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 4 July 2026

Shield Purpure, a sinister facing eagle Argent, pierced by a sword Or in bend, issuant from base a triplemount Sable with snow covered peaks (Argent), in chief a mitre Or garnished Gules. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black capitals "MESÃO FRIO - S. NICOLAU".
Source: this webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 26 April 2002, see here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

Presentation of São Nicolau

São Nicolau was one of the pre-2013 communes of Mesão Frio Municipality; it had 484 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 0,5 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

Former Santa Cristina commune (until 2013)

Flag

[Santa Cristina commune] 2:3, image by Sérgio Horta, 27 Sep 2010

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain blue field.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
António Martins-Tuválkin, 27 Sep 2010

Coat of Arms

[Santa Cristina commune CoA] image by Sérgio Horta, 27 Sep 2010

Shield Or, three mountains Sable the peaks snow (Note that the colour of snow, proper, is white, not white/Argent (grey/silver)) covered over a base wavy of Argent and Azure, in central chief two arrows Sable crossed per saltire and cut by a pair of scissors Azure, below two barrels Purpure ringed Argent and nailed Sable, one at either flank. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (borough rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters "MESÃO FRIO - SANTA CRISTINA".
Meaning:
The mountains are referring to the municipal arms.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
António Martins-Tuválkin, 27 Sep 2010

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 11 October 2004,
António Martins-Tuválkin, 27 Sep 2010

Presentation of Santa Cristina

Santa Cristina was one of the pre-2013 urban communes of Mesão Frio Municipality; it had 808 inhabitants in 2011 and covers 6,4 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

Former Vila Jusã commune (until 2013)

Flag

[Vila Jusã commune flag (until 2013)] 2:3, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider,

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain red field.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

Coat of Arms

[Vila Jusã commune CoA (until 2013)] image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 2 July 2026

Shield Or with base wavy of Azure and Argent, issuant from base a mount Vert, crowned by a patriarch´s cross Gules, in chief two grapevines Purpure leafed Vert and ordered per fess. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black capitals "VILA JUSÃ".
Source: Ralf Hartemink´s webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 18 August 2005, see here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

Presentation of Vila Jusã

Vila Jusã was one of the pre-2013 communes of Mesão Frio Municipality; it had 635 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 2,12 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Mar 2017

back to Mesão Frio Communes click here