The current flag was made official in 1889 when the nation converted from an empire to a republic state, but the number of stars was increased to 27 in 1992. Green symbolizes the Emperor PedroⅠ's House of Braganza, the golden color, the House of Hapbsburg that Empress Leopoldina came from. Also, green represents the luscious forest resources, and the raw silk, the mineral resources. The design in the center is a depiction of the night stars that can be seen from the Capitol, Rio de Janeiro.