The Mexico flag is a tricolor with three vertical bands of green, white, and red. The bands are equal in width, and in the center of the white band is the Mexican coat of arms. Mexico's coat of arms is a Mexican golden eagle perched on a cactus. The eagle on the coat of arms is devouring a snake with its beak. While there is no official symbolism attached to the three colors, it is believed that the three colors of the Mexico flag represent the colors of Mexico's liberation army. The coat of arms in the center of the Mexican flag represents the victory of good over evil and draws from Aztec symbolism. The official flag of Mexico was adopted on September 16, 1968.
The tricolor has been the standard on Mexican flags since the nation gained independence in 1821. The earliest Mexican flags, the Flag of the Three Guarantees and the Flag of the Iturbide's Regency featured three diagonal bands of white, green, and red. These flags were embellished with stars, and the Flag of the Iturbide's Regency bore the crown in the center.
The Flag of the First Mexican Empire, adopted on November 2, 1821 first used the tricolor in its present form - vertical equal bands of green, white, and red with the green to the hoist side. The flag was the first to feature an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak. This coat of arms was derived from Aztec lore. The flag of the Mexican Republic, adopted on April 14, 1823, featured the oak and laurel branches for the first time. The naval ensign was also modified to include the coat of arms thereby distinguishing it from the Italian flag.
The flag of the Second Mexican Empire was also based on the same tricolor but the flag aspect ratio was modified to 1:2. Crowned eagles were placed on the four corners and in the center was the imperial coat of arms.
On June 19, 1867, the earlier flag with the eagle and olive and laurel branches was readopted. The current version of the flag of Mexico was adopted on September 16, 1968, but received its constitutional approval on February 24, 1984. Mexico City was scheduled to host the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. This required the urgent standardization of the flag and the national anthem. The right-facing eagle was then adopted to represent the Mexican coat of arms.
Standard Specifications:
The flag aspect ratio of the Mexican flag is 4:7. The green band is on the hoist side of the flag. The standard colors used by Mexico are Pantone 3425 C Green, White, and Pantone 186 C Red.
Resemblance:
The flag of Mexico closely resembles the Italian flag. The flag of Italy is a plain tricolor without the coat of arms, and the flag aspect ratio of the Italian flag is 2:3 rather than the Mexican flag's 4:7. The shades of green and red on the Italian flag are also paler than the Mexican flag. The Hungarian flag features similar colors to the Mexican flag but the bands are horizontal.
Flag Day:
Dia de la Bandera, Mexican Flag Day, is celebrated annually on February 24.
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Last Update on: August 03, 2012
