Mexico

3×5' nylon national flag of Mexico.

At the heart of Mexico's flag is a founding legend. The Mexica were told to build their city where they found an eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a serpent. They found it on an island in Lake Texcoco and founded Tenochtitlan, today Mexico City.

Design

Three equal vertical bands of green, white and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band: a golden eagle on a prickly pear cactus, a serpent in its beak, above a lake, framed by oak and laurel.

History & Symbolism

The colors come from the Army of the Three Guarantees, which secured independence from Spain in 1821. The arms have been redrawn several times; the present version dates from 16 September 1968 and is fixed by a law of 1984. Green is commonly read as hope, white as unity, and red as the blood of national heroes.

Flag Specifications

• Adopted: current design 16 September 1968
• Official proportions: 4:7
• Colors: green, white, red
• Emblem: eagle on a cactus devouring a serpent

Vexillographer's Note

Mexico celebrates Flag Day on 24 February. Without its coat of arms the flag would closely resemble Italy's, which uses the same colors in the same order.

Humphrys Flag Company · Old City Philadelphia · Est. 1864