The flag of Mexico (Bandera de México) is a vertical tricolor of green, white, and red with the national coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe. The coat of arms has an eagle, holding a serpent in its beak and talon, is perched on top of a prickly pear cactus growing out of rocks in the middle of a lake. A wreath of oak and laurel tied with a ribbon in the national green-white-red colors is below the eagle.
Green: signifies hope and prosperity
White: represents peace and harmony
Red: symbolizes the blood of Mexican heroes
An eagle holding a snake in its beak perched on a cactus plant was the symbol, based on legend, that the Aztecs looked for when finding the location to build their “sacred” city. They apparently found this site one day and built Tenochtitlan. This city was conquered and eventually destroyed by Hernan Cortez, a Spanish explorer/conqueror. The city was rebuilt and is now called Mexico City.
The first national flag was officially decreed by Agustín de Iturbide in November 1821 and first officially used in July 1822.
The current national flag was adopted on September 16, 1968, and was confirmed by law on February 24, 1984.
The national Día de la Bandera (Flag Day) celebration occurs on February 24. On this day in 1821, all the factions fighting in the War of Independence joined together to form the Army of the Three Guarantees in response to the Plan de Iguala, which was signed by Vicente Guerrero and Agustín de Iturbide, declaring Mexico officially an independent country.
General Vicente Guerrero was the first military official who swore allegiance to the national flag.
