National Flag of Mexico

Proportions: 4:7 Mexican Flag Description:
The flag of Mexico consists of three equal sized vertical stripes - the left stripe is green; the middle is white; and the right stripe is red. In the middle of the Mexican flag and white stripe is the country's national coat of arms.

Mexican Flag Meaning:
The stripes on Mexico's flag are believed to represent the following: the green stripe represents hope; the white represents symbolizes religion; and the red represents independence and the unity of the nation. Mexico's coat of arms depicts an ancient Aztec legend that tells a tale of God telling a band of wandering Aztec Indians that when they came across an eagle eating a snake while perched on a nopal cactus growing out of a rock surrounded by water, they were to create their home. This spot eventually became Mexico City. This scenario with the eagle eating a snake is depicted on the Mexican coat of arms.

Mexican Flag History:
The current Mexican flag was adopted on September 16, 1968. Mexico gained independence from Spain on September 21, 1821, and at that time introduced a basic flag of green, white and red diagonal stripes. The Mexican coat of arms - which represents the 1325 founding of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán (on the site occupied by Mexico's modern capital, Mexico City) - was added in 1823. The coat of arms has changed several times since then and this has resulted in several modifications to the Mexican flag.

Interesting Mexican Flag Facts:
In Mexico the flag is often called the Bandera Nacional.