The Mexican flag has three vertical stripes coloured, from left to right, green, white and red. In the centre of the flag is the Mexican coat of arms - a golden eagle, perching on a prickly pear cactus, eating a snake. Although the meaning of these colours has changed over time, the currently accepted meaning is that green represents hope, white represents unity, red represents the bloodshed by the nation’s heroes.
The modern Mexican flag has evolved over a period of two hundred years, during which time Mexico itself has changed from being a Spanish colony to an independent modern state.
When the Spanish conquistadores arrived in the sixteenth century, they brought with them their own flags and symbols. Mexico was called New Spain, but during this lengthy colonial period there was no single national flag. However, the flags and crests of the Spanish crown were often flown.
In 1810, Mexicans began their revolutionary war of independence which lasted until 1821. In this period, Mexican troops created a flag with the image of the "Virgin of Guadalupe”. Troops loyal to the Spanish crown flew a flag bearing the picture of the "Virgin de los Remedios”.
After the war ended and Mexico had successfully gained its independence from Spain, a newly cormed Constitutional Congress adopted a national flag with the same colours as today and with an eagle symbol on its centre.
Later, the original eagle was replaced by other symbols. As recently as 1982, it was decreed by the then President of Mexico,Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado, that the symbol occupying the centre of the flag should be the national crest.
The meaning of the colors of the Mexican flag changed over this period: Originally, Green stood for newly won Independence, White for Religion, and Red for Union. Later the colours acquired their modern meaning.
The modern Mexican flag has evolved over a period of two hundred years, during which time Mexico itself has changed from being a Spanish colony to an independent modern state.
When the Spanish conquistadores arrived in the sixteenth century, they brought with them their own flags and symbols. Mexico was called New Spain, but during this lengthy colonial period there was no single national flag. However, the flags and crests of the Spanish crown were often flown.
In 1810, Mexicans began their revolutionary war of independence which lasted until 1821. In this period, Mexican troops created a flag with the image of the "Virgin of Guadalupe”. Troops loyal to the Spanish crown flew a flag bearing the picture of the "Virgin de los Remedios”.
After the war ended and Mexico had successfully gained its independence from Spain, a newly cormed Constitutional Congress adopted a national flag with the same colours as today and with an eagle symbol on its centre.
Later, the original eagle was replaced by other symbols. As recently as 1982, it was decreed by the then President of Mexico,Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado, that the symbol occupying the centre of the flag should be the national crest.
The meaning of the colors of the Mexican flag changed over this period: Originally, Green stood for newly won Independence, White for Religion, and Red for Union. Later the colours acquired their modern meaning.
