Mexican Flag
After being under Spanish rule since the 16th century, Mexico finally
detached from Spain in 1821 to become a Central American state.
Their flag, also designed in 1821, paid homage to France, whom Mexico
admired for its dedication to freedom.
The original Mexican flag was indistinguishable from the current Italian flag, though Italy's flag wasn't in use at the time the Mexican flag was adopted. The design was based on the French tricolore, and featured vertical bands of green, white, and red. These colors were chosen because they represented those of Mexico's national liberation army.
A coat of arms was eventually added to the center of the white band in
order to distinguish the flag from that of Italy. The coat of arms
incorporates the badge of Mexico City, and recalls a legend that explains
how the Aztecs decided to settle on what was originally a
lake-island. The ribbon on the coat of arms represents the national
colors.
Related Mexican Links
- Mexico Flag - description and illustration of the flag of Mexico.
- Mexico Map - Mexico maps, geography, and tourism.