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Mexico

Estados Unidos Mexicanos

Last modified: 2005-09-24 by juan manuel gabino villascán
Keywords: mexico | bandera nacional | national flag | flag | trigarante | arms | construction sheet | sheet |
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[Bandera Nacional (National Flag of Mexico)] 4:7
[National Mexican Flag and Ensign]
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, August 31, 2001

Flag and coat of arms adopted: September 16, 1968;
by Decree published in the DOF on August 17, 1968.
Flag and coat of arms confirmed: February 24, 1984;
by Decree published in DOF on February 8, 1984.
Flag with "Golden Arms" adopted: No official decree has been issued.
In use since about 1988.
Use:
  • On land, civil, state and war flag;
  • At sea, civil, state and naval ensign.
    • Color specifications: According to the Secretaría de Gobernación (Secretariat of the Interior),
    body responsible on National Symbols matters, the recommended colors for the Mexican flag are:

  • Green: Pantone 3425 C
  • Red: Pantone 186 C

    • In this page:

    See:

    Presentation of Mexico

    • Official name: Estados Unidos Mexicanos / United Mexican States / États-Unis du Mexique
    • Short-form names: México / Mexico / Mexique
    • Type of government: People's Democratic Representative Federal Republic.
    • Chief of State and Head of Government: Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos / President of the United Mexican States
    • Capital: Ciudad de México / Mexico City, Distrito Federal
    • Local divisions: 31 Estados (states), and one district: Distrito Federal
    • Nationality: Mexicana / Mexican / Mexicaine
    • Official Language: Español, also known as Castellano / Spanish / Espagnol
    • Other languages: Nahuatl, Mayan, Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Totonac, English, French, German.
    • Religion: Roman Catholic (mostly).
    • Area: 1'964,375 km2
    • Location: Northern America. Mexico neighbors USA (N), Guatemala and Belize (SE), Ocean Pacific (W), Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea (E)
    • Status: Internationaly recognized independent and sovereign state.
    • Member of: UNO, UN specialized bodies and agencies, World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank, International Monetary Found (IMF), Organization of American States (OEA/OAE), APEC, Organization for Economical Cooperation and Development (OCDE/OEDC), Iternational Olympic Committee (COI/OIC), FIFA, FIBA, IAAF, FIVA, among others.
    • ISO codes: 484; MEX; MX

    The Bandera Nacional
    Official description and construction sheet

    [Mexican flag construction sheet]
    by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, August 31, 2001

    According the Law on National Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem (Diario Oficial de la Federación February 8, 1984), in the article 3º are stated the features and proportions of the Mexican flag:

    Art. 3º:
    "The Bandera Nacional is a rectangle divided into three vertical stripes of identical measures, with the colors placed in the following order from hoist to fly: green, white, and red. Centered in the white stripe, the National Coat of Arms with a diameter of three fourths the wide of the white stripe. The proportion of the flag is four to seven. It could carry a rope or tie of the same colors bellow the truck.

    A model of the National Flag, authenticated by the Three Union Power representatives, will remain stored in the 'Archivo General de la Nación' (General Archive of the Nation), and another in the 'Museo Nacional de Historia' (National Museum on History)."

    Quoted and translated by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, June 22, 2001.

    The image shown above is based on an official illustration published in the Rule on Uniforms of the Mexican Army and Air Force (DOF December 18, 1975).
    Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, June 22, 2001.

    The colors of the Bandera Nacional
  • Their origin
  • Their meaning

    • There are several odd versions about the origin of the National Colors, but according to Manuel Carrera Stampa the most serious statement about their origin is that provided by Jorge Flores D., who said:

    "The Flag's colors were surely inspired in those of the arms of the Most Noble and Loyal City de la Purísma-Concepción de Zelaya granted by Phillip IV in 1669, and placed in the Regimiento de Celaya's flag of which Iturbide was colonel... Such arms are blue, white and red, in the middle of the white stripe there is a mezquite three under which there are the Regidores who had signed the first agreement... so, it is very probable that the new flag had been created in Celaya (Guanajuato), instead of Iguala (then a town in the Province of México, now Guerrero), because of security: Ituribide would not risk his life because of the new and original idea to join two rival armies, then he chose a save an