Mexican Flag Symbol

Mexican Flag Symbol - Meaning
The study of flags is called Vexillology and comes from the Latin word vexillum ("flag") and the Greek suffix -logy ("study"). The word "flag" is derived from the old Saxon word "fflaken" which means to fly or to float in the air. The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield. Shields were painted with emblems or symbols to identify friend or enemy. Warriors needed to know where their leaders were hence the custom of carrying a pole was adopted and subsequently the idea of flags began! Flags and banners were even mentioned in the bible, the following quote is from the bible book entitled Song of Solomons, (6:10):  "Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners."

Mexican Flag Symbol - Description
The Mexican Flag Symbol is:

• The Mexican Flag Symbol is Green, White and Red

• The Mexican Flag Symbol is described as three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red

• The symbol which makes up the Mexican Coat of Arms is as follows:

  • A caracara symbol (A caracara is carrion-eating predatory hawk resembling both the eagle and the vulture. The caracaras act as scavengers, and are also called carrion buzzards) perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak is centered in the white band

  • According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions the colors of the Mexican flag symbol represents the following:
    White is a symbol of peace and honesty
    Red is a symbol of hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
    Green is a symbol of hope, joy and love and in many cultures have a sacred significance

Mexican Flag Symbol - Color Symbolism
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions there is a vast amount of symbolism associated with the color of a nations flag. The full development of heraldry in about 1200AD also brought sophisticated design of flags, some of which includes a Coat of Arms.

• A Yellow flag is a symbol of quarantine, the same flag is used by all nations; it is also carried at a vessel's fore, to denote that an infectious disease is on board

• White flag - A white flag is a symbol of truce and is carried or displayed to an enemy, as an invitation to conference, or for the purpose of making some communication not hostile

• National flag - A flag of a particular country, on which some national emblem or device, is emblazoned

• Red flag - A red flag is displayed as a symbol of danger or token of defiance; the emblem or symbol of anarchists

Mexican Flag Symbol - History
Why does the Caracara appear as a symbol in the Mexican flag? According to Aztec legend the people were wandering in Mexico in search of a symbol that their god, Huitzilopochtli, had given them. Huitzilopochtli commanded the people to find a Crested Caracara perched on top of a cactus, eating a serpent. After two hundred years of wandering, the people found the promised symbol on a small island in the Lake Texcoco. Their search and wandering ended and they founded their new capital, Tenochtitl. Other important events in the history of the Mexican flag symbol are:

• In 1502, Moctezuma II 1466-1520 (also known as Montezuma) assumes the Aztec throne

• In 1517, The Spanish explorer Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba (1475-1526) landed on the Mexican Yucatan coast

• In 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes (1485-1547) discovered Veracruz

• In 1519, Cortes entered Tenochtitlan and captured Moctezuma II (also known as Montezuma)

• In 1520, Moctezuma II (also known as Montezuma) was killed

• In 1528, Juan de Zumarraga (1468-1548) arrives as bishop of Mexico City and begins native conversion of the Mexican people to Catholicism

• In 1718, Franciscan missionaries settled in Texas

• In 1718, Mission San Antonio de Valero was established which later became famous as the Alamo

• In 1803, Napoleon took Louisiana back from New Spain but subsequently sold it to the United States

• In 1810,  The king of Spain was overthrown by Napoleon

• On 16th September 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811) preached his Grito de Dolores, sparking rebellion and the War of Independence

• In 1811, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was captured and executed

• In 1821, Spain recognized Mexican independence with the signing of the Cordoba Treaty

• In 1822, General Augustin de Iturbide assumed control as the Mexican Emperor

• In 1823, General Santa Anna deposes Iturbide, the monarchy fails, and a new mexican constitution creates a federal republic

• In 1829, President Vicente Guerrero abolished slavery

• In 1829, A Spanish attempt at re-conquest was stopped by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (1794-1876)

• Texas declared its independence

• In 1836, February 23 to March 6 - A band of 189 Texas volunteers defied a Mexican army of thousands for 13 days of siege at the Alamo

• In April 1836, The Battle of San Jacinto took place, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was captured by Sam Houston

• In 1846-1848 War between Mexico and the USA

• In 1848, The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo reduced Mexico's territory by half, ceding present-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and part of Colorado to the U.S.

• In 1853, Santa Anna agreed to the Gadsden Purchase, ceding a further 48,000 square km (30,000 square mi) to the United States

• In 1863, French occupied Mexico City and Napoleon III of France appointed Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria (1832-1867) as the Mexican Emperor

• 1864 Maximilian was executed

• 1910-1920 Mexican Revolution -- Madero, Huerta, Carranza, Villa and Zapata
   

Mexican Flag Symbol - Information Lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m Highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m Mexican Natural resources: Petroleum, Silver, Copper, Gold, Lead, Zinc, Natural gas, Timber Climate: The Mexican climate varies from tropical to desert Mexican Terrain: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert Land boundaries: Total: 4,353 km Border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962km, US 3,141km Capital City: Mexico City Mexican Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN)

Mexican Flag Symbol - Definition
A flag is defined as a symbol or emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design. Flags are also often used as a signalling device and method of communication. Government buildings are often decorated with flags. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.

Mexican Flag Symbol - Facts All Flag pictures show flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right The Study of the Flags is known as Vexillology The upper left quarter of the flag is known as the Canton A Flag share is the flag officer's share of prize money People with an interest in flags are called Vexillologists The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed

• The shape and flag ratio of the Mexican Flag Symbol is 1:2 (the length is twice the height)

• To dip the flag is the process of lowering and quickly restore it to its place is often done as a mark of respect

• The idea of flying a flag came from the requirements of ancient warfare in the battlefield

• When presenting a nations flag, the United Nations uses alphabetical order, this includes the Mexican Flag Symbol . Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag

• The Mexican Flag Symbol should never be allowed to drag along the ground

• A tattered or faded Mexican Flag Symbol should be removed and replaced with a new Mexican Flag Symbol

• The Mexican Flag Symbol should always be flown the correct way up, it is vital that due care and consideration is taken to ensure this

Displaying the Mexican Flag Symbol - Did you know?

• The act or function of raising the Mexican Flag Symbol , as on a rope is referred to as hoisting

• To denote grief and mourning, the Mexican Flag Symbol is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole , this is called flying the flag at Half Staff or Half Mast and is carried out by firstly raising the Mexican Flag Symbol to the top, then lowering the Mexican Flag Symbol halfway

• To show distress the Mexican Flag Symbol is flown upside-down

• Always hoist the Mexican Flag Symbol briskly and lower the Mexican Flag Symbol ceremoniously

• No disrespect should be shown to the Mexican Flag Symbol flag

• The Mexican Flag Symbol should never be displayed, used, fastened or kept in such a way as to allow the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way

• The Mexican Flag Symbol should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature

• To strike, or lower the Mexican Flag Symbol is the process of hauling it down. It is a token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of surrender

• To hang out a white flag is a method of asking for a truce or quarter, or, in some cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a white flag

Dream Definition - Mexican Flag Symbol
Seeing your national flag in your dream means peace and/or prosperity. Seeing a flag of a foreign nation indicates a breach of trust between friends.
 

Mexican Flag Symbol