From the earliest part of Mexican history, the settlers living in the central part of the country used different emblems on flags as a means to identify themselves to other regions. The arrival of the Spaniards heralded new symbols and identifiers as they brought with them their own flags. Specific regions of Mexico adopted their own unique flags as well, such as the Aztecs. During the Colonial Era there was no flag to identify the region known as “new Spain”, but the Spaniards commonly used various crests and symbols from the Spanish Monarchy as visual representation of the their territory in the Americas.
During the period of Mexican history that ushered in the War for Independence, the Mexican army and soldiers utilized a flag which depicted the “Virgen de Guadalupe” (* Roman Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary); the Spanish forces used their own flag which had an image of the “Virgen de los Remedios” (* also an image of the Virgin Mary, religious iconography was readily associated with the Spanish conquistadores) on it. The Mexican flag continued to evolve through the remainder of the period which is now known as the War of Independence era of Mexican history, finally settling on a single design as it was declared by congress as a recognized national symbol. Congress declared that the flag was to have the central imagery be that of an eagle.
Eventually, the eagle was replaced too. Many other symbols, designs and images were used to varying degrees of success until eventually the national crest was chosen permanently. Today, the Mexican flag has three colors; green, white in the middle, and red – each color is meant to symbolize specific attributes; red indicates the color of blood as a tribute to the many that died to establish Mexican independence, white which is to signify the purity associated with Catholicism, and green as a representation of hope and peace. The white section of the flag is where the national crest lies as it is the middle color and section.
Mexico and all of its rich culture and history can be visited and examined up close and in person in the many historical sites along the Riviera Maya. When visiting Cancun, book a stay at a local resort such as the Dreams Tulum Resort & spa and enjoy modern comfort and amenities while exploring the ancient past.
