Mexico’s national flag is a vertical green-white-red tricolour with the national coat of arms centred on the white band. The emblem shows a golden eagle holding a snake while standing on a prickly pear cactus growing from a rock in a lake.

What does the Mexican flag look like?

The flag has three equal vertical bands: green at the hoist, white in the centre and red at the fly. Mexico’s coat of arms fills the centre of the white stripe.

Meaning of the eagle and snake

The central emblem comes from the foundation tradition of Tenochtitlan, the Mexica capital that later became Mexico City. According to the traditional account, the Mexica were told to settle where they found an eagle on a cactus. The modern coat of arms turns that story into a national symbol.

History of the Mexican flag

Green, white and red became national colors during the independence era in the early nineteenth century. The arrangement and coat of arms changed several times as Mexico moved through empire, republic and later political systems. The present legal form is governed by Mexico’s law on the national coat of arms, flag and anthem.

Mexico flag facts

• Colors: green, white and red
• Design: vertical tricolour
• Central emblem: eagle, snake and cactus
• Flag Day: February 24

Reference

Reference: Mexico’s Law on the National Coat of Arms, Flag and Anthem and official federal guidance on national symbols.