Mexican Flag

The Mexican Flag

The Mexican Flag was first created in the 1820's following independence from Spain. The three colors of the flag, green, white, and red, have stayed the same, but their meaning has changed many times over the years.

The current flag was adopted in 1968. The meanings of the colors are: green - hope, white - unity, red - blood of heroes.

At the center of the flag is a coat of arms showing an eagle perched on a cactus and eating a rattlesnake.

Underneath is a garland. The left side of the garland is green oak, a symbol of strength.

The right side of the garland is a laurel branch, a symbol of victory.

This coat of arms represents an old Aztec legend. According to the story, the Aztec people had to look for a new city to build. They would find the perfect spot where they found an eagle sitting on a cactus and eating a snake. After hundreds of years, the people found the promised place on a small island in Lake Texcoco. Here they built their new city, Tenochtitlan, "Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus." It later became known as Mexico City, the capital city.

Multiple Choice

What is an old name for Mexico City?

• Texcoco

• Tenochtitlan

• Capital City

Multiple Choice

What does the green color in the flag mean?

• Blood

• Hope

• Unity

Multiple Choice

What does the white color in the flag mean?

• Purity

• Hope

• Unity

Multiple Choice

Why are the eagle, rattlesnake, cactus, and garland on the Mexican flag?

• They are all symbols of hope.

• They are the four official symbols of Mexico.

• They tell the story of an Aztec legend about finding a promised land.

Multiple Choice

What do you think Tenochtitlan means?

• Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus

• Promised land

• Swampy lake

Multiple Choice

 What part of the coat of arms on the flag is a symbol of strength?

• The laurel branch

• The rattlesnake

• The green oak on the garland

Multiple Choice

When was the first Mexican flag created?

• In the 1820's

• In 1968

• After the American Civil War

Multiple Choice

What does the red color in the flag mean?

• blood of heroes

• hope

• religion

Multiple Choice

 What do you think a coat of arms is?

• A collection of symbols showing a group's identity

• A uniform soldiers wear

• A coat with pockets for swords

Multiple Choice

What is a garland?

• A tree

• A wreath of flowers or leaves

• A flower