Mexican Flag History – The First Flag of Mexico
Contrary to popular belief, the first Mexican flag is not the flag that was adopted in 1821 but the Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe that Father Miguel Hidalgo carried when he declared the Mexican independence from the Spanish rule.
On September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo stood in front of his countrymen (holding in one hand the Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe and raising the other hand towards heaven) and shouted a cry for independence that echoed throughout the entire Mexico.
“My friends and countrymen, the time has come for us to stand up against the Spanish tyrant and fight for our freedom. Our goal is holy and God will protect it. Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe and long live the Mexican independence!”
From that day on the Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe wasn’t just a religious symbol but a symbol of freedom and unity, which is one of the main reasons why many historians considered it to be the first flag of Mexico.
The First Official Mexican Flag
The first official and national Mexican flag was designed and established by the imperial Mexican government in 1821; right after the Mexican people won their independence from Spain.
The flag was a rectangle divided into three vertical stripes of identical measures, with the national Mexican colors of green, white and red; in the center of the white stripe there was a Mexican Coat of Arms (the Mexican Golden Eagle).
Ever since the 1821 the main features of the Mexican flag (numbered above) stayed the same however there were quite a few alternations over the years.