Flag of New Mexico
The flag of the U.S. state of New Mexico consists of a red sun symbol of the Zia people on a field of gold/yellow and was officially introduced in 1925.
Official salute to the flag of New Mexico: “I salute the flag of the state of New Mexico, the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures.”
Flag of New Mexico Design and Colour Scheme
The state flag was designed by the archaeologist and physician Harry Mera in a competition sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The New Mexico flag has a proportion of 2:3. The colours are based on the flag of Spain, which had ruled New Mexico until the early 19th century as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. They were originally the colours of Spain’s Queen Isabella.
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| Yellow #ffd700 |
Red #bf0a30 |
The number four is a sacred number of the Zia and It presentence a number of things on the flag, as it’s repeated in the four points radiating from the circle, the number four represents:
- The four points of the compass: east, west, north, and south;
- The four seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter;
- The four periods of each day: morning, noon, evening, and night;
- The four seasons of life: childhood, youth, middle years, and old age.
Zia’s belief that with life comes four sacred obligations: one must develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others.
Brief History about the Flag of New Mexico
The first 14 years of statehood, New Mexico did not have an official flag and the unofficial flag was displayed, consisting of a blue field with the United States flag in the upper left corner, the words “New Mexico” and “47”, as New Mexico was the 47th state of United States of America, In silver lettering in the centre of the flag, and the state seal in the bottom right corner.
The Daughters of the American Revolution pushed New Mexico to design a contemporary and unique flag in 1920. A contest to design the new state flag was won by Harry Mera of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mera was an archaeologist who was familiar with the Zia sun symbol found at Zia Pueblo on a 19th-century pot.
