Flag Day in Mexico (Spanish. Día de la Bandera is celebrated in the country annually on February 24 and is one of the main national holidays. This memorial day was established in 1937 by the President of Mexico, General Lázaro Cárdenas.
The Mexican flag is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 4:7. The panel consists of three equal vertical stripes — green, white and red.
In the center of the white stripe is the coat of arms of Mexico. The green color of the flag denotes hope, as well as the abundance of good soil in Mexico. White symbolizes the purity of ideals, red — blood shed for the independence of the country.
According to Aztec legend, the god Huitzilopochtli predicted to the Aztecs, who were looking for land to live, that they should find an eagle sitting on a rocky spot on top of a nopal cactus devouring a snake.
When they found this eagle, they settled there and erected the first temple there in honor of their patron god Huitzilopochtli. It is this eagle that is depicted on the coat of arms and flag of the country.
Interestingly, February 24 is also called Independence Proclamation Day in honor of the declaration of independence from Spain on February 24, 1821.