Wikipedia:Today's featured article/February 24, 2006



The flag of Mexico is a tricolor of green, white and red with the coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe. While the meaning of the colors has changed over time, these three colors were adopted by Mexico following independence from Spain during the country's War of Independence. The current flag was adopted in 1968, but the overall design has been used since 1821. The current law of national symbols that governs the use of the national flag has been in place since 1984. Throughout history, the flag has changed eight times, as the design of the coat of arms and the length-width ratios of the flag have been modified. However, the coat of arms has had the same features throughout: an eagle, holding a serpent in its talon, is perched on top of a cactus; the cactus is situated on a rock that rises above a lake. The current national flag, the "Fourth National Flag", is also used as the Mexican naval ensign by ships registered in Mexico. (more...)

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