Flag of New Mexico facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and state flag    |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | March 15, 1925 |
| Design | The red and gold (yellow) of old Spain. The ancient Zia sun symbol in red on a field of yellow. |
| Designed by | Reba Mera |
The official flag of New Mexico shows a red sun symbol from the Zia people on a bright yellow background. This flag was chosen in 1925. It celebrates New Mexico's rich history. This includes its Native American and Hispano roots.
The flag combines a symbol from the Puebloan people. They have lived in the state for a very long time. It also uses the colors of the flag of Spain. Spain ruled New Mexico for over 250 years.
New Mexico's flag is known for being unique and easy to recognize. It has a simple and beautiful design. It is one of only four U.S. state flags that does not use the color blue. It is also the only one of these four without white. New Mexico and Oklahoma are the only states that show Native American symbols on their flags.
The sun symbol has specific measurements. The four groups of rays are at right angles. The two inner rays are a bit longer than the outer ones. The circle in the middle is one-third the width of the whole symbol.
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The History of New Mexico's Flag
New Mexico did not have an official flag for its first 13 years as a state.
The First Unofficial Flag
In 1915, there was a big event called the San Diego World's Fair. All U.S. state flags were on display there. Since New Mexico had no official flag, they used an unofficial one. This flag was designed by Ralph Emerson Twitchell. He was the mayor of Santa Fe, the state capital.
This unofficial flag was called the "Twitchell flag." It was blue with the U.S. flag in the top left corner. The words "New Mexico" were in silver letters in the middle. The number "47" was in the top right. This showed New Mexico was the 47th state. The state seal was in the bottom right corner. Today, only one Twitchell flag is known to exist. It is displayed in Santa Fe at the Palace of the Governors.
How the Current Flag Was Designed
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In 1920, a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) wanted an official flag. They wanted a flag that showed New Mexico's special history and culture. A contest was held in 1923 to find new designs.
Dr. Harry Mera of Santa Fe created the winning design. His wife, Reba Mera, sewed the flag. In 1925, Governor Arthur T. Hannett signed a law. This law made the Mera design the official state flag. It has been used ever since and has not changed.
Dr. Mera was a doctor and an archaeologist. He knew about the Zia sun symbol. This symbol was first seen on a pottery jar from the 1800s. It was found at Zia Pueblo. The Zia sun symbol is very important to the Zia people. It has a sacred meaning.
The number four is special to the Zia people. It stands for the Circle of Life. This includes the four directions, the four times of day, the four stages of life, and the four seasons. The circle in the middle connects all these parts.
The Zia symbol was used on the flag without the Zia people's direct permission. The Zia people have worked to protect their symbol. They have tried to prevent it from being used without their consent. They were also worried about the symbol being disrespected. In 2012, the state and the Zia people recognized that the image was used without permission.
Today, students in New Mexico public schools often say a special pledge. It is said after the United States pledge of allegiance. The pledge says, "I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures."
In 2001, a group called the North American Vexillological Association ranked flags. They looked at 72 U.S. and Canadian flags. New Mexico's flag was rated number one for its design.
Official Adoption of the Flag
The state law says that a flag was adopted for all official events. Citizens can also use it when they feel it is right. The flag must show the ancient Zia sun symbol in red on a yellow background. The colors are the red and yellow of old Spain. The flag's width should be two-thirds of its length. The sun symbol should be one-third of the flag's length.
The sun symbol has four groups of rays. Each group has four rays. The two inner rays are a bit longer than the outer ones. The circle in the center of the symbol is one-third of the symbol's total width.
The Pledge to the New Mexico Flag
There is a special pledge to the New Mexico state flag. You can say it in English or Spanish:
"I salute the flag of the state of New Mexico, the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures."
In Spanish, it is: "Saludo la bandera del estado de Nuevo México, el símbolo zia de amistad perfecta, entre culturas unidas."
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Nuevo México para niños
