Like many countries, the Mexican Flag is the country's most important symbol and also has a fascinating back story that many do not know. In fact, the story of the Mexican flag dates back further than most, with origins in the Aztec culture that flourished in Mexico from the 1300s. The Mexican flag has undergone several changes over time, so here’s our guide to the story behind the Flag of Mexico we know today.

The Eagle

The coat of arms on the Mexican flag depicts an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a rattlesnake. The image relates to the story of the founding of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. According to the legend, the wandering Aztecs would know where to build their new city when they saw an eagle perched on a cactus. The story goes that the image did in fact appear to them, but in an unlikely place – on a tiny island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. Apparently, in order to build their city, the Aztecs formed a number of small garden islands connected by causeways.

The snake was actually added later by the Spanish, due to the Aztec's admiration to snakes who often thought of them as symbols of wisdom and creation. Today, the coat of arms is in the center of the flag, with a laurel branch underneath symbolizing victory and honor. However, the coat of arms wasn't was added to the flag for the Olympic Games held in Mexico City in 1968. Before this time, it was often confused with the Italian flag which flies the same colors.

The Three Colors

The flag of Mexico has three vertical stripes in green, white, and red. The design dates back to 1821 when Mexico finally gained its independence from Spain. When these colors were first adopted, it is understood that the color green was chosen to represent independence from Spain, the red stood for union between the native peoples of Mexico and the elites of European heritage, which was key to the independence movement, and the color white was adopted to represent the purity of Roman Catholicism.

As of todays interpreation, there really isn't a known official explanation given for the flag's colors, yet a popular explanation has been taken up by many Mexicans. The green is said to represent hope for the nation, the white represents unity, and the red symbolizes the blood of those who died fighting for the nation’s independence.