The official flag of
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
consists of a
red
Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...
sun symbol of the
Zia people on a field of
gold (yellow). It was officially adopted in 1925 to highlight the state's
Native American and
Hispano roots; it combines a symbol of the
Puebloan
The Puebloans or Pueblo peoples, are Native Americans in the Southwestern United States who share common agricultural, material, and religious practices. Currently 100 pueblos are actively inhabited, among which Taos, San Ildefonso, Acoma, Zu ...
people, who have ancient roots in the state, with the colors of the
flag of Spain
The national flag of Spain ( es, Bandera de España), as it is defined in the Constitution of 1978, consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow stripe being twice the size of each red stripe. Traditionally, the middle ...
, which established and ruled for over two and a half centuries.
The New Mexico flag is among the most unique and recognizable in the United States,
and has been noted for its simple design. It is one of four
U.S. state flags not to contain the color blue (along with
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, and
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
) and the only one among the four without the color white.
[The ]flag of the District of Columbia
The flag of Washington, D.C., consists of three red stars above two red bars on a white background. It is an armorial banner based on the design of the coat of arms granted to George Washington's great-great-great-grandfather, Lawrence Washingt ...
also has no blue, although it is partially white, making the New Mexico flag the only U.S. flag with no blue or white. The flag of New Mexico is also one of only two U.S. state flags to include distinct
Native American iconography, the other being
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
.
[The and ]Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
flags contain state seals depicting Native people.
The proportions of the symbol are fixed by New Mexico law: The four groups of rays are set at right angles, with the two inner rays one-fifth longer than the outer rays, and the diameter of the circle in the center is one-third the width of the symbol.
History
Previous flag
During its first thirteen years as a state, New Mexico did not have an official flag. The
San Diego World's Fair of 1915, which occurred three years after New Mexico's
admission to the union
Admission may refer to:
Arts and media
* "Admissions" (''CSI: NY''), an episode of ''CSI: NY''
* ''Admissions'' (film), a 2011 short film starring James Cromwell
* ''Admission'' (film), a 2013 comedy film
* ''Admission'', a 2019 album by Florida s ...
, featured an exhibit hall where all U.S. state flags were displayed; lacking an official flag, New Mexico displayed an unofficial one designed by
Ralph Emerson Twitchell
Ralph Emerson Twitchell (1859–1925) was an American attorney, historian, and politician who served as the mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico and chairman of the Rio Grande Commission, which drafted a treaty between the United States and Mexico le ...
, the mayor of the state capital,
Santa Fe.
[New Mexico Flag Hasn't Always Had a Zia Symbol; Earliest Version Boasted Quartz Crystals](_blank)
, by Rick Nathanson Known as the "Twitchell flag", it consisted of a blue field with the
U.S. flag
The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the ca ...
in the upper left corner, the words "New Mexico" in silver lettering in the center of the flag, the number "47" in the upper right corner (in reference to New Mexico being the 47th state), and the state seal in the bottom right corner (which in some historical references is wrapped with the world "The Sunshine State"). As of 2005, the only known Twitchell flag in existence was displayed at the
Palace of the Governors
The Palace of the Governors ( es, Palacio de los Gobernadores) is an adobe structure built in the Territorial Style of Pueblo architecture on Palace Avenue in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Located within the Santa Fe Historic District along the Santa Fe ...
in Santa Fe.
Redesign
In 1920, the New Mexico chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence.
A non-profit group, they promote ...
(DAR) called for the creation of an official flag that would reflect the state's unique heritage and culture. A statewide contest was held in 1923 to solicit new designs, which was won by Dr. Harry Mera of
Santa Fe; however, his wife Reba Mera had designed the flag.
In 1925, Governor
Arthur T. Hannett
Arthur Thomas Hannett (February 17, 1884 – March 18, 1966) was an American lawyer and politician who rose to become the List of governors of New Mexico, seventh Governor of New Mexico, governor of New Mexico.
Biography
He was born on Febr ...
signed legislation proclaiming the Mera design the official state flag, which remains in use and unchanged to this day.
History of the New Mexico flag
/ref>
Dr. Mera was a physician and archaeologist who was familiar with the Zia sun symbol
The Zia or Tsʾíiyʾamʾé are an indigenous nation centered at Zia Pueblo (Tsi'ya), a Native American reservation in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The Zia are known for their pottery and use of the sun symbol. They are one of the Keres Puebl ...
found at Zia Pueblo
Zia Pueblo ( Eastern Keres: Tsi'ya, Ts'iiy'a , es, Pueblo de Zía) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 646 at the 2000 census; Male: 310 Female: 336 The pueblo after which the CDP ...
on a 19th century pottery jar. The symbol has sacred meaning to the Zia people. Four is a sacred number symbolizing the Circle of Life: the four directions, the four times of day, the four stages of life, and the four seasons; the circle binds these four elements of four together. The salutation, "I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures",[''The Flag Book of the United States'' by Whitney Smith (1970), p. 174.] is commonly recited in New Mexico public schools after the United States pledge of allegiance.
The New Mexico flag was rated first in a 2001 survey of 72 U.S. and Canadian flags by the North American Vexillological Association
The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is a membership organization devoted to vexillology, the scientific and scholarly study of flags. It was founded in 1967 by American vexillologist Whitney Smith (1940–2016), and others. Its ...
.
Adoption
Pledge to the New Mexico State Flag
The pledge to the state flag is available in English and Spanish:
See also
* Great Seal of the State of New Mexico
* Flag of the Navajo Nation
The flag of the Navajo Nation is the official flag of the Navajo Nation, a Native American governed nation in the Four Corners states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
History
On 21 May 1968, the flag was adopted for the Navajo Nation, a ...
Notes
References
External links
New Mexico state symbols
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flag Of New Mexico
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
Symbols of New Mexico