The State Flag of New Mexico

In the United States of America, there are 50 states, and each has a unique flag. New Mexico's state flag is particularly special, as its origin traces back to the region's indigenous tribe, the Zias. New Mexico's yellow flag depicts a sun with four sets of four rays reaching out from it. These rays shoot north, east, south and west from the sun's center.

History of the flag

New Mexico's official state flag was not selected until 1920 during a contest held by The Daughters of the American Revolution. The winner of the design was Dr. Henry Mera of Santa Fe, an archeologist who had the necessary knowledge of the Zia tribe to create a flag that represented New Mexico's Native American roots. Dr. Mera also incorporated a salute to New Mexico's heritage by using gold and red as the flag's colors, which represent the Cross of Burgundy, the flag used by Spanish conquistadors. Prior to the gold and red flag, New Mexico had an unofficial flag that was navy blue, with a smaller image of the US flag in the upper left corner. "New Mexico 47" was embroidered in silver across the center, and the state seal was located in the lower right corner.

Zia's sun

Although the New Mexico flag appears simple, it is actually an incredibly meaningful statement. The four rays represent the belief that the Zias held that the giver of all things good gave in gifts of four. Those gifts were the seasons, directions, the day and life itself. It was believed that each of these four gifts were broken down into four more separate categories. That is why the sun symbol has four sets of four rays to represent the gifts of goodness.

The Zias further believed that all of the gifts were bound together in a circle without a beginning or an end. New Mexico's state flag is unique because it symbolizes the belief's of its indigenous tribe, the original explorers of the territory and the circle of life's good gifts.