New Mexico

New Mexico
Country	United States
Adopted	March 15, 1925
Proportions	2:3

The flag of New Mexico consists of a yellow background with a red Zia Sun symbol in the center of the flag.

Symbolism

Yellow and red are the main colors on the Spanish flag, which represents the fact that New Mexico is discovered by the Spanish as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Zia Sun symbol, a symbol of the native New Mexican Zia Pueblo Indians, represents the four gifts of four things. Three of these are the stages of life, seasons of the year, and the cardinal directions.

The Zia could also represent the fact that New Mexico is one of the four states in the Four Corners region.

2001 NAVA survey

The flag scored 8.61 on the 2001 NAVA survey, and was ranked as the 1st best flag.

Nickname

• The Red Zia

Trivia

The 2008 New Mexico Commemorative State Quarter.

• The current flag of New Mexico is commonly mistaken to be the second flag of New Mexico, although it is really the first. Many people consider a flag designed for a state flag exhibit at the 1915 World's Fair in San Diego, California, to be the first, although the flag was made up for the exhibit, since New Mexico was the only United States state to not have an official flag at the time.
• The Zia Indians of New Mexico are upset about the use of their symbol (considered sacred to them) on their flag, and are currently trying to force the New Mexico State Legislature to take the Zia symbol off of the New Mexican flag. This would also mean the Legislature would have to take the Zia symbol off of any work of the federal government, including the 2008 New Mexico Comemorative State Quarter.