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Flag of New Mexico

The flag of New Mexico consists of a red sun symbol of the Zia on a field of yellow. The colors honor Isabella of Castile and the conquistadors who explored in her name. (Note that the red and yellow of the flag of Spain date from the 18th century.)

The Daughters of the American Revolution pushed New Mexico to design a contemporary and unique flag in 1920. A contest to design the new state flag was won by Dr. Harry Mera of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mera was an archaeologist who was familiar with the Zia sun symbol found at Zia Pueblo on a 19th century pot. The symbol has sacred meaning to the Zia. Four is a sacred number which symbolizes the Circle of Life: four winds, four seasons, four directions, and four sacred obligations. The circle binds the four elements of four together. His winning design is the flag that the state uses today.

In recent years, Zia Pueblo has made repeated attempts to remove the sacred symbol from the state's flag. It is unclear what the ultimate result of this effort will be. For now, at least, the Zia will remain on the flag.

For the first 14 years of statehood, New Mexico had no official flag. During the San Diego World's Fair of 1915, the fair featured an exhibit hall in which all the state flags were displayed. Since New Mexico did not have an official flag, an unofficial flag was displayed, consisting of a blue canton with the United States flag in the upper left corner, the words "New Mexico" and "47" (because New Mexico is the 47th state) in silver lettering in the center of the flag, and the state seal in the bottom right corner.[1]

A New Mexican miniature flag.

New Mexico has the best-designed flag of any U.S. state, territory or Canadian province, according to a 2001 survey by the North American Vexillological Association.[2]