The
flag of Mexico is a vertical
tricolor of green, white, and red with
the national coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe. While the meaning of the colors has changed over time, these three colors were adopted by
Mexico following
independence from
Spain during the country's
War of Independence, and subsequent
First Mexican Empire. The current
flag was adopted in 1968, but the overall design has been used since 1821, when the First National Flag was created. The current law of national symbols,
Law on the National Arms, Flag, and Anthem, that governs the use of the
national flag has been in place since 1984.