Flag Day in Mexico
{{Short description|Commemoration of the Mexican flag}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Día de la Bandera
|type =
|image = File:Flag of Mexico.svg
|imagesize =
|caption =
|official_name = Día de la Bandera
|nickname = Flag day
|observedby = Mexico
|litcolor =
|longtype =
|significance =
|begins =
|ends =
|date = February 24
|scheduling = same day each year
|duration = 2 day
|frequency = annual
|celebrations = Celebrate past and current flags
|observances =
|relatedto =
}}
Día de la Bandera ("Flag Day") is a national holiday in Mexico dedicated to the flag of Mexico. Flag Day is celebrated every year on February 24 since its implementation in 1934. It was established by the President of Mexico, General Lázaro Cárdenas, in front of the monument to General Vicente Guerrero; Guerrero was the first to pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag, on March 12, 1821.
History
File:000125-004 DÍA DE LA BANDERA FEBRERO 24 1950 (31794833645).jpg
The date was selected because more than a century earlier (February 25, 1821), the "Plan de Iguala" or "Plan de las tres garantías" was proclaimed by Agustin de Iturbide and General Vicente Guerrero. This plan was based in three principles: "Religion, Independence and Unity", which were represented on the flag's colors. On this same date, Jose Magdaleno Ocampo tailored the first three color flag for what would soon be an independent Mexico. This flag, commonly known as the "Pendón Trigarante", had the colors: white, green and red in that order, arranged diagonally with three eight-point gold stars, one on the center of each color banner.
The Flag Day was established on February 24, 1934, with legislation passing that year regulating the national symbols of Mexico. It did not become an official holiday until 1940, following a decree by Lázaro Cárdenas.{{cite web |last1=Digital |first1=Expansión |last2=Yañez |first2=Brenda |title=Día de la bandera de México: ¿Por qué se celebra el 24 de febrero? |url=https://politica.expansion.mx/sociedad/2024/02/19/dia-de-la-bandera-mexico-por-que-se-celebra-24-febrero |website=ADNPolítico |access-date=2 April 2024 |language=es |date=19 February 2024}}
Observance of Flag Day
Honors to the flag are accompanied by the performance of the Toque de Bandera, a short anthem with lyrics by Xóchitl Angélica Palomino Contreras and music by Juan Pío Manzanares.{{cite web |last1=Osegueda |first1=Rodrigo |title=Toque de Bandera (Letra completa) |url=https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/toque-de-bandera-letra-completa.html |website=México Desconocido |access-date=2 April 2024 |language=es |date=28 January 2020}}
When the Pledge is recited, it is customary to salute the flag with the raised arm Bellamy salute while speaking. When the flag is being paraded, the arm is held across the chest, palm parallel to the ground.
See also
- Flag flying days in Mexico
- Flag Day in other countries
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080312092541/http://redescolar.ilce.edu.mx/redescolar/efemerides/febrero/conme24a.htm The Day of the Flag] at red escolar.
- {{in lang|es}} [http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/multimedia/anuncios/?contenido=16887&pagina=1 TV spots] by the Presidency of Mexico for the Day of the Flag.
- {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20051123204322/http://mexico.udg.mx/politica/simbolospatrios/presenta.html The Mexican Flag] at the [https://web.archive.org/web/20051029014259/http://mexico.udg.mx/ Mexico Website] of the Universidad de Guanajuato.
{{Mexico Holidays}}
{{Mexico-culture-stub}}