International Color Guide - Mexico

Mexico's Color Palette Is a Mix of Historical Associations and the Environment's Deeply Toned Offerings.

The colors of the Mexican flag are long-lived. First used in 1821, the colors are all symbolic: Green represents independence or hope; white stands for purity and unity; and red stands for the blood of patriots and other heroes. The colors also mirror those found in different areas of the Mexican landscape.

The flag's centerpiece, the national emblem of Mexico, is drawn from the symbol of the Aztec capital, which translates to "cactus rock."

Where the sun is full, colors tend to be rich, deep and vivid. Mexico's color traditions certainly reflect its environment: the deep blue sky, the yellow sun, the warm colors of the sand and dirt, the greens of vegetation.

The Aztecs had very definite meanings for color: Green stood for royalty, blue was for sacrifice, and yellow was for food. Today, colors are more centered on cultural conventions.

Bright reds and yellows signal a fiesta, while red and white have more somber, religious connotations, symbolic of the passion of Christ and purity. White alone is somewhat magical, imbued with the power to fight black magic and prevent illness.

	Among the Aztecs, white meant death. Today, white is considered to be pure and have the ability to cure sickness and fight black magic. White also has religious connotations.
	Black was a sacred color for the Incas; it was the color used for sacrifices. The Zapotec Indians did not differentiate between black and purple.
	Red is thought by some to have protective capabilities. If a person passed a house where someone was very ill or had died, he or she would cover his nose and mouth with a red handkerchief. Red also stands for unity.
	In some areas, yellow is the color of mourning. Yellow marigolds are common cemetery flowers. The Aztecs used yellow to represent food.
	Dark blue is a common color for mourning clothes. For the Aztec, blue represented sacrifice.
	The Mayans associate green with luck. The Aztecs regarded green as royal. Today, green as a national color stands for independence.
	In Mexico, red and white have religious significance, sometimes representing the Sacred Heart of the Catholic church.