The flag of Yucatan

After 182 years, the flag of Yucatán was officially flown again in a plaza north of the city of Mérida. This is the first time since 1841 that the state flag has been flown at full mast. Here are some fun facts about the flag of Yucatan.

The colors

This flag preserves the colors of the Mexican national flag. However, the canvas is made up of two parts. The left side is predominantly green with five stars. These represent the five departments into which Yucatán was divided at that time: Mérida, Izamal, Valladolid, Tekax and Campeche; while on the right side there are three horizontal red, white and red stripes, respectively.

After March 16, 1841, the Yucatecan flag was not officially used until today.

Yucatan once was a country

During a significant episode in its history, Yucatan proclaimed itself an independent country separate from Mexico. In 1840, amid a wave of separatist movements, the Yucatan Peninsula established the Republic of Yucatan in response to a centralized Mexican government preventing states from electing their own leaders.

However, this self-proclaimed independence was short-lived. General Antonio López de Santa Anna initiated conflict against the separatists, and economic hardships followed as Yucatan’s flag was barred from national shores. In 1943, autonomy was briefly restored through agreements, but this was short-lived as well. In 1846, the Legislative Assembly once again declared Yucatan’s independence from Mexico. This renewed period of autonomy was challenged by the Caste War, prompting Yucatan to seek aid from Mexico and eventually relinquish its sovereignty. In 1848, Governor Miguel Barbachano officially reunited the Yucatan Peninsula with the Mexican federation.