The Yucatan flag known today is the flag that was used in the times of the Republic of Yucatán in the 19th century, when it was made up of the states of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
According to several Mexican historians, this banner has been the subject of great disputes and controversies within the Yucatecan culture.
Several allege that it was due to some political tensions that arose between the Mexican federal government and Governor Víctor Cervera Pacheco during his governorship in 1984.
Since that controversy arose at that time, the Yucatan flag began to be used more. It is a manifestation of the local desire to preserve their Yucatecan culture and their own identity.
Starting in 2014, a Yucatecan commission was created in charge of managing the use of the flag officially within the state.
You may also be interested in the history and meaning of the Yucatan coat of arms.
History
With the centralist government in 1841, Yucatán cut ties with Mexico and declared itself an independent republic.
After the Caste War, in which the Mayans were exploited within the Yucatecan territory, Mexico decided to help the Republic of Yucatan to end the war and thus grant its reincorporation to the country.
The Yucatecan flag was raised for the first time on March 16, 1841, as a symbol of protest against the centralism of Antonio López de Santa Anna, a Mexican politician and military man.
After 1848 the banner was not officially used again by the Yucatecan authorities. Instead, they replaced it with the use of the Mexican national flag.
The Yucatecan flag has civil use among many of its inhabitants, but it is not legally recognized. However, the Yucatecan people have respectfully adopted it as a legacy of their history.
This banner has been perhaps the most controversial that has been recorded in the history of Mexico. She currently resides in the Museum of Public Instruction after being transferred from the Museum of Mérida.
Meaning
The symbolism of the colors in the Yucatecan flag reflects the influence and memory of the army of the Three Guarantees or the Trigarante army, which was a military group between 1820 and 1821, during the independence of Mexico.
The flag is divided into two fields. On the left, a green field that symbolizes the political ideal of Mexican independence.
Within this field there are five stars that represent the five departments in which Yucatán was divided: Campeche, Tekak Izamal, Valladolid and Mérida.
To the right is another field of three horizontal divisions with the color red above and below. In the middle is the white color.
The colors of this tricolor flag signify union, harmony and freedom. The white stripe represents the purity of the Catholic religion.
The red stripe symbolizes the unity of the inhabitants of Yucatán, regardless of their color or racial origin.
References
- Yucatan flag (nd). Retrieved on November 3, 2017, from Wikipedia.
- Fuentes, José. (1984). Illustrated History of Mexico. Mexico City. Ocean Editorial.
- López, Diego. (1957). Yucatan History. Mexico. Literary Academy.
- Scholes, Frances. (1938). Documents for the history of Yucatán. Merida, Mexico.
- Velázquez, Rogelio. (2000). Mexico history. Mexico City. Editorial Castillo.