2-HS-3078 – Andrew

Portales, New Mexico

The yellow field and red symbol colors are the colors of Spain. First brought to New Mexico by Spanish explorers in 1540. On New Mexico’s flag we see a red sun with rays streching out from it. There are four groups of rays with four rays in each group. This is an ancient sun symbol of a Native American people called the Zia. The Zia believed that the giver of all good gave them gifts in groups of four. These gifts are:
The four directions – north, east, south and west.
The four seasons – spring, summer, fall and winter.
The day – sunrise, noon, evening and night.
Life itself – childhood, youth, middle years and old age.
All of these are bound by a circle of life and love, without a beginning or end.

The nickname for New Mexico is The Land of Enchantment (Tierra del Encanto in Spanish) because of its scenic beauty and rich history (the nickname was officially adopted in 1999). New Mexico also recognizes a state ballad titled “Land of Enchantment – New Mexico.”