No, the Sister Republic of Yucatán hasn’t returned, and Mérida isn’t seeking independence again… but the giant flag has raised quite a few questions.
Has the Republic of Yucatán returned? Are they seeking independence from Mexico again? Will you need a passport to go to Progreso? Well, the truth is, not really… we are still n Mexico. However, in Yucatán, the state authorites raised their own giant flag, and the rest of the country is confused.
Could other giant flags besides Mexico’s be raised in our country? Can a state have its own flag?
The most interesting thing about this news is that, until just a few weeks ago, flying a giant flag other than Mexico’s would have been prohibited in different states. However, a recent change allowed Yucatán to proudly display its symbols.
In May 2023, the Constitution was amended to allow the entities of our country to celebrate with their flags or emblems, without implying any disrespect to Mexico. If you’re into legal details, the change was made to Article 116 of the Constitution, in Section X, which says:
The legislatures of the federal entities, always observing the supremacy of the patriotic symbols, may legislate in matters of state symbols, such as anthem, coat of arms, and flag, to promote cultural heritage, history, and local identity.
Article 116 of the Mexican Constitution
So, as it has just been approved, states can celebrate with their symbols—as long as they’re not disregarding the national symbols.
Well, now that we know they’re not seeking independence, let’s talk a bit about this giant Yucatán flag that was hoisted in Mérida in 2023.
The flag uses the tricolor colors. In some unofficial versions, green signifies independence, red represents unity among the people of Yucatán, and white symbolizes the purity of the land. The flag features 5 stars representing the 5 departments into which Yucatán was divided in the 19th century: Mérida, Izamal, Valladolid, Tekax, and Campeche.
The Yucatán flag represents a period when this state separated from Mexico, in a struggle against centralist governments. They were separate from 1840 to 1848, after which they returned following lengthy negotiations.
TYT Newsroom
