The flag of Mexico consists of three vertical stripes in green, white, and red, with the national coat of arms in the center of the white stripe. Green symbolizes hope and the independence movement. White represents purity and the desire for peace. Red signifies the blood of those who fought for the nation's independence. In the center of the flag, within the white stripe, is the coat of arms, which depicts an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak. This symbol is derived from an Aztec legend, in which the Aztecs were instructed by their gods to settle where they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake, a sign that led them to establish their capital, Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City). The flag was officially adopted on September 16, 1968, though its origins date back to the early 19th century after Mexico gained independence from Spain.