State Flag: ( click here - for enlarged view)

Emblazoned on a dark blue field is the state coat of arms. 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.

State Seal:

New Mexico's Great Seal has its origins in the 1851 formation of the Territory of New Mexico. The territorial seal featured an American eagle, and the words "Great Seal of the Territory NM". By the early 1860's, the Territory of New Mexico had adopted a seal that showed the wings of the American eagle protectively stretching out over a smaller Mexican eagle. The motto "Crescit Eundo", or "It grows as it goes", was added in 1882, and displays on a banner below the eagles. When New Mexico gained statehood in 1912, the seal was amended to read "Great Seal of the State of New Mexico", and the date of its statehood, 1912, was added to the bottom arc of the seal.

State Nickname:

The words "Land of Enchantment" adorns automobile license plates and is used frequently in state publications to promote tourism.

Other Symbols Links:

Sources:
http://www.50states.com/newmexico.htm
http://www.geobop.com/World/NA/US/NM/
http://www.imagesoft.net/flags/i-flag/usa-nm.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/newmexico/