Saludo y Juramento a la Bandera

We do not only sing the National Anthem. In a ceremony, it is also important to pay homage to the Flag, which goes around the people as they do the "SALUDO" (salute).

In the other hand, the "JURAMENTO" (oath) is not taken very often, but if it's a very important ceremony (with a patriot vision, of course), this act must not be missing.

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The SALUDO for the Flag is different in citizens and military. The citizens must do the SALUDO with the right hand touching the left side of the chest (the hand completely even, the arm like a very straight line, and the thumb in the heart side). The military, instead, are used to touching the forhead with the right hand [look at the mate wearing a white suit in this pic]:

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It is common that people don't do it well. You'll always find those who are like 'bored stiff' and do the SALUDO with a not-firm-hand or a vary funny standing. [see the photo]:

Another wrong 'style' for a SALUDO is putting the thumb under the other fingers. It's one of the most common SALUDOS, even by teachers in schools, who give bad examples to their students. This way:

That's why you must remember that the five fingers are the same position, the hand completely extended. Try to get a firm standing. This is the correct SALUDO:

The JURAMENTO is totally different. The flag is no longer in movement, so it is exactly in the centre of the place where the ceremony is being accomplished.

The right arm must be raised to the front, a bit up, and the hand must be pointing the flag (not a fist, not a victory-hippie signal, not anything like that); on this act, it is even more necessary to keep a firm position like I've said.

But before having the Oath

Pero antes de hacer este otro tipo de "saludo", se debe recitar precisamente el juramento, y a la mitad de éste es cuando el brazo se levanta. He aquí lo que se dice:

Bandera de México

Legado de nuestros héroes

Símbolo de la unidad de nuestros padres y nuestros hermanos

Te prometemos ser siempre fieles [justo al pronunciar "te prometemos", alzamos el brazo]

A los principios de Libertad y de Justicia

Que hacen de nuestra patria

La nación independiente

Humana y generosa

A la que entregamos nuestra existencia.

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Los mexicanos se han preocupado por inculcar el nacionalismo a sus hijos, por lo que no sólo se enseña en las escuelas sino también en muchas familias del país; casi todo mexicano conoce este juramento.

Aquí les dejo un videíto de cómo un niño de tres años empieza a recitarlo. Apenas puede pronunciar cada palabra, por lo que aparentemente la mamá se ve obligada a "traducir" lo que dice: