For more than twenty years, our country has been celebrating the State Flag Day of the Russian Federation on August 22 . It was decided to highlight this event in 1994 by an appropriate order of the President. And our people, accustomed to walking and relaxing on holidays, only wonders why they didn’t make the day off? Apparently, you can read the tricolor without breaking away from official affairs.
Whose holiday is it and who should celebrate it?
In fact, the RF Flag Day is a holiday of the whole country, because the people, according to the Constitution, are the only bearer of power. Regardless of religion, nationality and skin color, all Russians on this day should honor and respect the official symbol of their country, recognized around the world. The founders and ideological inspirers of the holiday were the first persons representing our country beyond its borders.
The first steps in the development of the modern flag
At all times, any country should have had its own distinctive sign. When merchant ships or loaves approached the borders of a foreign state, they could be accepted only if they had proved their belonging to one or another kingdom.
The great ambassadors proudly introduced the symbolism of their country. The lives of thousands of fellow citizens sometimes depended on their success. The value and significance of the flag cannot be underestimated. During the formation of the Russian kingdom, such a symbol should also have been. And the first white-blue-red tricolor was raised on his military vessel by Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676 - the years of reign). His "Eagle" was built by a famous Dutch engineer.
Unfortunately, under the white-blue-red tricolor, Alexei Mikhailovich did not have to swim for long. On his "Eagle" he only managed to reach the Astrakhan along the Volga, where his ship was burned and sunk by Stepan Razin.
"Father" of the tricolor
The modern holiday Flag Day of the Russian Federation arose thanks to Peter I. After the foundation of the Russian Empire, he first issued a decree according to which all floating vehicles had to hoist a white-blue-red flag on their mast. The first emperor himself created a pattern, drew stripes and determined the order of colors.
Reliably nothing is known about the motives that prompted Peter I to choose just such a symbolism. Historical facts indicate that the idea arose from the very Dutchman who built the "Eagle". During another representative trip to the Netherlands, Peter I liked the idea of the Dutch flag, on which the stripes are arranged in this order: red - blue - white. Officially, it is believed that this became the prototype of the modern flag of the Russian Federation.
Interestingly, warships could raise a slightly different flag. It was a white panel, which depicts the St. Andrew's Cross. The white-blue-red flag was used only for commercial purposes.
The day of the state flag of the Russian Federation exists now due to the fact that it became an official (state) symbol only in 1896. Then the coronation of the last emperor - Nicholas II. Prior to this, it was customary to raise the black-yellow-white flag, adopted during the reign of Alexander II.
Symbolism of flowers
The color designation of the main symbol of the state is often recalled on the Day of the Flag of the Russian Federation. Photos of people with a flag on the Internet are ubiquitous. But does everyone know what exactly means white, blue and red colors?
Different researchers interpret the symbolism of tricolor in different ways. The people are exactly the same: whoever likes which version is the one who supports it. The most common explanation is:
- White - the color of purity of thoughts, courage and nobility.
- Blue is the color of the eternal patroness of the whole Russian people - the Most Holy Theotokos.
- Red is a color that has long symbolized the power and strength of the state.
Another rather popular version says that three colors correspond with the historical regions of Russia:
- white - white Russia (the territory of the modern Republic of Belarus);
- blue - small Russia - Little Russia, as Ukraine was called before;
- red - great Russia (northeastern region of the empire).
All colors included in the composition coincide with the rest of the Slavic colors, the presence of which can be noted on all flags of the CIS countries. This is not surprising, since Russia has long been considered a symbol of the unity of the Slavic peoples.
Biggest flags
Many republics responsibly prepare for August 22. Flag Day is an event marked by many records. So, in 2011, the largest flag was hoisted in the Chechen Republic. It was placed on the highest mountain between the villages of Oyskhara and Tsentora. The height of the flagpole was 70 meters, and the banner itself fluttered 150 meters.
The flag, included in the Guinness Book of Records, was carefully created by the residents of Vladivostok by August 22. Flag Day of the Russian Federation in 2013, this city will remember for a long time. About thirty thousand citizens went to the central bridge across the Golden Horn to compose the composition “Living Flag”. In the hands of each person was a small flag of one of the colors: red, white and blue. Lining up one after another in color, they created a “lively" flag, the length of which was 707 meters. This event was captured from the air and got into the Guinness Book of Records.
Modern flag history
For a long time the existence of the Soviet Union, tricolor was forgotten. The memory of him was restored only in 1991, when the USSR officially collapsed. By the way, why is the date of August 22 chosen? The day of the national flag of the Russian Federation is celebrated on this day is not accidental. The date is related to the events that occurred in 1991.
As you know, on June 12, 1991, the election of the first President of the Russian Federation took place, and that day thousands of Muscovites went to the central square, carrying a huge tricolor. From this moment it became clear that the country was reborn. Two months later, on August 22, 1991, a law was approved which stated that the white-blue-red banner becomes the new symbol of the new state.
It is noteworthy that in the first formulation it was designated as white-lazarevoe-scarlet. But when the Constitution was adopted in 1993, the colors still changed to familiar ones.
Flag Day of Russia in Crimea
In 2014, the peninsula celebrated the first day of the flag of the Russian Federation. Residents of Crimea with awe and impatience were waiting for this event. In Simferopol, a huge banner was deployed, the size of which exceeded 150 square meters. It was collected from individual fragments brought from all regions of our vast homeland. All elements were written wishes.
Flag Day in other countries
Flag Day of the Russian Federation is not a unique holiday. Such an event is celebrated in other countries. So, the neighbor Ukraine, recalls his “yellow-black” bicolor a day later - on August 23.
But in Belarus there is no single number. Festive events are usually held in the second week of May, just after a large-scale May weekend.
June 4 is considered to be the birthday of the new state symbols of Kazakhstan.
American Flag Day is scheduled for July 14th.
But the UK decided not to set aside a separate day to show respect for its flag. It is worth noting that the once huge empire "lent" its symbol to many other countries - the former colonies, which still bear it on their official banner. In Foggy Albion, it is customary to hang a flag in special status on the birthdays of members of the royal family, on coronation days and in some other events.