Prepare a story about flags 1 2. Russian flag. What is the state flag

Residents of any country are proud of their national flag, because its colors help people feel unity. It is no longer possible to imagine a football match or a fun national holiday without the main national symbol.

And not only countries have their own “branded” banners. Provinces, cities, clubs and societies - in general, everyone who wants to emphasize their identity uses this simple and ancient tool. Flags have always been popular, and therefore interesting, mysterious and even funny stories are associated with them.

Maples vs beavers

Everyone knows what the flag looks like since childhood - thanks to hockey and autumn walks in the park. True, few people noticed that the famous sheet on a white background was very different from the original. A real maple leaf has 27 sharp edges, while the flag has only 11. The maple has not always been the national symbol of Canada. The country, one might say, miraculously avoided the beaver flag.

Of course, this is a cute and useful animal, but only the lazy could resist ridicule. The only symbol common to all Canadians in the 19th century. it was the beaver. But when, during the ceremonial meeting of the Prince of Wales in Toronto, the question came up about what the children of emigrants born in Canada would joyfully wave as a sign of greeting, the idea with beavers was immediately abandoned. We limited ourselves to the most common plant in those places - sugar maple.

The kindest flag

The island, formerly called Ceylon, has perhaps the most “Buddhist” and peace-loving state flag. The colors of almost all national flags in the world mean approximately the same thing: valor, honor, bravery, courage, military victories. The Sri Lankan flag, or rather the four leaves of the sacred Bodhi tree, on the contrary, symbolizes love, compassion, equanimity and happiness. There's clearly a lot to learn from these guys.

Long-lived flag

The oldest flag in the world is the Danish one. The white cross on a red background first appeared in 1219. Naturally for that time, it was not without mysticism. According to legend, the flag simply appeared from the sky and descended on the heads of the Danes fighting the Estonians, for whom their bishop prayed during the battle. The Danes won the battle, but they still use the flag and even gave it a name - Dannebrog.

Pirates on submarines

The Jolly Roger, the famous pirate flag that we see so often in movies and pictures, was originally red, not black. The color red meant that pirates were merciless in battle and killed everyone indiscriminately. Even the name of the Jolly Roger flag itself is most likely of French origin - Joli Rouge, which means “beautiful red”. But the skull and crossbones were already on the first Rogers; experiments began later: in addition to the black color, crossed sabers and entire skeletons appeared.

By the way, it was not only unprincipled filibusters who used the Jolly Roger. Even noble officers do not disdain pirate symbols, although, of course, as a joke. Before the First World War, when Her Majesty's Navy acquired its first submarines, one admiral declared that the use of submarines in naval battle- vile and un-English, and prisoners from foreign submarines should generally be hanged as pirates.

In response to his words, the commander of the E9 submarine, which returned to port after a successful battle, raised the Jolly Roger. Since then, in World War II, and in other conflicts, and even in Iraq, British submariners always raise the pirate flag when mooring in their port after a successful operation.

Lords of the seas

In the era of globalization, everything is possible. For example, today in the seas and oceans, the mistress of the seas, Great Britain, together with the Invincible Spanish Armada, has long been supplanted by... no, not and not, but, frankly speaking, not the most noticeable on the world stage, Liberia and Panama. Today there is an absolute majority of ships flying the flags of these countries in all ports and on all waterways.

The point, of course, is not about economic and military power, but about the concept of “flag of convenience.” By purchasing the right to sail under the flags of these states, the shipowner receives significant bonuses. For example, quick registration, minimum payment labor of sailors, favorable rates of port dues around the world, because these countries have never participated in major wars.

Record patriotism

Romania recently became the owner of the largest national flag on the planet. Representatives of the Guinness Book of Records, after carefully measuring, recorded the record of the residents of the village of Clincheli, 35 km from Bucharest. Workers at a local garment factory used 70 km of thread while working on the 349 by 227 meter fabric. Of course, they didn’t even try to hang this flag (its area is the same as 10 football fields), but simply spread it in a field next to the village.

Flag guide

The flag of Cambodia is very convenient for tourists: it depicts the main attraction of the country - the Angkor Wat temple. Naturally, this symbol in one form or another has been present on the Khmer banners for a long time, and not just in the current version of 1993, so this is clearly not a concern for tourists. Although, if you think about it, the trend is interesting: there will immediately be a reason to decide on the main tourist destination in the country.

Heads and tails

The flag of Paraguay, the only one in the world, has different images on both sides. On the side that is traditionally considered the front, there is a yellow star - the country's coat of arms, and on the reverse - a lion, which is the emblem of the state treasury. We hope that Paraguayan children do not have to make difficult choices when drawing pictures about holidays or heroes of the country.

Flag observatory

Many countries can boast of animals, plants and weapons on their flags. But only Portugal has a scientific instrument. If you look closely, between two fields of red and green in the background of the coat of arms there is not just a golden ball, but an armillary sphere. This device was used for navigation and astronomical observations, and it appears on the flag thanks to the outstanding successes of Portuguese navigators.

Transformable flag

The Philippine flag is unique in that its stripes can be swapped. In a calm state, as chemists say, the blue stripe is on top, but in case of war the red stripe rises to the top. The Philippines is an island nation, so the flag, adopted in 1898, apparently helped to quickly alert the entire population of the country about the danger.

Flag without country

Perhaps only one national flag on all continents is recognized as their own - the Roma flag. Despite their long history, the Roma only acquired their own flag in 1971. He was accepted at the first World Roma Congress in London. Many centuries of nomadic life have not erased their homeland from the memory of the gypsies -. This explains the appearance on the Gypsy flag of a sacred wheel (“chakra”), the same as on the Indian flag.

Flag of primitive people

The traditional banner of the Italian province of Lombardy differs from many other provincial symbols of Western Europe. Instead of classical elements of heraldry such as shields, lions or swords, it depicts one of the oldest signs of humanity - the Kamun rose. The earliest drawings of this form were found in caves in Lombardy and date back to the Bronze Age (1200 BC). By the way, such a symbol was called a rose relatively recently, neither what the ancients themselves called it, nor what it means is unknown for certain.

Flag comic

The French overseas territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon has, as it seemed to us, the most colorful and at the same time the most informative flag. On it you can read the whole simple history of the small archipelago: first a ship sailed from France (1536), then the first settlement was founded by people from and (lower two flags on the left), and later they were joined by settlers from the Basque country (upper left flag).

We are looking for a national idea

And finally, a little-known fact about the flag. It turns out that our tricolor, unlike the symbols of other states, still does not have an official interpretation of its colors. There are only a few unofficial versions. For example, white means peace, purity and perfection, blue means fidelity, constancy and faith, and red means energy, power and blood shed for the Motherland. An imperial explanation has been preserved from ancient times: three colors speak of unity Slavic peoples, while white corresponds to Belarusians, blue to Ukrainians, red to Russians.

Flags differ not only in colors, but also in proportions. The width and length of the panel is usually determined by the legislation of the country. In addition to images, figures and stripes of various colors, they may also contain inscriptions.

Each color on the flag is symbolic; it reveals a certain phenomenon or historical fact. One of the most striking examples is in Kenya, where the Maasai shield is taken as the basis. The red color on it symbolizes the blood shed by the people in the struggle for independence, black - the actual dark-skinned population of the country, white speaks of peace, green - of the rich natural resources countries .

The most depressing color – black – has a rather gloomy interpretation on flags. He usually talks about tragic events in the country's history: for example, brutal wars. An exception to this rule is African countries: there, indigenous people are designated in a similar way on their national flags. And also the Bahamas, where the black triangle proclaims the unity of the people.

The flag of the Philippines can be flown normally, with the blue stripe facing up, or upside down. In the latter case, this becomes a sign that war has begun.

All the flags of the world, and there are more than 500 of them, are rectangles or squares. Except in Nepali: it resembles two fused triangles. Each of them represents the dynasty that rules the kingdom.

In Denmark there is a law according to which a person is responsible for burning any peace flag and for other desecration of it. But this rule does not apply to Danish.

British submarines sometimes fly pirate flags when rising to the surface. But this does not mean at all that sea robbers are sailing on them. During the First World War, when submarines were tested, the English admiral A. Wilson met the appearance new technology very hostile. He said that submarines were fighting an unfair war and that prisoners from enemy submarines should be hanged as pirates. The British themselves really liked the comparison with pirates. Even today, when returning from each successfully completed mission, submariners often flaunt their “Jolly Roger.”

On the flag of the Chelyabinsk region, located far from the southern latitudes, you can see an image of a white camel loaded with luggage. There is no mistake here, because it was through these lands that numerous trade caravans passed through in the 19th century, and it was not unusual for Ural residents to see camels.

In Saudi Arabia, the flag is never lowered as a sign of mourning.

The image of the future Alaska flag was proposed by a 13-year-old teenager. And the current arrangement of stars on the US flag (after Alaska and Hawaii joined the States) is an 18-year-old boy, Robert Heft. Moreover, the school teacher to whom the guy showed his work didn’t like it: they didn’t give Robert a grade higher than a “B minus.” The teacher promised that he would change the grade if the US Congressmen approved this project. Congressmen approved, and the assessment had to be revised.

Canada could have a beaver instead of a maple leaf. It was this that Canadians considered their main symbol in the 19th century. But since a canvas depicting a beaver would look quite comical and certainly not solemn, they remembered another symbol, which, by and large, was not even a symbol: the sugar maple. But the maple leaf depicted on the Canadian flag does not exist in nature. The real leaf has 27 sharp protrusions, but in the figure there are only 11.

National flag Russian Federation is the official symbol of Russia along with its coat of arms and anthem. Rectangular panel of white, blue and red colors - Russian tricolor- has its own history. The flag has changed over the centuries, and its history reflects the stages of development and change in Russia.

1668

Until the 17th century, there was no single state flag in Russia. The first mention of it is associated with the name of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov. In 1668, in accordance with European tradition, he ordered the flag to be raised over the first Russian warship, called the Eagle. It is known that scarlet, white and blue materials were purchased to make the first flag, although there is no exact information about what it looked like. There are several versions on this matter; according to one of them, a double-headed eagle was also depicted on the flag. It is believed that the type of the first naval flag went back to some Streltsy banners of the mid-17th century, or even earlier periods.

1693

This year, while sailing on the White Sea, Peter I for the first time used the “flag of the Tsar of Moscow” on his yacht. The flag consisted of three horizontal stripes (white, blue and red), with a golden double-headed eagle located in the center of the flag. Thus, the fleet has its own single flag, which can de facto be considered the state flag of Russia.

1705

On January 20, Peter I issued a decree on the placement of a white-blue-red flag on merchant ships. This flag was also used as a field flag of the Russian army, and white-blue-red scarves were part of the officer's uniform from 1700 to 1732.

1712

The navy adopted a white St. Andrew's flag with an azure cross, created in honor of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The layout of the flag was created personally by Peter I.

1806

Based on the Peter the Great tricolor, other flags were subsequently developed. So, in 1806, the flag of the Russian-American campaign appeared: a traditional tricolor with a black double-headed eagle and the inscription “Russian-American Company” in the middle of the white stripe.

1858

Alexander II approved a new flag design for special occasions (black-yellow-white). The initiator of the changes was Baron Kene, who drew the emperor's attention to the fact that the colors of the flag did not correspond to the colors of the coat of arms, while this circumstance was contrary to the rules of German heraldry.

1865

A decree was issued in which black, orange (gold) and white were called the state colors of the Russian Empire. Its colors symbolized earth, gold and silver. Note that the black-yellow-white flag was never popular in society - the associations with Austria and the House of Habsburg were too strong.

1883

During the celebration of the coronation of Alexander III, the emperor drew attention to the contrast of the festive procession, decorated with black, yellow and white flowers, and the city, in which white, blue and red colors predominated. On April 28, 1883, the emperor ordered that the white-blue-red flag of the merchant marine fleet be used exclusively on special occasions.

1896

On the eve of the coronation of Nicholas II, Peter's tricolor was officially given the status of the state flag. The red color symbolized “sovereignty,” the azure color symbolized the patronage of the Mother of God, and the white color symbolized freedom and independence.

1918

In April of this year, at the suggestion of Sverdlov, the state flag became a red banner with the gold inscription of the RSFSR in the upper left corner. The idea of ​​the flag appears to have been borrowed from European revolutionaries and socialists.

1954

Up until this time national flag The RSFSR often replaced the red banner without inscriptions and drawings. On May 2, 1954, by decree of the Presidium of the RSFSR, the final version of the flag was approved. Now the flag consisted of a red panel with a light blue stripe at the pole across the entire width of the flag. On the red cloth, in the upper left corner, were depicted a golden sickle and hammer, as well as a red five-pointed star bordered with gold above them.

1991

On August 22, 1991, a new history of the Russian flag began. The state flag was recognized as a rectangular panel with different-sized horizontal stripes of white, blue and red colors and an aspect ratio of 1:2. Since 1994, August 22 has been declared the Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation.

1993

On December 11 of this year, Russian President Boris Yeltsin issued Decree No. 2126 “On the State Flag of the Russian Federation,” which approved the colors and proportions of the flag in the form in which we have them now.

2008

Since October 15, 2008, the state flag of the Russian Federation can be used by private individuals, public associations, enterprises, institutions and organizations for purposes that do not violate the flag.

Each power must have its own official distinctive features, in particular its state flag. It is the most recognizable symbol of the country, as it is individual and unique. Let's look at what the state flag represents in general and the Russian flag in particular, learn about the meaning of the tricolor in our symbolism, as well as the history of the flag of the Russian Federation. But before that, let's take a look at general information about this symbolism.

What is the national flag?

As a rule, it is a panel of certain proportions, which can be made of fabric of one or several colors. The flag often bears the state emblem or emblem. With the help of colors and images contained on it, the socio-political structure of a given country can be reflected.

The meaning of the flag for the state

In ancient times, to determine the identity of warriors at a great distance, settlement, a ship to one country or another was a big problem. A flag was created to solve this problem. Then a banner of bright colors, raised in a prominent place, began to serve as the best means of identification.

Country flag like state symbol is extremely important for instilling patriotism, love for one’s homeland, a sense of blood and spiritual unity with previous generations, people who defended its sovereignty. He connects the life of every citizen with the fate of his country and has great value in international relations.

Many Russians are wondering what this means. There is no clear official interpretation on this matter. Attempts are being made to connect its colors with the meanings accepted in ancient times, the events of recent centuries in the territory occupied by the Russian Empire, as well as processes that have occurred recently.

What is the flag of the Russian Federation today?

The main symbol of the country is made in the form of a rectangular panel. It consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width. The top one has a middle one - blue, and the bottom one - red. The ratio of width to length is 2:3.

The history of the flag in its current form begins in August 1991, when in Moscow the white-blue-red tricolor, which was used in the pre-revolutionary period, was again raised over the White House, where it was meeting. Its use was legislated in November 1991. At that time, the width of the flag was divided into its length as 1:2. The proportion was changed to 2:3 by presidential decree in December 1993. The “Regulations on the State Flag of the Russian Federation” indicate all important nuances. Later, on December 25, 2000, the President of Russia signed a law containing the description and status of the flag. This document is still in force today and is constitutional in nature.

History of the creation of the flag of the Russian Federation

During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, his father in 1668, the tricolor was used as symbolism to designate the first warship called the Eagle. And although the colors were the same, the design of the flag was different. Historians to this day have not found his exact image. But we can say with confidence that the modern flag of Russia.

After this, the son of Alexei Mikhailovich, Emperor Peter the Great, used this tricolor on his yacht. It was called the flag of the Moscow Tsar. Unlike the first version, the prototype of the modern symbols of the Russian state, it was almost identical to the modern version. It also consisted of three equal stripes: the top stripe was white, the middle was blue, and the bottom was red. But still there was a difference. In the middle of the panel was a golden double-headed eagle. In addition, the flag was not a symbol of the entire state, but only of Peter the Great himself.

As is known, in past centuries the merchant fleet played important role in the life of the country. He was the bridge between Russian state and other countries. Therefore, a symbol was simply needed that would represent the Russian fleet. In 1720 the tricolor became official flag. True, only the country's merchant fleet. It is completely identical to the modern flag of Russia. However, it did not have the same comprehensive significance. It was used during holidays (by decree of 1883 by Alexander the Third).

The white-blue-red tricolor was approved as the state flag in 1896 before the coronation of Nicholas II. But in Soviet times it was replaced by a plain red banner with a gold sickle, hammer and star.

The history of the state flag of the Russian Federation in its modern form continued in November 1991, when the same white-blue-red stripes were recognized as the official components of the main element of national symbols. This was then recorded in a regulation approved by presidential decree in December 1993. Special federal law, which are installed legal status and the procedure for using the Russian flag, was signed by the President on December 25, 2000.

Russian flag

The state symbols of the country have some allegory. The description of the Federation should begin with its colors. Let's look at what it means.

White color was once associated with nobility and frankness. Blue - with honesty and fidelity, impeccability and chastity. Red symbolized masculinity, courage, generosity and love. Later, the interpretation of scarlet color spread as a symbol of continuity and solidarity of the Slavic peoples.

The history of the flag of the Russian Federation has preserved evidence various options explanations of the choice of tricolor colors. According to one of them, he showed unity Orthodox Church, sovereign power and people, where the white stripe was blue - power, and the red symbolized the Russian people.

At the beginning of the last century, there was an opinion that the first stripe meant freedom, the second indicated the patronage of the Mother of God, and the last denoted power. Today, as before, judgments are being made that the colors of the Russian flag are associated with such concepts as faith, hope and love.

Using a flag

The symbols of the country in their current form were legally restored in 1991. The adopted decrees show us the importance of the flag of the Russian Federation for the life of the country and society, as well as its role in international legal relations.

Thus, the flag must be constantly raised on organ buildings. Other objects are also decorated with it on national holidays. His image is placed on cars, planes and ships of the country's top leaders. In accordance with the ritual established by the President of the country, it must rise every day in military units and formations. The law also provides for other options for using this official symbol of the state.

Conclusion

The role of the Russian flag is extremely important for the life of a modern state and its future socio-political development, the positioning of the country in the world. It performs an important task and is a symbol of patriotism.

A special place is occupied by the history of the flag of the Russian Federation, which briefly reflects the socio-political processes taking place in society. The symbol of a country is not a static concept, but an important element of its sovereignty, which has its own logic of development. Therefore, the history of the origin of the flag of the Russian Federation requires constant study by heraldry specialists, scientists, and the public.

Meaning

Currently, there is no official interpretation of the colors of the State Flag of the Russian Federation, but there are many symbolic meanings.

Since ancient times in Rus', white, blue and red colors have meant:

white- nobility and frankness;

blue - fidelity, honesty, impeccability and chastity;

red- courage, boldness, generosity and love.

Another common interpretation was to correlate the colors of the flag with historical areas Russian Empire: White (white), Little (blue) and Great Rus' (red). This explanation came from the full title of the tsars and emperors of Russia: “All Great, and Little and White Russia,” symbolizing the unity of the Great Russians, Little Russians and Belarusians.

In pre-revolutionary times, there was a different interpretation of the meanings of these colors, for example:

white- the color of freedom;

blue- color of the Virgin Mary;

red- a symbol of sovereignty.

There was also an interpretation of these colors (similar to the symbolism of the dynastic flag of the Romanovs) as the trinity of the Orthodox Church, royal power and people, where:

white- symbol Orthodox faith;

blue- symbol of royal power;

red- symbol of the Russian people;

In addition, it is often suggested that the three colors of the flag symbolize “Faith, Hope, Love.”

Story

The Russian tricolor has more than 300 years of history. The national flag in Russia appeared at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, during the era of Russia’s emergence as a powerful state. For the first time, the white-blue-red flag was raised on the first Russian warship "Eagle", during the reign of Peter I's father Alexei Mikhailovich. Peter I is recognized as the legitimate “father” of the tricolor. On January 20, 1705, he issued a decree according to which “all kinds of merchant ships” should fly a white-blue-red flag, he himself drew a sample and determined the order of horizontal stripes.

In 1858, Emperor Alexander II approved a drawing “with the arrangement of the emblem black-yellow-white colors of the empire on banners, flags and other items for decoration on the streets on special occasions.” And on January 1, 1865, a personal decree of Alexander II was issued, in which the colors black, orange (gold) and white were directly called “the state colors of Russia.”

In Soviet Russia, for more than 70 years, the state flag was a red banner.

An extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR on August 22, 1991 decided to consider the tricolor the official symbol of Russia. By decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 11, 1993, the Regulations on the state flag of the Russian Federation were approved.

On December 25, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the federal constitutional law “On the State Flag of the Russian Federation.” In accordance with the law, the State Flag of the Russian Federation is a rectangular panel of three equal horizontal stripes: the top is white, the middle is blue and the bottom is red. The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3.