The Russian flag is tricolor, with horizontal stripes in colors white, blue and red - from top to bottom. All stripes have the same height and the flag has a 2:3 aspect ratio, that is, if it is made 2 meters wide, it must be 3 meters long.
The flag in white, blue and red was first used in 1705 by merchant ships. The function of the flag was to allow the identification of the ship by other vessels.
After the Russian Revolution, the flag became red with a sickle, hammer and star. This flag was used until the fall of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991, when the tricolor flag was re-established.
Current flag of Russia.
The History of the Russian Flag
The history of the Russian flag can best be understood from the division between the imperial period and the Russian Revolution until the fall of the Soviet Union. Understand:
imperial russia
The Russian flag is believed to have been inspired by the flag of the Netherlands, also known as Holland. During a visit to that country, Russian Emperor Pedro I came to the conclusion that, like Holland, his navy would need a flag.
Pedro I decided that the navy flag would be the same colors as the Netherlands, but in a different order: white at the top, blue at the middle and red at the base. This flag began to be used by Russian merchant ships in 1705.
Initially used only on ships, in 1883 its use on land was authorized and in 1896 became the official flag of the country.
The colors of the Russian flag also represent Pan-Slavism, a 19th century political and sociocultural movement. who sought the union of Slavic peoples - peoples from the Russian region who spread across the continent European.
Countries like Serbia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and Croatia also use pan-Slavic colors in their flags.
See also the meaning of Empire.
The Russian Revolution
In 1917 the Russian Revolution took place, a popular uprising what abolished the monarchy and implemented a government based on socialist ideals.
A year after the revolution, in 1918, the tricolor flag was replaced by the socialist flag. At first the flag was red and in the upper left corner it bore the initials of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
Over the years, the country's flag has changed, but the main and best known flag - another name given to the flags - it's the red one, with a crossed hammer and sickle, and a five-pointed star in up.
Flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
See also the meaning of revolution.
Fall of the Soviet Union
In 1911, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved and the tricolor flag was once again used in the country. But it was only in 1993 that it became the national flag, with the specifications used until today.
See also the meaning of USSR.
Symbols of flags used in Russia
- Imperial flag: white represented God, blue meant the Emperor (Czar) and red alluded to the Russian people.
- socialist flag: the hammer represented the industrial workers and the sickle the field workers, these objects were crossed to represent the union of these two classes of workers. The star at the top represented the dominance of the communist party.
- Current flag: the current Russian Constitution does not attribute symbolism to the colors of the flag, but it is believed that red symbolizes courage and love, blue symbolizes faith and honesty, and white symbolizes openness and nobility.
Presidential Flag
Russia has a presidential flag, which is the same as the official flag, but has the coat of arms of the country in the middle.
The current Russian coat of arms is derived from coats of arms used by Russia over the centuries. He presents himself as a two-headed eagle, each looking to one side, representing Russian dominance to both west and east.
Over their heads are three imperial crowns, representing the unification of the provinces of Novogardia and Muscovy, which gave rise to what is now Russia. And at its center is the image of São Jorge, the country's patron saint.
Presidential flag of Russia.
Learn more about characteristics of communism and Save Jorge.