Celebrated in our country on August 22. It was established by Presidential Decree in 1994 of August 20.

For all citizens of our country, Russian Flag Day is a significant holiday. The bearer of power, according to the Constitution, is the entire people, regardless of nationality or religion. Every Russian must respect and honor our symbol, which is recognized in every corner of the planet, be proud of it and know its history. The founders of the holiday are the first persons of the state, who represent Russia outside the country.

History of the Russian flag. Origin

Every Russian should know that the Day of the Russian Flag is celebrated in August. The history of this official symbol is very curious. For the first time the flag was raised back in 1667 on the ship "Eagle". Alexei Mikhailovich reigned at that time. The Russian military ship was built under the guidance of the Dutch engineer Butler. Already at that time, the flag had three stripes, white symbolizing freedom, red - autocracy and blue - the patronage of the Mother of God herself.

Not long had "Eagle" to walk under the new symbol. During the uprising of the freethinker Stepan Razin, the ship managed to reach only Astrakhan. There the ship was burned by angry rioters.

The era of Peter

On Russian Flag Day, every patriot remembers Tsar Peter. It was he who was recognized as the father of the tricolor by issuing a Decree in 1705. According to this document, each merchant ship had to hoist a white-blue-red flag. Peter himself drew a diagram and approved the arrangement of the stripes on the tricolor.

Until the 19th century, the Russian flag was used mainly in naval culture. On land, its use began after the geographical discoveries of our navigators followed one after another. Until that time, Russian sailors erected a memorial cross on the annexed lands.

After surveying South Sakhalin in 1806, another tradition appeared. Members of the expedition raised two flags on the shore at the same time: Andreevsky and the Russian tricolor. The first noted that the merit of the discovery belongs to the navy, the second denoted the new possessions of the Russian state.

Later, after Peter, other colors began to appear on the flags (orange, black, gold). Increasingly, they acquired the role of state.

Late 19th century

In 1858, Alexander II approved the drawing of the flag, where white, yellow, and black were considered the main colors. From 1865 they were to be considered the state flowers. On solemn occasions, such flags were used to decorate palaces and streets.

Everything changed before the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II, then in 1896 the Ministry of Justice determined that only red, blue and white are recognized as national colors and only they can be used on the state flag.

Bolshevik power

After the Great October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks changed the flag of Russia. The initiator was Yakov Sverdlov. In April 1918, the communists decided that the flag should be pure red, symbolizing the shed blood of the fighters for freedom and revolution. For more than 70 years in Soviet Russia, the red banner was considered the main attribute of the country.

In 1991, on August 22, the new parliament of the new state overturned this decision of the communists. The historical colors of the banner are back again. Since that day, the Russian flag has again become a red-blue-white tricolor.

Modern flag

The Russian flag began a new history. The 22nd day of August is now considered his holiday. In 1991, parliamentarians decided to consider the tricolor a Russian symbol. In 1993, the President approved the Flag Regulations. In 1994, as mentioned above, a decree was issued stating that August 22 is the Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation. On December 25, 2000, Putin signed the constitutional law "On the State Flag". In accordance with the description in the law, the flag is a rectangular canvas, the aspect ratio of which is 2:3. It is divided into three equal stripes. The top is white, the middle is blue, and the bottom is red.

Symbolism of flowers

On Russian Flag Day, remembering history, many citizens are interested in what the colors of our tricolor now mean. There are several interpretations of the colors of the banner. And everyone perceives the version that he likes best. White is usually perceived as a symbol of nobility, purity of thoughts, courage. Blue has long been considered the color of the Virgin, who has patronized the Russian people for many centuries. The red color symbolizes the power of the state, its strength and power.

Another popular version says that all the colors of the tricolor have been associated with historical regions since ancient times. White color - white Russia (present-day Belarus), blue - Little Russia (as Ukraine was called), red - Great Russia (the main regions of the empire).

The colors of the flag coincide with the Orthodox ones, which are on many symbols of other CIS countries. This is not surprising, because for many years Russia has been considered a symbol that unites the Slavic peoples.

How to celebrate the Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation

Every year in Russia, Flag Day is celebrated with extensive events. According to the production calendar, this date is not considered a holiday, but in every region of the country, August 22 is remembered and honored. Traditionally, many events are held that are aimed at telling citizens the history of the flag and instilling patriotic feelings in the younger generation. In cities, youth flash mobs, various propaganda campaigns, moto and car rallies are held on huge venues. Every Russian has the opportunity to learn the importance of their state symbols.

Traditions

On August 22, the Day of the Russian Flag, patriotic events and solemn processions, concerts and competitions are traditionally held throughout the country. Basically, all the celebrations take place on the main squares of the cities. The organizers are trying to emphasize the importance of the event.

By tradition, the holiday begins with the anthem and the raising of the national flag. The "culprit" of the holiday can be found everywhere on the streets of cities: above all state institutions, in the hands of the celebrating people.

On this day, high-ranking officials address the citizens with congratulations, and the president of the country also addresses the people. State awards are given to deserving persons.

In many cities, people are given free balloons in three colors, which they launch into the sky.

Records

On August 22, on the Day of the Flag of the Russian Federation, several curious records were set in the country, which were recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.

Vladivostok. In 2013, on this holiday, more than thirty thousand residents of the city took to the streets, to the central bridge, to perform the composition "The Living Flag". Each citizen held a small flag in his hands. The colors, respectively, were: red, blue, white. People, lined up in the correct order, created the "Living Flag", its length was 707 meters. The event was captured from the air. The view was just amazing.

Chechen Republic. In 2011, the largest flag was fixed here on the flagpole. On the hill (between Oysakhora and Tsentar), whose height is 300 meters, a giant tricolor was placed. The area of ​​its cloth was 150 m2, and the flagpole itself had a height of 70 meters.

Omsk. In 2014, on August 22, on the Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation, the largest "tricolor" was made in the city. 225 cars took part in such a parade.

Where the flag is used

The Russian state flag on a permanent basis rises above all buildings of the presidential administration, above the State Duma, above the Federation Council, above the government building. The tricolor is also required on the buildings of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts, the Investigative Committee, the Prosecutor General's Office, the CEC, the Central Bank, the Accounts Chamber and other government agencies.

The state flag is raised over all buildings of executive and state authorities (federal and regional), at all residences of representatives of the President of the Russian Federation.

The tricolor must be present at all consulates and diplomatic missions located in other states.

Every day, the Russian flag flies up in all military units of the Russian Federation, regardless of their location. In accordance with the Charter of the Armed Forces, when the Battle Banner is carried out in each part, the state tricolor is also carried out at the same time.

On days of mourning, it is customary to attach a black ribbon to the state flag, its length is equal to the length of the canvas of the flag itself. In this case, the flag's cloth is lowered to the level of half the height of the flagpole.

At various solemn, official ceremonies, sports competitions, it is customary to raise state flags.

Any sea vessel, if it enters Russian waters or stops in our port, is obliged, in addition to its national flag, to raise the Russian tricolor. This order is established by international maritime traditions.

The use of the state flag is allowed only in accordance with the law and the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Desecration of an attribute is punishable by criminal liability under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Such a violation of the law may result in restriction of freedom for up to one year, as well as forced labor for the same period.