The Flag of Russia - Description of the Russian Flag
As the above picture of the Russian Flag indicates the tricolour of Pan-Slavic colors of White, Blue and Red
The description of the Russian Flag is as follows:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Russian flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Russian flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The Meaning & History of the Russian Flag
The Russian flag became the official flag of Russia on May 7th 1883
The Bolsheviks took power in 1917 and changed the flag until August 21st 1991 when it became the official flag of the Russia again
Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
Flag History & Evolution:
The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms were born
These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a modern flag
Russian Flag Etiquette
Russian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including Russian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Russian
State Flag of Russian
Military Flag of Russian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Russian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Russian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Russian should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
The Russian flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Russian should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Russian flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Russian, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Russian Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Russian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Russian flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Russian flag to the top, then lowering the Russian Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Russian flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Russian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Russian flag
The Russian flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
The Russian flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The Russian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Russian Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding Russian Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Russia
Location:
Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included with Europe) bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Russian Land Size : 16,995,800 sq km
Russian Climate / Weather : ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; sub-arctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast
Russian Population : 143,782,338 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) : Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Russian Capital City: Moscow
Russian GDP: $1.287 trillion (2003 est.)
Russian Main Industries : complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts
Main Colors of the Russian Flag : White, Blue and Red
The Slavs The Slavic people who were the most numerous ethnic group in Europe:
The 'West Slavs' were the Poles, the Czechs and the Slovaks
The 'East Slavs' consisted of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians
The 'South Slavs' consisted of Bulgarians, Croats, Macedonians Serbs and Slovenians
In the early Middle Ages Slavs were often used as slaves which is possibly the origin of the generic term 'Slavs'
Concise History of Russia & its Flag
1200s BC The Cimmerians, a Balkan people, settled in the Ukraine
700s BC The Cimmerians were defeated by the Scythians, an Iranian people
200 BC The Scythians were conquered by the Samaritans bringing Greek and Roman influence to the culture
200 AD The German Visigoths conquered the region
370 AD The Huns, led by Attilla, conquered the Goths and took control
800s Eastern Slavs settled in different regions in Russia
862 Rurik, a Varangian prince ruled the refion which became known as the Land of the Rus
988 Grand Prince Vladimir I converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church
1200 - 1480 The Mogols led by Genghis Khan, conquered Russia
1480 Ivan III freed Russia from the Mongols
1547 Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) became the first Czar
1682 Peter the Great became Czar
1762 Catherine the Great became empress
Late 1700s Austria, Prussia, and Russia divided Poland amongst themselves. Russia received Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine from Poland
1801 Alexander I became Czar
1812 Napoleon Bonaparte led troops into Russia but was defeated
1825 Nicholas I became Czar
1853 The Crimean War broke out between Russia and the Ottoman Empire
1867 Russia sold Alaska to the United States
1894 Nicholas II Czar
1898 The Russian Social Democratic Labor Party was established by the Marxists
1903 Lenin became the leader of the Bolsheviks
1914 World War I broke out and the Russians fought the Germans and Austrians
1917 Revolutionaries overthrew the Russian government
July 1918 Czar Nicholas II and his family were murdered
1918 Russia became the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic which eventually formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR)
1924 Lenin died
1929 Stalin became the dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR)
1939 German forces invaded Poland resulting in World War II
1939 Russia occupied Poland
1945, May, Berlin fell to Russia
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1945 End of WW11
This information focuses on the history of Russia and does not address contemporary events
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The Russian Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Russian Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
