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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In just a short period of time this
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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!
