The flag of Belarus: the meaning of flowers and ornament. What does the Belarusian flag look like?

Belarusian history is full of a difficult struggle for independence. By its symbolism, the state officially acquired recently, at the time of gaining sovereignty after the collapse of the USSR. Before that, the Soviet flag was considered the main flag. At the moment, a standard with over sixty years of history is used, and there is also an unofficial version with a white-red-white cloth used by the opposition and nationalists.

Modern state flag

The cloth, which is a symbol of the sovereignty of the republic, has a rectangular shape and consists of two rectangular strips. Colors that include the Belarusian flag include red and green. The upper band is red and occupies two thirds of the width of the panel, and the lower, green, is one third. Near the shaft is a vertical strip with a national red and white ornament, it takes 1/9 of the length. The width refers to the length in the same way as 1 to 2. The flagpole is painted in golden color. For ceremonial processions or solemn dates, a diamond-shaped tip with a five-pointed star made of yellow metal is also used for it. Exactly the same star is depicted on the state emblem of the Republic of Belarus.

When is the national symbol used?

The use of the flag is governed by a set of rules. So, at the presidential residence, on the administrative buildings of ministries and national assemblies, as well as state committees, the standard must be kept constantly. This also applies to the buildings of courts and local executive bodies. The buildings of diplomatic and consular missions in other countries determine the rules for the use of the national symbol on an individual basis. In addition, the flag must be used on voting premises on the days of referendums or elections, at border points and in military units, on sea and merchant ships, at sports facilities in the days of championships and national or international championships. You can also use the red-green cloth at ceremonies and celebrations of state and public bodies, institutions, enterprises and organizations. In the family, labor and public holidays to decorate your house or car a flag can any citizen of the country.

History of occurrence

In January 1919 a manifesto was created on the creation of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Belarus. On February 3, the independence of the newly emergent state was recognized and its Constitution approved, which affirmed the flag and the coat of arms. The symbolism of that time was directly connected with communist ideas. Therefore, the Belarusian flag was a red cloth, in the left corner of which were the golden letters of SSBB. Or a full transcript of the name of the country. On February 27, a decision was made to create a buffer state, the Lithuanian-Belarusian SSR. The flag of Belarus in this period was a scarlet cloth. When Litbel ceased to exist and the BSSR became part of the USSR, a new Constitution was adopted. The new flag and the coat of arms of Belarus were similar to those already existing. So, the main state symbol was a red cloth with gold letters "BSSR" at the shaft. By the Constitution of 1937, a red star and a sickle with a hammer were added to it.

Coming to the modern version

In the fifties, a new constitutional order was issued. According to him, the red-green flag of Belarus was adopted, the photographs of which are in many respects similar to its modern version. The difference is that in the upper left corner of the Soviet version were depicted a sickle, a hammer and a five-pointed star. They could be inscribed in a square with a side of one-sixth of the width of the panel. The sharp end of the sickle should have been exactly on the middle of the upper side of such a square, and the handles of the instruments - to rest against the lower corners. The five-pointed star was the size of a circle with a diameter of one twelfth the width of the flag. Like all the previous ones, as well as modern flags, the ratio of width to length was one to two.

Symbols of colors used

As for other nations, for Belarusians shades of cloth are of great symbolic significance. The red band is associated with the sun and blood ties, symbolizes brotherhood and the struggle for a just cause. This color is a sign of happiness and high position. In former times, the nobility wore red hats and boots as a sign of special difference. In addition, the use of red means victory and a high mission. Green color indicates a close relationship with nature. It is associated with forests and fields, which cover most of the territories. The green strip is a symbol of good, growth, prosperity and peace. Such colors of the flag of Belarus and their combination are designed to give the most complete picture of the cultural values and traditions of the country. White color is a symbol of freedom, the pursuit of which is another important civilian quality of the Belarusian.

History of the ornament

Red and white strip near the shaft reminds of traditional folk handicrafts. Ornament of the Belarusian flag was chosen from a variety of options and constitutionally approved in the Soviet period. The variant, which is still in use, was created in 1917 by the usual peasant Matryona Markevich from the village of Kostelishche, which is located in the Senno district. His main idea is that diligence and skill serve as a prerequisite for happiness. In fact, the ornament is a fragment of a hand-woven towel on a traditional machine for Belarus. Such towels, called "rushniki" by Belarusians, are widely distributed in the national economy and are most often decorated with red embroidery on a white linen background.

Symbolism of an ornament

Each element of the white-red strip that adorns the flag of Belarus near the pole, has its special significance. In the center there is a diamond with "hooks" that go from it, also called "oars" or "horns". These details symbolize movement and eternity. The rhombus itself is the symbol of the goddess of fertility. This is an original image of the sown field. Around him there are signs that should call for luck and a rich harvest, and also contribute to the fulfillment of righteous and good desires. Small rhombs mean "breads", food that is important for the spirit and the body. Through such symbols, the ornament that uses the flag of Belarus reflects the culture and history The people who created it.

White-red-white flag

Modern Belarusian nationalists often use the white-red-and-white cloth instead of the flag version created in Soviet times. This symbol was created by Claudius Duz-Dushevsky in the early twentieth century. There are versions that in ancient times it was under such a canvas that the army went after the victory in the Battle of Grunwald, some historians consider it to be the prototype of the flag of St. George and the coat of arms "Pursuit". Nevertheless, this is not documented. The first official references are related to the graduate of the St. Petersburg Institute Duzh-Dushevsky, who was addressed by Belarusian nationalists during the February 1917 revolution. He created several projects, of which the white-red-white flag of Belarus was chosen, which was used by various student and insurgent organizations. During the Great Patriotic War, such a piece of cloth was used by collaborators, so today it has a somewhat negative significance.