The National Flag Day
The National Flag Day is celebrated on August 22. The tricolor Russian flag replaced the red flag with a hammer and sickle as a state symbol in 1991. But it has been leading its history since the reign of Aleksey Mikhailovich. It is believed that such a flag was first raised on the first Russian warship Orel, built in 1667–1669.
In 1705, Peter I signed a decree according to which “on all merchant ships” they should had raised a white-blue-red flag, and he drew a sample himself.
In 1896, on the eve of the coronation of Nicholas II, the Ministry of Justice determined that “white-blue-red and no other color should be finally considered national”.
The flag is one of the important symbols of the state, which unites citizens, links the past, present and future together. The National Flag Day is a holiday for all who are proud of their country, work for its good and prosperity.
Text: Tatiana Petrova
Photo: Ekaterina Nikiforova