Symbolism of the flag- unit 5

• The above picture of the Russian Flag indicates the tri-colour of Pan-Slavic colors of White, Blue 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 & valor
• Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice

• The current Russian flag was adopted on August 21, 1991 just before the country became an independent state and member of the United Nations on December 26, 1991. Most historians trace the origin of Russia's flag to Peter the Great's visit to the Netherlands in 1699. He went there to learn about shipbuilding and saw the need for Russia to have a naval flag too. He designed the Russian flag similar to the flag of the Netherlands, but with Russian colors. His design was used as a Russian maritime flag for merchant ships in 1799 and was adopted as the civil flag of Russia in 1883. After the Russian Revolution in 1917 the flag was replaced with one that had yellow emblems in it. Russia became a member of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. When Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 the Russian flag was re-adopted.