Flag of Ukraine - Colors, Meaning, History ??

The flag of Ukraine is a simple bi-colored light blue and yellow banner, that was officially adopted on January 28, 1992. The flag is a symbol of the land, the Sovereignty of the country, and the hope of the nation. Hence, it is celebrated every August 23rd as a reminder of the resilience of Ukrainians in the struggle for independence.

History of the Flag of Ukraine

Thousands of years before the establishment of Ukraine, the region was known as Kievan Rus, and both Ukraine and Russia trace their origin to this state. Kievan Rus began in the 10th century along the banks of Dnipro. Although there are no historical records of a flag for this state, a trident head was used as a symbol for the nation.

The earliest known flag of Ukraine was the swallow-tailed flag of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was established in 1587, after the unification of the Kingdom of Poland with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. As of 1772, the flag of the Habsburg monarchy was hoisted as the territory was under Austrian rule. This was a bi-colored black-yellow horizontal striped flag. In 1848, revolutionaries fighting for independence for the Western part of the country adopted a new flag, that consisted of a bi-colored blue-yellow horizontally striped flag. The colors were based on the coat of arms that was in use by the city of Lviv, which included a golden lion on a blue shield. The revolution was short-lived as the Soviets invaded the territory in 1919. Ukraine became the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic with a Soviet flag. The flag consisted of a red background with the golden initials Y.C.C.P at the top-left corner. The flag was changed at least three times during the Soviet Era.

From 1937 to 1949, for instance, a golden hammer and sickle were placed above the Y.C.C.P initials. Later, in 1949, the country settled on a flag with a red field and a horizontal blue stripe at the bottom. On the red area, there was a golden sickle crossed with a hammer and a five-pointed golden star above the sickle and the hammer. This flag was in use from 1949 to 1991 when Ukranian SSR joined the United Nations.
Moreover, when Ukraine gained independence on August 24, 1991, many fought to maintain the communist flag. However, anti-communist rallies were successful, and the modern flag was officially adopted on January 28, 1992.

However, in the late 1918s, a decision was made to reverse the stripes of the 1848 flag. This decision stated that the blue horizontal line should appear above the yellow horizontal stripe as a symbol of “the blue skies over the golden wheat fields.” This design was retained after independence. Presently, it is popular to find the flag hung vertically on public buildings.

What is the meaning behind the colors of the Flag of Ukraine?

Colors
Ukraine is popularly known as the “breadbasket” of the area. As a result, the official meaning of the colors are:

Blue represents the sky, streams of Ukraine, and mountains.
Yellow symbolizes wheat

Additionally, blue also symbolizes peace, whereas yellow represents prosperity. On the other hand, unofficial interpretation of the flag associates the yellow stripe with the original state, Kyivan Rus. Moreover, the blue and gold have Christian symbolism, as they represent the sovereignty of God on earth. Although Christianity in the area was disrupted by the Mongol invasion in 1200, after that, however, the same colors were used in church ornaments and city crests. The emblem of the city of Myrhorod, for instance, was a gold trident on a blue background. Furthermore, the banners of the Cossacks, in the 17th century, consisted of a blue background with gold stars, gold cross, or the image of a saint in gold.

Shape
The flag has a width to length ratio of 2:3, and the horizontal stripes are equal in shape. In 1999, Ukraine adopted a standard presidential flag, that consists of a golden trident at the center of the blue field and a golden threaded border.

Interesting Facts about the Flag of Ukraine

It is believed that the colors blue and yellow go back to beyond Christian times, and were used in traditional ceremonies to represent water and fire. There are historical accounts that record the use of these colors in the Battle of Grunwald.
The government of Ukraine changed the light blue stripe to a darker shade as they felt that the initial color would not be visible under the sun.
Flag Day is officially celebrated on August 23 since 2004. Initially, it was celebrated on July 24, after independence day in 1992. During this day, all public buildings are adorned with the national flag.
The flag is hoisted on public holidays, election days, the election of the president, and the death of a prominent government official. In the event of the death of a prominent leader, the flag is hoisted half-mast with a black ribbon attached to the pole.
It is acceptable to decorate the flag with a golden fringe provided it does not deface the flag.
Soviet flags and symbols are forbidden unless they appear in cemeteries.
There is a story in Sweden that claims the blue-yellow colors were derived from the national colors of the country. This legend dates back to when the King of Sweden, King Carl XII, went to war against Russia’s Peter the Great, and allied with Ukrainians. It is therefore argued that Ukraine may have adopted the colors of the flag of Sweden at that time.
When the flag is flown vertically, the blue band must appear on the left.
The flag is a reminder of the three revolutions that hit the region, which are The revolution on Granite, the Revolution of Dignity, and the Orange Revolution. Moreover, it is a reminder of the rebellion against the invasion of Russia on Crimea and Donbas.
The usage or mere possession of this flag during the Soviet Union was a severe crime.
Each region (or Oblast) has its flag, which is widely different from the national flag and were adopted after 1991.
The flag of Ukraine is associated with heroism because of the prolonged use of the flag in the fight for sovereignty. In the 1940-1950s, for instance, a majority of the soldiers in the Insurgent Ukranian Army fought with blue and yellow flags. For example, from March 15 to late May, in 1939, the Carpathian Ukraine emerged and fought for independence under a blue and yellow banner.
Ukrainians commonly refer to the flag as yellow and light blue (жовто-блакитний, zhovto-blakytnyi), with the yellow symbolizing the golden domes of the Christian churches whereas the blue represents the Dnieper River. The government argued that the alteration of the flag to blue-yellow made the flag more appealing to the common eye.