What to tell a child about the Russian flag

The Russian flag is a significant symbol that all kids should be familiar with. It is a symbol of the nation’s history, culture, and ideals rather than just a simple color scheme.

Giving a child an explanation of the flag’s significance can be both entertaining and educational. Discussing the three colors—white, blue, and red—and what they represent can be a good place to start.

You can explain to your child why the Russian people are united and proud of their flag by telling them short stories and using straightforward examples. They will feel more a part of their heritage as a result.

When the Russian tricolor first appeared

The white-blue-red flag initially emerged in the 17th century, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, the second tsar of the Romanov dynasty. At that time, the first Russian military sailing ship of the European design, known as the "Eagle," was constructed. Captain David Butler, a fellow Dutchman, was assigned to command the Orel, and merchant Johann van Sveden was brought in as a consultant to build it. The foreigners asked the Russian Tsar what flag to fly atop the ship, among other things, and clarified that all ships fly the flags of their respective nations.

It is important to clarify one thing at this point: Russia had no flags until recently. Russian soldiers entered combat wearing banners, which were trapezoids with elaborate religious imagery. Every banner was different.

Ivan the Terrible’s Great Banner (modern drawing), 1560

Is it therefore not surprising that the Boyar Duma and the Tsar were curious about the design of the ship’s flag? The Dutch, for instance, displayed their tricolor, which is red, white, and blue. Red, white, and blue fabric was delivered to the ship; perhaps the Tsar decided that only these colors could be used, or perhaps he gave this no thought at all. It was used to sew the first Russian flag, which resembled the Dutch flag, in 1668.

The Netherlands’ flag (since 1648)

Although the precise design of that flag is unknown, one scientific theory suggests that it was at that time that the white, blue, and red colors of our tricolor were decided upon. Peter I, the first Russian emperor, and his son Alexei Mikhailovich flew such a flag 25 years later.

What other flags were in Russia

The Russians started "flag-making" with the new tricolor! Naturally, the navy had the most flags; however, inspiration was still taken from the heraldry of the European powers; the Scottish flag was adorned with St Andrew’s cross, while the British-looking Kaiser flag did the same.

British flag (1606–1801), Kaiser flag, and Russian navy flag (1720–1924)

Russian naval flag(1720–1918, 1992–present), Scottish flag

(Click the image to view it larger.)

The white-blue-red flag was also not boring; it had double-headed eagles and crosses as decorations, and its stripes were rearranged until the early 1700s, when Peter I’s "On flags on merchant river ships" decree gave it a new appearance. Additionally, the decree’s purpose was clearly stated in its title, which applies to merchant and other non-military vessels.

If certainty was achieved with the flags of ships (forced – going to sea without demonstrating one"s nationality was simply dangerous, they could even take you for pirates …), then with the state flag everything was not so good. For a long time there was no flag representing Russia as a country. For the coronation of each sovereign, his own flag was prepared, richly decorated with inscriptions, coats of arms of the governed territories, symbols of power … Thus, Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov immediately after the experiment with the first naval flag ordered a state flag: it was a white rectangular banner with a wide red border, in the center of which was a golden double-headed eagle and emblems symbolizing the subject kingdoms, principalities and lands. His son Peter I replaced the background with gold, and placed sea charts in the beaks and paws of the black eagle. Elizabeth Petrovna took the eagle"s cards away, but surrounded it with three dozen shields with the coats of arms of the principalities it controlled..

This confusion of flags was brought to an end by Baron Boris Koehne, numismatist and heraldist and founder of the Russian Archaeological Society. For Alexander II’s coronation in 1856, he proposed utilizing the colors gold, silver, and black, which are present in the state coat of arms, which includes a gold shield with a black double-headed eagle, silver crowns, a scepter, and an orb.

The Russian Empire coat of arms

But the yellow-white-black flag also failed to become the national flag! It was exclusively employed by state institutions and in all imperial family-related events. The white, blue, and red tricolor was the only option available to the average citizen wishing to display his patriotism. An attempt was made to "marry" the national and imperial flags at the start of the twentieth century, adding a golden square featuring a double-headed eagle to the democratic tricolor. But this endeavor failed, and the flag was no longer the main focus. The 20th century’s greatest social disaster was about to strike.

It’s crucial to explain to a young child that the Russian flag is made up of three horizontal stripes: white, blue, and red. Every hue has a distinct meaning; for example, red represents bravery and strength, blue represents loyalty and truth, and white represents peace and purity. You may also explain that the flag is a symbol of the nation’s ideals and history, which encourages people to embrace their heritage and feel a sense of unity.

The return of the tricolor

The Great October Socialist Revolution (or the October coup – depending on how you look at it) left the flag with only one color – red. The country lived under the red flag for the next 74 years. The tricolor was remembered only in 1987 – public organizations and political parties used it to demonstrate their rejection of communist ideology. Sometimes this took on very unusual forms; for example, in the match for the title of world champion in 1990, chess player Garry Kasparov played under the tricolor, and his rival and compatriot Anatoly Karpov – under the red flag. Strange, isn’t it? The tricolor once again, as in tsarist Russia, became the people’s “back-up flag”

The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic’s authorities attempted to legitimize the tricolor flag throughout 1990, but the decision was repeatedly put off until an attempted coup d’état occurred in the Soviet Union on August 18, 1991. The State Emergency Committee (GKChP) stood for conservative groups who wanted to keep the USSR as it was historically existed. The RSFSR’s leadership, led by newly elected president Boris Yeltsin, opposed them because they intended to restructure the union state. Yeltsin had been in office for just two months. Opponents of the conservatives marched under the tricolor because the latter flew the communist red flag.

Three days later, on August 22, the Democrats were celebrating their win. Thousands of people gathered in front of the White House to witness Boris Yeltsin’s announcement that the tricolor banner would now be the new state flag of Russia.

The protesters unfurled a massive Russian tricolor banner right away. In 1994, it was decided to celebrate this occasion by designating August 22 as the Day of the State Flag of Russia.

You might be shocked to learn that the state flag of today differs greatly from the tricolor of 1991! A flag with stripes of white, azure, and scarlet was approved in 1991—how gorgeous! and only in 1993, the night before the new constitution was adopted, was the romantic azure color changed to blue and the scarlet color to red.

(Blue-red and azure-scarlet options). (Click the image to view it larger.)

What do the colors of the Russian flag mean

The Russian flag’s colors are not officially interpreted. Nonetheless, it is widely acknowledged that the colors red and white represent bravery, blue loyalty and honor, and white nobility.

An alternate interpretation holds that the colors white stand for freedom, blue for the patroness of Russia, the Virgin Mary, and red for sovereignty.

Ultimately, prior to the Russian Revolution, the three hues were associated with three brotherly Slavic peoples that constituted the foundation of the empire: the Belarusians were represented by white, the Little Russians (Ukrainians) by blue, and the Russians themselves by red.

Why are the flags of different countries so similar?

White, blue and red are contrasting recognizable colors that are difficult to confuse with anything (unlike, for example, pink or light green). We were not the first to come up with the idea of ​​using them – as you remember, there was a creative reworking of the Dutch flag. However, similarities are not always explained by coincidence – in 1848, the Pan-Slavic Congress in Prague, which united representatives of the Slavic peoples who did not have their own statehood at that time, decided to take the colors of the Russian tricolor as the basis for the flags of liberation movements. And today, the flags of Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia are similar to ours, and the Slovaks and Slovenes differ only in the state coats of arms on the tricolor.

(Slovakia, Serbia, and Slovenian flags). Click the image to view it larger.

You can teach your child a lot about the history and morals of their nation by having a conversation with them about the Russian flag. Talk about the significance of national symbols and the meaning behind the colors in a straightforward manner.

Tell them that the flag serves as a symbol of pride and unification, serving as a reminder of their common ancestry. Inquire about their thoughts and feelings when they see the flag to pique their interest.

By having these talks with your child at a young age, you are laying the groundwork for a lifetime appreciation of their nation’s history and culture and helping them to feel a sense of belonging and respect for it.

Video on the topic

For children about the Russian flag

Symbols of Russia | Cartoon on the Moscow educational

A brief history of the RUSSIAN FLAG

"Symbols of Russia". Educational cartoon for the lesson "Conversations about the important"