"Day of Ukrainian Flag" Ukraine marks the 21st anniversary of state flag establishing. On January the 28th in 1992 the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the yellow and blue ensign as a national flag. It throws back in pre-Christian times, when blue and yellow colours symbolized fire and water. According to modern interpretation these colours symbolize a wheat field and sky above it. Under this banner Ukrainian people strived for the independent state. Our journalists know more. Banner with two equal horizontal bands of blue and yellow colours is one of three official state symbols of Ukraine. From time immemorial the flag was sacred, without it the army did not make an attack and did not join a battle. In times of Kyiv Rus red, white, blue and sometimes yellow flags predominated. The first attempt to create a yellow-blue flag, looking like the modern one, was made by the Holovna Ruska Rada, political organization of Ukrainians in western Ukraine that began struggle for the revival of Ukrainian nation. Andriy Rukkas, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University Members of the Holovna Ruska Rada participated in Slavic Congress in Prague. Accordingly, the need to have certain symbols for representation appeared. The golden lion on a blue background, historical emblem of Galician land, was chosen. So modern Ukrainian yellow-blue flag derived from the golden lion on a blue background. On March the 22nd in 1918 the Central Council, Ukrainian parliament of those times, adopted the Law on the State Flag of the Republic, approving the yellow and blue flag as a national symbol. However, there were the discussions between supporters of blue-yellow and yellow-blue colour combination in the flag. However, soon the dispute ended by the adoption of blue and yellow banner as the national flag of Ukraine.   Andriy Rukkas, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University There was a dispute: what colour should be on the top, which at the bottom? Yellow or blue? As there are different heraldic traditions. It can be the background colour or the main colour. But it is not the law which should be clearly followed. In January 1918 the blue and yellow flag, with the blue colour on the top, was adopted by the Central Council. From that time we have such colour combination. As for the yellow-blue combination many interpretations can be seen. These colours may be symbols of greatness. However the historical science of heraldry treats blue colour as a sign of honesty, loyalty and integrity, associated with the sky. Yellow colour symbolizes power, strength, wealth, justice, and is connected with the sun. Andriy Molodorych psychologist Blue and yellow colours are a bit close in meaning. The yellow one symbolizes the sun that gives life. This is the most auspicious colour for people. It could be connected with pleasure, happiness and peace. Blue is a strict colour, blue is more superficial, irresponsible. However, it is also a symbol of freedom and happiness. When one looks at the sky, he or she feels almost as a bird. Traditionally the blue and yellow colours of Ukrainian flag are interpreted as a combination of pure, peaceful cloudless sky that stretches above the yellow grain field, a symbol of work and wealth. However, historians say different colours were offered for the approval as national ones. Andriy Rukkas, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University There were various ideas in 1989-1991. In the wake of patriotic exaltation the debates over national symbols were organized on the initiative of the Communist Party. We also had the red flag of Soviet republic with a blue stripe at the bottom and a gold hammer and sickle in the top left corner. Some people propose to combine yellow-blue colours with red Soviet flag and symbols. As the crimson is a colour of Cossacks and thus could suit everyone. Subsequently, these ideas were dispelled and the yellow-blue flag was chosen. During 1917--1921, it was the banner of Ukrainian People's Republic, predecessor of modern Ukraine. During the 20th century the yellow-blue flag served as a symbol of Ukrainian national resistance against the Communist party and Nazi occupation. Andriy Rukkas, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University These were the Soviet symbols, where the main colour was red and the coat of arms was a hammer and sickle. Other symbols, including national symbols of Ukrainian People's Republic, were perceived negatively. Later the yellow-blue flag was consecrated at the St. Sophia Cathedral. It was brought by the solemn procession from St. Sophia Cathedral to the Kyiv Municipality. But who and where sewed the flag is still a great secret.

• published: 23 Aug 2013
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