Flag of Bulgaria: history and modernity

They say that one of the very first flags of Bulgaria was depicted the tail of a horse. This figure has remained since the time of Khan Asparuh, ruler of the Dulo dynasty. It is he who is considered the founder of the first East European state on the Danube. The military banners of the Bulgarian Horde, inherited by Asparuh, became the first symbols of the country. What was depicted on these panels? It remains only to fantasize: spears, horses, mythical creatures ... Colors could also be very different. However, since then the flag of Bulgaria has undergone numerous changes in its appearance, until it finally appeared before us as we are accustomed to seeing it. This tricolor is very similar to the Russian, only in the middle of a green strip instead of blue.

What is the flag of Bulgaria today?

The modern banner was approved in 1990. It includes three equal horizontal strips of various colors: white - at the top, green - in the middle, below - red. The ratio of the length of the panel to the width is 5: 3. If you have never seen the flag of Bulgaria, the photo above illustrates it graphically.

Tricolor: symbols

White is the traditional color of freedom, which the inhabitants of this country highly appreciate. It was too difficult for them to get into the hard struggle with the invaders. For many years, the Bulgarians waged a war of liberation against the invaders, thousands of courageous warriors perished in unequal battles. Therefore, white color also symbolizes the heavens, where the dead heroes fall.

Green, according to tradition, is the color of Bulgarian kings, elites, nobles. But today this strip also embodies the richest nature of the country, the splendor of Stara Planina and the forests of the Pirin Mountains.

Red symbolizes the blood of the Bulgarian patriots shed in the struggle for independence.

In fairness, it should be noted that the flag of Bulgaria in this form exists since 1947, but in the times of the People's Republic (1947-1990) in the corner, near the shaft, on the white strip there was also a coat of arms, which was removed in 1990.

A bit of history

In 1861, for the first time, the use of the tricolor by the Bulgarian Leg was recorded, only the colored bands were arranged differently: on the top - green, in the middle - white, and from below red. The same standard was also used in the Volunteer Detachment of Philip Totus during the Serbian-Turkish War of 1876-1877. In the seventies of the century before last, such a distribution of colors was personified by the Revolutionary Central Committee of Bulgaria. The first Constitution of the state (1879) states that the flag of Bulgaria was almost identical to that of Russia. The colors and arrangement of the bands were chosen consciously, in connection with the fact that Russia took a very active part in the war of the eastern neighbor with Turkey in 1877-1878, and always Supported the freedom-loving people in the struggle for independence. Recall, the only difference between the banners is the green bar instead of the blue one.

And yet, according to one of the legends, the flag of Bulgaria, that is, the colors of its tricolor, absorbed the symbolism of the banners of the former Army of this ancient state, taken in the old days. On the left wing of the old banner - white stripes, as the embodiment of peace and freedom. The fighting spears and swords are painted, undoubtedly, in the color of blood, which was reminiscent of the battle for independence. Green - a symbol of elite troops, always located in the center. This, we recall, is traditionally the color of the kings of Bulgaria, and not only of Bulgaria. The legends are right or wrong - no one can say exactly what will happen. However, the fact that the modern flag of Bulgaria is very similar to the Russian one is a fact undeniable!