Russia celebrates National Flag Day on August 22, a holiday instituted by presidential decree in 1994.
Russia celebrates National Flag Day on August 22, a holiday instituted by presidential decree in 1994.
Various celebrations were held in Russian cities. Bikers in Novosibirsk rode in a procession through the city.
A festive demonstration took place in Novosibirsk’s central park.
Olympic cycling gold medalist Vyacheslav Ekimov and six-time Olympic champion and St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly deputy Luybov Yegorova fired the noon cannon near the Peter and Paul Fortress.
National Flag Day celebrations in St. Petersburg.
Russia’s tri-color flag is more than 300 years old. The white-blue-red flag was flown for the first time in the 17th century aboard Russia’s first warship, the Orel, during the reign of Peter the Great's father, Aleksei Mikhailovich. Nonetheless, his son, Peter the Great, is considered the legitimate “father” of the tricolor flag.
The flag’s red band symbolized great power statehood, blue - the Blessed Virgin and patron of Russia, and white - freedom and independence. These colors also symbolized the union of White, Smaller and Great Russia.
