The National Symbols of the Russian Federation. Flag

In Russia the colours of the current flag symbolise:
white-frankness and generosity;
blue-honesty and wisdom;
red-courage and love.

The National Flag of the Russian Federation is a rectangular cloth of three equal horizontal stripes: the uppermost is white, the middle is blue and the bottom is red.
The proportion of the flag’s width to its length is 2:3

The first mention of the flag is associated with Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (the second tsar from the Romanov dynasty). In 1668, following the European tradition, he ordered to raise the flag over the first Russian warship named “Eagle”.

But Peter the Great became the founder of the tricolor: it was by his decree of January 20, 1705 that the white-blue-red flag was to be raised "on all kinds of merchant ships".

In 1858, Alexander II approved a new design of the flag for special occasions (black-yellow-white). But it was used only in government and administrative houses. 7 years later, in 1865, black, yellow and white colors were named the state colors of the Russian Empire.

Everything changed again in 1918, after the Bolsheviks came to power: the state flag of Russia changed its color to red with a gold inscription RSFSR in the upper left corner.
During the USSR, the national flag was a red cloth with a golden sickle, hammer and a star above them depicted on it.

But the final version of the RSFRS flag was approved only on May 2, 1954. Now the flag consisted of a red cloth with a light blue stripe at the pole along the entire width of the flag. On the red panel, in the upper left corner, were depicted a golden hammer and sickle, as well as a red five-pointed star, edged with gold, above them.

On August 22, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR decided to consider the white-blue-red tricolor as the state flag.
In Russia the colours of the current flag symbolise:
white — frankness and generosity;
blue — honesty and wisdom;
red — courage and love.

On August 22, 1994, an official holiday was established – the Day of the Flag of Russia, which is celebrated annually.