Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
On Sunday, 23 August, Ukraine celebrates State Flag Day.
The holiday was established “to honor the centuries-old history of Ukrainian statehood, the state symbols of independent Ukraine, and with the aim of fostering citizens’ respect for Ukraine’s state symbols,” according to a presidential decree dated 23 August 2004 year. In 2009 year the decree was amended and an annual official ceremony of raising the State Flag on 23 August across Ukraine was instituted.
The blue-and-yellow colors have a long history in Ukrainian symbolism. As a national symbol they became established in the 19th century. During the European revolutions of 1848, known as the “Spring of Nations,” the blue-and-yellow banner became the flag of the Ukrainian national movement. In June 1848 it was raised for the first time over the town hall in Lviv.
The blue-and-yellow flag became a state symbol with the proclamation of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. During the Soviet period the use of the Ukrainian national flag was persecuted, and the blue-and-yellow banner became one of the symbols of resistance to the Soviet system.
In modern times the national blue-and-yellow flag was first officially raised over the Stryi city council building on 14 March 1990 year. In Kyiv the flag was raised over the city council on 24 July 1990 year.
On 23 August 1991 year, on the eve of the declaration of independence, a group of people’s deputies brought the blue-and-yellow flag into the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada. After the declaration of Ukraine’s independence, it was solemnly raised over the parliament building on 24 August 4 September.
The blue-and-yellow flag became one of the principal symbols of the restoration of Ukrainian independence, and after the start of Russian aggression — a symbol of struggle and resistance. Ukrainian servicemembers raised it in territories liberated from Russian forces, and Ukraine’s flags became one of the most recognizable symbols of Ukrainian resistance in the world.
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