Everyone who is interested in the history of different countries knows that the best way to learn more about the state is to delve into not only dates and names, but also symbols. It helps to understand the nature of the people, talks about the past and can even tell what other lands the country has similarities with. So, let’s examine the Bulgarian flag, which many tourists who have visited this country at least once have photographs of. What is hidden in its shades?
Modern look
Now the Bulgarian flag has the shape of a rectangular canvas. Its sides relate to each other in a proportion of 3 to 5 (with a large size in length). On the canvas are three strips running horizontally. Colors of the Bulgarian flag: white, green and red. Each of them has its own meaning. White color on the canvas embodies the desire for freedom and peace. The struggle for independence was long and difficult, therefore this topic is extremely important for the Bulgarian people. The green color, located under the white, serves as a symbol of the wealth of nature of the country, its mountains and forests. In addition, it represents agriculture, which is of great importance for the state economy, and also serves as a reminder of the Bulgarian kings, for whom it was heraldic. Finally, the last strip of red. This is a vivid symbol of the blood shed for independence. He completes the Bulgarian flag, located at the bottom.
History of occurrence
The state symbol has its roots far in the past of the country. The modern Bulgarian flag was created on the basis of an old canvas used by militias. On their banner were: white, red and green colors - the latter was distinguished by a shade that was slightly warmer. Another difference: earlier on the canvas was an image of the state coat of arms. For the first time, such a banner was officially used from 1861 to 1862. The Bulgarian Legia approved the flag, which was similar to the modern one, but with a different order of colors. Green was located first, white was placed in the middle, and red ended the sequence, which retained its place in the modern version. It is interesting that the reverse order of shades was used by the military from the detachment of Philip Totu, who were participants in the battles of the Serbian-Turkish war. In the seventies of the nineteenth century, the same tricolor was used for the revolutionary committee. Finally, on April 16, 1879, the Bulgarian flag was approved by the twenty-third article of the Constitution. It was then that the white-green-red combination finally came into use. Thus began the story of the banner now used.
View transformations
Despite the approval of the tricolor in its modern form, there were changes that began in the mid-twentieth century. In 1947, the central strip of warm green changed its shade from grass to emerald, that is, colder. At the same time, the Bulgarian flag was supplemented with the image of the coat of arms of the People’s Republic, which was located at the pole. Only the new Constitution, introduced in November 1990, canceled his presence on the canvas. In the same year, the Bulgarian flag suffered the most unusual change. New proportions were used. Previously, the width referred to the length as two to three, and after 1990 - as three to five.
National emblem
There is another important element of the symbolism of the country. The Bulgarian flag and coat of arms are inextricably linked, and for a long time they were used simultaneously. So, the state emblem is a shield that depicts a lion of gold color, placed in profile. This is a simplified version. It was in this form that the coat of arms was used when it adorned the Bulgarian flag. There are some differences in the modern version. It was approved not so long ago - in 1997. Now it looks more interesting and solemn. The shield originally used with the golden lion is today decorated with a golden crown. The animal changed its location and even quantity: there were two lions, and both of them are depicted in crowns and in gold. Below the shield are oak branches. In addition, there is drawn a ribbon on which the phrase “Unity gives strength” is located - this is the old motto of Bulgarian soldiers. In this version, the coat of arms appears on all official papers, seals and on administrative buildings.