The past Soviet Union united in itstime fifteen republics. Each had its own flag, but each of them had some common features: the main background was red, the hammer and sickle in the corner ... The Union collapsed, and all the countries that previously made it returned to their historical banners. Of course, Latvia was among them.
Curiously, the flag of Latvia is almostthe oldest on earth. Mention of it is found already in the Rhymed Chronicle and dates back to the 13th century. The civil strife of 1280 between the latgals and the earth gables is described in it in some detail. And it was the first who had as their banner a cloth that is now known as the flag of Latvia. Chronicles mention that such a guard had a Cesis guard. Of course, the fact that the carriers of this banner united with the Germans against their fellow tribesmen does not look very nice, but the policy has seen not such alliances.
These data were unearthed by Latvian students somewhere inaround the 1870th year. Considering that they did not find descriptions of other flags of that era, the young volunteers decided to make just this cloth as their symbol, and for the first time it was put on display as a Latvian flag in 1873, at the First Song Festival.
The older the state flag, the simpler it is.looks like. The reason is simple: in the old days making intricate shades was not available, and white and red colors were made the easiest. The flag of Latvia is extremely simple: two red stripes, separated by white. Initially, the shade of the two bands was very close to scarlet. And the lines were planned to be the same width. However, in this form, the flags of Austria and Latvia turned out to be almost identical. Therefore, the color of the bands was subsequently changed. Now the flag uses a carmine shade, officially registered as “Latvian Red”. And the white stripe is made twice narrower than the maroon ones.
At the same time, the symbolism of colors has remained the same: red, as before, means blood shed for freedom, white - undying hope and faith in a bright future.
However, no wonder our ancestors chose simple colors.The modern Latvian authorities are concerned that the flag of Latvia often has very incorrect colors. Burgundy stripes in many cases are depicted completely unthinkable shades, which can vary from brown (and quite dark) to almost carrot. Foreign embassies have repeatedly pointed this out to the Latvians. Since the colors of the flag of Latvia are a state matter, it was decided to create a special commission that will control the production of symbols of the country. No one can make them without a special license, and the matching colors will be carefully checked.
Like every self-respecting statesymbol, the flag of Latvia has myths about its origin. The most common following. In the battle with the crusaders, the leader of the army was mortally wounded. He was laid on white matter, where he bled out. But before his death, he told his soldiers not to surrender. They used cloth dyed with the leader’s blood as a flag and won. Interestingly, the flags of Austria and Latvia have exactly the same stories as legends.
The second legend is more bloodthirsty.According to him, the blood of the murdered Germans was poured into a huge pot. The cloth hanged on a spear fell into this vessel. Therefore, in the middle, where there was a pole, there was a white stripe, and on the sides, the cloth was painted with the blood of killed enemies.
This country really appreciates its history and carefullykeeps everything connected with it. Such is Latvia. The flag and the coat of arms are tightly connected with its past. The latter is especially interesting. The sun is present in the image of the coat of arms, and seventeen rays had left it before. Exactly so many counties were part of the country. In the modern version of the coat of arms, eleven is left - by the number of districts. The shield is held by two beasts; they are also depicted on the shield itself. The scarlet lion symbolizes Zemgale and Kurzeme, the silver griffin - Vidzeme and Latgale. The official Latvian symbol is the oak (along with the linden tree, which embodies the feminine principle and the family hearth). Oak leaves personify military prowess, readiness to stand up for their country.
The stars crowningLatvian coat of arms. They remind of the unification of the lands of Latvia (historically it was believed that there were three of them: Vidzeme separately, Lattgala independently, and Kurzeme and Zemgale were considered a single region).
Separate components of the coat of arms have existed since the sixteenth century. Collected them in the overall picture and designed the emblem in its present form by the artist Richards Zarinesh in 1921.
The official date on which the Latvian flag became1921, June 15, is considered the state symbol. Some historians dispute it, pushing it back to 22 and February 15, but this is not so important. However, until this time the flag was used: in particular, during the First World, the Latvian units of the Russian army went to fight under it, the boy scouts proudly exhibited it, and public organizations designated this flag to belong to Latvia with this banner.
The modern look was acquired in 1917 thanks to Ansis Cirulis. He developed a shade of red stripes, he also made a narrower white component.
Becoming part of the Soviet Union, Latvia receivedthe other flag is naturally red with a hammer sickle, a star and an abbreviation of the republic. In the Patriotic War, soldiers of the Latvian SS Volunteer Legion went under the original Latvian banner. And only in the 88th year of the last century, the flags of Lithuania and Latvia took on their former appearance. The banner finally became a state symbol already in 1990.
There is hope that this is the final version.Latvian flag. And if the political map of the world will not be redrawn anymore, the inhabitants of this friendly and beautiful country will never be separated from the carefully preserved history and dear to their heart reminders of their past. Perhaps, the flag of Latvia may seem too simple and unpretentious to someone, but it is dear to the Latvians in the form in which it exists. So we will respect their feelings and preferences.
