The Soviet Union, which was a thing of the past, united in its time fifteen republics. Each one had its own flag, but each of them had some common features: the main background was red, the sickle with a hammer in the corner ... The Union collapsed, and all the countries that had previously composed it returned to their historical banners. Among them, naturally, was also Latvia.
Ancient history
Curiously, the flag of Latvia is almost the oldest on Earth. Mention of him is already found in the Rhymed Chronicle and dates back to the 13th century. The feud between 1280 between Latgales and Zemgals is described in it in sufficient detail. And it was the first who had the banner as their banner, which is now known as the flag of Latvia. Chronicles mention that the Cesis guard had such a banner. Of course, the fact that the carriers of this banner united with the Germans against their fellow tribesmen does not look too beautiful, but politics did not see such alliances.
This data was excavated by Latvian students somewhere around 1870. Considering that they did not find descriptions of other flags of that era, the young boys decided to make this flag their symbol, and for the first time it was put on public display as a Latvian flag in 1873, at the First Song Festival.
Appearance and Importance
The more ancient the national banner, the simpler it looks. The explanation is simple: in the old days, the manufacture of intricate shades was not available, and white and red colors were made most easily. The flag of Latvia is extremely simple: two red stripes separated by white. Initially, the shade of the two stripes was very close to scarlet. And the lines were planned the same width. However, in this form, the flags of Austria and Latvia turned out to be almost identical. Therefore, subsequently the color of the stripes was changed. Now the flag uses a carmine shade, officially registered as “Latvian red”. And the white strip is made twice as narrow as the burgundy.
At the same time, the symbolism of flowers remained the same: red, as before, means blood shed for freedom, white means undying hope and faith in a brighter future.
Shade difficulties
However, it was not for nothing that our ancestors chose simple colors. The modern Latvian authorities are concerned that the flag of Latvia has often very incorrect colors. Burgundy stripes in many cases are depicted by completely unimaginable shades, which can vary from brown (and quite dark) to almost carrot. Foreign embassies have repeatedly pointed this out to Latvians. Since the colors of the flag of Latvia are a state affair, it was decided to create a special commission that will control the production of the country's symbols. No one will be able to make them without a special license, and the color matching will be carefully checked.
Legends and traditions
Like any self-respecting state symbol, the flag of Latvia has myths about its origin. The most common is the following. In the battle with the crusaders, the leader of the army was mortally wounded. He was laid on white matter, where he bled. But before his death, he ordered his soldiers not to give up. The fabric dyed by the blood of the leader, they used as a flag - and won. Interestingly, the flag of Austria and Latvia have completely identical stories as legends.
The second tradition is more bloodthirsty. According to him, the blood of the killed Germans was poured into a huge cauldron. The fabric hung on a spear sank into this vessel. Therefore, in the middle, where there was a shaft, there was a white stripe, and on the sides of the cloth painted with blood of dead enemies.
Coat of arms of Latvia: deep significance and historicity
This country appreciates its history and carefully stores everything that is connected with it. Such is Latvia. The flag and 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 earlier seventeen rays departed from it. Exactly as many counties were part of the country. In the modern version of the emblem of the rays, eleven remain - according to the number of areas. 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 a linden that embodies the feminine and the family hearth). Oak leaves represent military prowess, willingness to stand up for their country.
The stars crowning the Latvian coat of arms are also filled with deep meaning. They remind of the unification of the lands of Latvia (historically it was believed that there are three of them: separately Vidzeme, independently - Lattgale, and Kurzeme and Zemgale were considered a single region).
Separate components of the coat of arms have existed since the sixteenth century. Collected them into a big picture and designed the coat of arms in its modern form, the artist Richard Zarinyesh in 1921.
Modern history
The official date with which the flag of Latvia became a state symbol is considered to be 1921, June 15th. Some historians dispute it, postponing it for 22 years and February 15, but this is not so fundamental. However, even before that time the flag was used: in particular, during the First World War the Latvian units of the Russian army went into battle under it, the Boy Scouts proudly displayed it, and public organizations marked with this banner their belonging to Latvia.
The panel acquired its modern look in 1917 thanks to Ansis Cirulis. He developed the shade of red stripes, he also made the white component narrower.
Having become a part of the Soviet Union, Latvia received another flag - naturally, red, with a hammer-sickle, a star and the abbreviation of the republic. Soldiers of the Latvian Volunteer SS Legion went to the Patriotic War under the original Latvian banner. And only in the year 88 of the last century, the flags of Lithuania and Latvia took their former shape. Finally, the banner became a state symbol in 1990.
There is hope that this is the final version of the Latvian banner. And if the political map of the world is no longer redrawn, the inhabitants of this welcoming and beautiful country will never part with the carefully preserved history and dear to their heart memos of their past. Maybe the flag of Latvia will seem too simple and unpretentious to some, but it is dear to the Latvians in the form in which it exists. So we will respect their feelings and preferences.