Symbolism

According to the Constitution the state symbols of Ukraine are:

• the National Flag of Ukraine;
• the National Emblem of Ukraine;
• the National Anthem of Ukraine.

The National Flag of Ukraine

The National Flag of Ukraine is the banner of two similar by size horizontal stripes of blue and yellow.

Yellow and blue colors symbolized Kiev State before the Christianity of Rus. During the times of Batyi Tatar Hords invasion this symbolic disappeared but times passed and it was revived in church belongings and on the emblems of the Ukrainian cities. Almost all emblems of the cities of Kyiv oblast and Ukraine were framed with yellow and blue colors. Since XVIII century regimental and sotnia cossacs flags of Zaporizhzhia Army rather often were made of blue banner where crosses, stars, arms, figures of saints were printed with yellow paint.

Process of our symbols development continued in XX century. On 22 March 1918, yellow and blue flag was adopted by Central Rada. The order of colors on the flag was changed into blue and yellow under Hetman Petro Skoropadskyi.

Blue and yellow flag was approved as the National Flag of independent Ukraine by the Resolution of Supreme Rada of 28 January 1992.

The National Emblem of Ukraine

According to the Constitution the great State Emblem of Ukraine is established taking into account small State Emblem of Ukraine as its main element and the emblem of Zaporizhzhia Army. The main element of the great State Emblem of Ukraine is trident (small State Emblem of Ukraine) – symbol of the State (Principality) of Volodymyr the Great.

Since ancient times the trident was revered as a magic mark, a kind of protection. It symbolized division of the Universe by haven, land and other world, joining of Divine, Parental and Maternal – sacred beginnings, three natural elements – air, water and land. Archeologists met this image on many monuments of culture of the first centuries A.D. These marks for the first time were mentioned in the chronicles of X century.

Ambassadors of Kyiv Prince Igor (912-945) had their seals with trident when concluded an agreement with Byzantium. During times of Kyiv Rus trident became the mark of great princes. Archeologists found its images on coins, seals, tableware, bricks and wall paintings. Kyiv Prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavovych (980-1015) minted the trident on coins, where the portrait of a ruler was on the one side and the trident on the other.

Great State Emblem of Ukraine has not been adopted yet. Now its concept is under development. Elements showing the historic way of the Ukrainian state formation are the basis of it. Elements of Zaporizhzhia Army’s emblem and emblem of Halych-Volyn Principality: cossac with a gun and the golden lion holding the shield and are the guards and heirs of the State Emblem of the times of great princes are the main elements of the great State Emblem. The choice of right these figures is explained by the desire to unite Western and Eastern parts of Ukraine, which had been historically separated for a long time, in one state symbol.

The State Anthem of Ukraine

The State Anthem of Ukraine is the national anthem on music by Mykhailo Verbytskyi and poem by Pavlo Chubynskyi. National Anthem of Ukraine is rendered at the beginning and at the end of ceremonial evens of all-national meaning. The creation of the Ukrainian anthem began in 1862, when the Ukrainian ethnographer, folklorist and poet Pavlo Chubynskyi wrote the poem “Ukraine’s glory has not perished”. This poem was very quickly spread in the circles of Ukrainians joined into the Community. Patriotic poem was brought to the attention of religious figures. One of them, Father Mykhailo (Verbytskyi), being the famous composer of his time admired Pavlo Chubynskyi’s poem and composed the music. For the first time national anthem with notes was published in 1865, and since 1917 it is used as a state anthem.