Ukrainian symbols: photo, meaning and origin. The symbol of Ukraine (trident)

Today we will try to tell you about the state symbols of Ukraine. It is a country with an interesting and distinctive history, and Ukrainian symbolism with its roots goes back to antiquity. As you will learn further, some signs are known from the early Middle Ages.

We will try to trace the history of the formation of each of the national symbols, completing sections describing modern state attributes. You will also learn about the symbols of the President of Ukraine.

State symbols

The Constitution of Ukraine legislatively defines the following State symbols of Ukraine: national flag, national anthem and state emblem.

All these attributes were adopted, in accordance with the decree of the Verkhovna Rada, in January - February 1992. Only the final text of the hymn was approved in March 2003.

Below we will consider in more detail the Ukrainian symbolism. Photos of various state signs will be given in the relevant sections.

History of the origin of the arms

The oldest symbol of Ukraine (trident) was first mentioned on the seals of princes of the Rurikovich family. But there were a variety of versions of the two-teeth and tridents. Each new prince tried to make his changes in this symbol. The most similar version of the sign is the seal of Vladimir the Great.

Where did this image come from? Researchers offer us two versions. According to the first, this is a slightly modified two-edged sign of the Khazar Khaganate, which is found in large numbers on coins and vessels.

The second option is more believable. Proceeding from the fact that Rurik came to Russia from Scandinavia, in his squad many wore a protective sign "Thor's hammer". Later it spilled over into a stylized falcon, which dives down, attacking prey.

This version is today the most historic one. There is, however, another option. Some researchers see in the trident the connection of pitchfork, anchor and scepter. There is even a reading of the encrypted word "will" in the curls of this sign.

Thus, it is an indisputable fact that this symbol refers to the eighth-tenth century.

After the collapse of Kievan Rus, for a few centuries, and this symbol disappears. In Daniel Galitsky, the seal is depicted a crowned lion, and in the Zaporozhye army a Cossack with a musket was the distinguishing sign.

In the process of annexing some lands to Muscovy, all the symbolism was replaced by a double-headed eagle.

Return to the trident occurs only during the Ukrainian People's Republic. Then it is replaced by a golden lion and a Cossack on a blue background in the Ukrainian state and a sickle with a hammer in the Soviet Union.

The final restoration of the trident occurred only in 1992. But this will be discussed later.

Modern Coat of Arms

The first national symbol of Ukraine, which we started talking about, is the coat of arms. Earlier we considered a brief history of its formation. In the modern state, theoretically, this symbol consists of the Great and Small Arms. But in fact there is only the latter. The big coat of arms is still at the draft stage.

Judging by its text, it should be located trident, as a symbol of Vladimir the Great, a Cossack with a musket (Zaporozhye army) and a lion with a crown (sign of the Galician-Volyn state).

The small coat of arms was approved in February 1992 by decree of the Verkhovna Rada. It depicts the sign of the Kiev prince Vladimir the Great, who baptized Rus in 988.

There are official color and black-and-white versions of the Small Arms, a separate sign of Prince Vladimir and a detailed scheme for constructing the coat of arms.

Flags in different periods of history

As we have already seen, the national symbols of Ukraine changed at different periods of history. The flag was not an exception. The color that adorns the cloth today was re-adopted only after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. What was before that?

Lviv banner (yellow lion on azure background) was the first documented evidence of such coloring. This event refers to the distant 1410, when the Battle of Grunwald took place.

The Hetmanate of 1755-64 had standards with the same coloring. The first actual use of two horizontal bands was the flag of the Black Sea Cossack Army, which was awarded to him by Alexander I.

In 1848, these colors are used by the Lvov's Home Russian Rada, during the revolution in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Further, this color Ukrainian symbolism was used in 1918 in the UPR and the Ukrainian state.

During the Soviet Union, the main color was red, but before 1941 in Subcarpathian Russia there was a blue and yellow flag.

Modern national flag

So, the national symbol of Ukraine, about which we are speaking now, is a flag. Earlier we considered the various stages of its development.

Now it's important to make a note about its exact coloring. It is defined only in the Pantone Matching System. There the yellow color corresponds to the shade with the code "Pantone Coated Yellow 012 C", and the blue one - "Pantone Coated 2935 C".

If you do not know this specifics, then the flags of several cities and regions may seem like an exact copy. Among them there are such cities as Biberbach-on-Rice, Chemnitz, Gryfow Slaska, the areas of Herrera, Lower Austria and others. Also a similar flag was before 1918 in the duchy of Braunschweig.

The official version of the decoding of flowers is the blue sky over the yellow field of wheat.

History of writing the anthem

State symbols of Ukraine include also the anthem. The history of his writing goes back to 1862. Then the Ukrainian poet and folklorist Chubinsky wrote the famous poem "Shche did not die Ukraine".

Judging by the recollections of eyewitnesses, the writing was influenced especially by the Serbian national song. Although the Ukrainian hymn closely resembles the Polish "Dombrowski March" at close examination.

The poem of Chubinsky was first published in 1863 in one Lviv magazine. Over time, it becomes quite popular in Western Ukraine. It was at this time that Verbitsky became interested in him, who performed this composition for the first time in Peremyshl.

From 1917 to 1939 this song was used as a national anthem. In Soviet times, when the national Ukrainian symbolism was not much welcomed, there was another composition, the words of Tychyna, and in 1992 the old hymn was restored.

Similar songs from other nations

As you can see, the symbolism of Ukraine is often similar to the attributes of other peoples. Let's give some examples.

Ukrainian anthem reminds the hymn of Poland "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła", written on the motives of the "March of Dombrowski". A similar song was also from the Illyrian Croatian movement - "Još Hrvatska ni propala".

All these compositions are united by one idea - the people's movement in the struggle for independence.

State symbols of the President of Ukraine

The state symbols of Ukraine also include the symbols of the head of state. These include the stamp, the standard, the sign and the mace. Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

The presidential standard is a blue canvas, in the center of which the symbol of Ukraine - the trident is depicted. The panel is made in the form of a square with a gold platband and fringe. The handle is wooden, and the pommel - in the form of a ball of onyx.

Until 1999 it was the only symbol of the power of the president. But then the shaft was made very richly and skillfully, and the canvas was simple. Today, the fabric is embroidered on special equipment. On one side, over a million stitches are made with a thread of red and yellow gold. The trident, in view of the used lining, received volume.

A similar technique was used to create flags in the UK, France and the USA.

What is the Ukrainian symbolism of the head of state without a traditional hetman's club? This insignia is made of gilded silver and decorated with special ornaments and precious stones.

The print handle is decorated with lapis lazuli and resembles a picture of our planet from outer space. The seal shows a small coat of arms and the inscription "President of Ukraine".

The sign of the president is executed in the form of an order chain with 6 medallions.

Thus, in this article we have become acquainted with Ukrainian state symbols.