Every year on August 23, Ukrainians raise the blue-and-yellow flag — a symbol of freedom, unity, and resistance. This is an official state holiday, established by a decree of the President of Ukraine in 2004.
The National Flag Day of Ukraine is celebrated annually on August 23. It was on this day in 1991 that the blue-yellow flag was raised in the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada, on the eve of the declaration of independence. The holiday was officially introduced by presidential decree in 2004; in 2009, a nationwide protocol for the ceremonial raising of the flag was added.
The colors of the flag have deep historical origins: blue and yellow were found in the coats of arms and flags of Ukrainian lands as early as the 19th and 20th centuries and are associated with the sky and wheat, with peace and fertility.
This year’s events on August 23 will include traditional flag-raising ceremonies in regional centers, official speeches, thematic exhibitions, and performances by military bands. Flash mobs, marches in support of the military, and open-air cultural events are planned in many cities.
Traditionally, public celebrations are held on Flag Day: raising the flag with the participation of veterans, youth, and government officials, a moment of silence for those who died in the struggle for independence, the performance of the anthem, and the laying of flowers at memorial sites.
Tip: Event attendees should follow safety rules — avoid large gatherings in areas, and be aware of air raid sirens. If you plan to fly a flag, do so aesthetically and responsibly: the flag should be clean and undamaged.
— The first public raising of the blue-yellow flag in Western Ukraine dates back to 1848, during the revolutionary “Spring of Nations.”
— The 1996 Constitution of Ukraine established the status of the flag as a state symbol.
— Every year, Ukrainians hold flash mobs called “Flag over the City”, hanging huge banners on facades and bridges.
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