State symbols
In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus the State Flag, the State Emblem, and the State Anthem are symbols of sovereignty of the country.
Their usage is regulated by the law on state symbols of the Republic of Belarus No.301-3 of 5 July 2004 with amendments and addenda, which were passed in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2015, and 2021.
The latest revision of the amended law contains a reference image of the flag and new color versions of the state emblem. Taking into account modern aesthetic insights and capabilities granted by computer technologies to artists, a number of components of the state emblem have been drawn in greater detail. The ideological content of the state symbols of Belarus remains unchanged.
Citizens of the Republic of Belarus as well as foreign citizens and stateless persons, who stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, must treat the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus, the State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus, and the State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus with respect.
Belarus’ national holiday – the Day of the National Flag, the National Emblem and the National Anthem – is marked annually on the 2nd Sunday of May.
The State Flag of the Republic of Belarus
The State Flag of the Republic of Belarus is a rectangular canvas made of two horizontal colored stripes: the upper one is red and the lower one is green. The red one makes up two thirds of the width while the green one is as large as one third of the flag width. The ratio of the width of the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus to its length is 1:2. A vertical red-on-white Belarusian national pattern as large as one ninth of the flag length is located near the flagpole.
The State Flag of the Republic of Belarus is attached to a pole (flagpole), which is painted golden (ochre). The ratio of the width of the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus to the length of the staff is 1:3.
The State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus
The State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus is made up of a golden outline of the state border of the Republic of Belarus on a silver field. The outline is overlaid upon golden rays of the sun rising over the globe. A five-pointed red star is located at the top of the silver field. The emblem is encircled by a wreath of golden wheat heads intertwined with clover flowers on the right and flax flowers on the left. The wreath is embraced three times by a red-and-green ribbon with the golden two-line inscription “Republic of Belarus” in the middle part of the ribbon at the foot of the State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus.
The State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus can be reproduced using many colors, two colors, or one color (silver and gold). The legislation stipulates where and when images of the multicolor, two-color, and single-color (silver and gold) State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus can be used.
The State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus
The music for the State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus has been written by Nestor Sokolovsky, the lyrics – by Mikhail Klimkovich and Vladimir Korizna.
The State Anthem of the modern Belarus retains the musical basis of the anthem of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. The music by Nestor Sokolovsky has been popular and respected by generations of Belarusians, this is why it was decided to keep it when the anthem of the independent Belarus was created. After that a contest for the anthem lyrics was announced.
The words of the State Anthem reflect development of the Republic of Belarus as a sovereign and peace-loving country. They emphasise patriotism and diligence of the nation, brotherly relations between all nationalities that live in the country.
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