The Pan-Slavic colors, red, blue and white, are colors used on the flags of some Slavic peoples and states in which the majority of inhabitants possess a Slavic background. Their use symbolizes the common origin of the Slavic peoples. Poland, as well as Bohemia (modern Czech Republic) however, possessed a white-and-red flag before the movement, which were based on early medieval influences; and are unrelated to the Russian flag. Likewise the former flag of Belarus and the Ukrainian flag are also based on earlier influences. The flag of Slovenia was introduced in 1848, when group of Slovenian intellectuals in Vienna (Austria) created the tricolor flag (white-blue-red). It was heavily influenced by Russian flag and pan-Slavic colors. Other sources claim that Slovenian intellectuals created the Slovenian flag and took its colors from late 15. century Carniola Coat of Arms. Designed by Austrian Habsburg monarchy elite that ruled Carniola (Kranjska) at that time. Slovakia also has the same tricolor flag design as Slovenia and Russia. The first Slovak flag was also introduced in 1848.
Yugoslavia, both the Kingdom (Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1918–1943) and the Republic (SFR Yugoslavia, 1943–1992) was a union of several Slavic nations, and therefore not only sported the pan-Slavic colors but adopted the pan-Slavic flag as its own (later adding a red star). The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a successor state of Yugoslavia, also used the pan-Slavic flag.
These three colors, symbolising freedom and revolutionary ideals, are also used on the flags of many non-Slavic nations.
Flags of some republics and autonomous okrugs of Russia with non-Slavic titular nation (e.g. Chukotka Autonomous Okrug) incorporate the pan-Slavic tricolor to symbolize both their being part of Russia and significant presence of Russian population.
Read more about Pan-Slavic Colors: Former Flags With Pan-Slavic Colors, Other Slavic Flags
Famous quotes containing the word colors:
“Then, bringing me the joy we feel when wee see a work by our favorite painter which differs from any other that we know, or if we are led before a painting of which we have until then only seen a pencil sketch, if a musical piece heard only on the piano appears before us clothed in the colors of the orchestra, my grandfather called me the [hawthorn] hedge at Tansonville, saying, “You who are so fond of hawthorns, look at this pink thorn, isn’t it lovely?””
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)