This Week In Vexillology #74

I've been putting off writing this one for about a month due to the current, uncertain international situation but I can't put it off any longer.  So, this Week In Vexillology, we're going to cross our fingers that Russia doesn't  do anything crazy (like decide that they want the whole damn country back) and that this flag will continue to fly for years to come.  Yes, it's the flag of Ukraine:

Adopted on January 28th, 1992 for national and civil usage, the symbolism of the flag is very simple indeed: per Article 20 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the blue represents the clear blue sky over a yellow wheat field. What gets interesting is the long history of the flag:  it dates back to the 1848 Spring of Nations.  It showed up briefly in 1918 for the short lived Ukrainian People's Republic, but there was no official flag during the Soviet Occupation until the flag of the Ukrainian SSR was adopted in 1949.  The blue and yellow bicolor was readopted after independence in 1991.

While the flag of Ukraine might be relatively simple, the Coat of Arms of Ukraine is far more striking:

Known as the Tryzub, the national coat of arms features the same colors found on the Ukrainian flag, a blue shield with a gold trident.  It represents the triune God on earth and in heaven.  It was adopted on February 19th, 1992 as a representation of the seal-trident of Vladimir the Great.

So there you have it- the flag and the arms of the Ukraine and yes, it's my fervent wish that they continue to fly for many years to come.  So, until next time, keep your flags flying- FREAK or otherwise.