The State Flag of Russia

The state flag of Russia was adopted in the second half of the XVII century. The flag had 3 stripes - white, blue and red, symbolizing the title of the Russian Empire tsar - “Tsar of all Velikiya (Great) and Maliya (Small) and Byeliya (White) Russia”. Besides every colour had its own meaning: red symbolized courage and love, blue - loyalty and nobility, white - chastity, liberty and independence.

The white-blue-red flag lived not very long. In the XVIII century the flag changed its appearance. According to the Russian Senate’s Order the flag stripes colours were changed into black, yellow and white. The fact was explained by the German orientation of the Court minister, Count V. Adlerberg.

However, in May 1883 the Russian tsar Alexander III returned the former flag colours and the white-blue-red Russian flag was adopted once more.

In October 1917 the state flag changed again: this time it had one golden 5 point star, a hammer and sickle on the red field symbolizing the revolution and new state, the union of workers and peasants. But the flag represented the whole country called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Russia nearly lost both its own national flag and its essence.

After the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) establishing, many union republics flags revived their own national meaning. Russia was no exception, it came back to its roots.

Nowadays the Russian state flag has 3 horizontal white-blue-red stripes symbolizing the revival of the Russian sovereignty. The stripes are equal in size, there are no other signs of classes or parties on it. This means that all nations and nationalities forming the Russian Federation are equal. The flag colours got their deep meaning: white symbolizes peace and purity, blue — faith and loyalty, red — courage and blood shed ”for Faith and Fatherland”.

Задание 2. Найдите в тексте и выпишите английские эквиваленты следующих речевых отрезков.

1) Цвета и символика русского флага; 2) флаг был принят во 2-ой половине XVII века; 3) титул русского царя; 4) символизировать мужество, верность, свободу и благородство; 5) менять цвета и внешний вид флага; 6) согласно указу; 7) союз рабочих и крестьян; 8) основать содружество независимых государств; 9) потерять значение и суть; 10) вернуться к своим истокам; 11) представлять страну; 12) равные по размеру; 13) не исключение; 14) возрождение суверенитета России.