The Republic of Bulgaria

The National Flag of Bulgaria

знаме на България

zname na Balgariya

The national flag of Bulgaria is a horizontal tricolour, of white green and red. The flag itself was adopted after the Russo-Turkish war which saw Bulgaria gain independence in 1878. The flag has seen additions of national emblems, but has largely stayed the same ever since. The current form was finally re-established in 1991 with the ending of Communism, and was formalised with adoption of a new constitution in 1998.

From the rise of the Communist movement, the flag itself was not changed, but had the state emblem added on the hoist side of the top stripe. The arms took the Bulgarian rampant lion on a red shield. The shield was surrounded by 2 regular communist images. On either side of the shield are wheat-sheaf's, and it is topped with a red star. On the ribbon binding the wheat-sheaf's is "1944" which is the year the Communists began to take power.

Slowly the national emblem was modified until the final form, which had the lion on a light blue background. Now, the red ribbon was replaced with ribbons based on the flag, and a cog representing industry has been added. Also, the year 681 had been added. This is the year of the founding of the first Bulgarian empire.

Then, with the ridding of Communism, the flag was returned back to its simple form, with all emblems stripped from it.