Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Celebrates Flag Day

OCTOBER 14, 2024 — Today, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) of Russia celebrates the Day of the State Flag, SakhaNews reported.

Officials Offer Congratulations to the Sakha

Aysen Nikolayev, Head of the Sakha Republic, wrote on his Telegram channel, “For more than 30 years our flag has proudly flown over the expanses of Yakutia, embodying the beauty of northern nature and faith in the strength of our native land. Yakutians, wherever they are, always carry the flag of their native republic with them.”

Referring to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nikolayev said, “Today it protects and shadows our brave soldiers fighting the enemy. It is a symbol of respect for our history and faith in a bright future. May our hearts always be proud of our Yakutia, its flag and the unity of our multinational people!”

Meanwhile, SakhaPress reports that the Chairman of the Yakut City Duma Albert Semenov also offered his congratulations, “The flag of our republic has a special sacral meaning, it refers to the values of the Sakha people, which have been handed down from generation to generation for many centuries…. May your labor benefits your native republic, and may our flag always fly proudly over the prosperous Yakutia!”

The Three Artists Behind the Flag

The competition to create the republic’s state symbols, including the flag, coat of arms, and anthem, was announced by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic on January 11, 1991, according to Yakutia24. The competition lasted for almost two years, until the winning flag was officially adopted on October 14, 1992.

The flag’s creators are Lentsova Lyudmila Danilovna, an Honored Artist of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and member of the Union of Artists of the Russian Federation; Zakharova Ayina Petrovna, a painter and student of the Yakut Art School, later a teacher at the Yakut College of Technology and Design; and Starostin Mikhail Gavrilyevich, a graphic artist and member of the Union of Artists of the Russian Federation.

The Arctic Sun Shining Over the Sakha Taiga

The flag serves as a “symbol of state sovereignty and reflects the historical traditions, geographical features, and the cultural identity of the people living in the republic”, stated the Russian Presidential Library. The flag consists of four horizontal stripes. From top to bottom, the stripes are light blue (3/4 of the flag’s width), white (1/16), red (1/16), and green (1/8).

A white circle is positioned in the center of the light blue field. The white circle on the blue background symbolizes the continuity of generations and pays tribute to the traditional beliefs of the Yakut people, who refer to themselves as “the children of the white sun.” The sun at its zenith also highlights the unique features of the arctic sun.

The light blue color represents honor, fidelity, and sincerity. The narrow white stripe, along with the white sun against the blue sky, symbolizes the harsh northern environment, the aspirations of the people for the future, and the purity of their thoughts and morals. White signifies purity, wisdom, and joy. The red stripe stands for loyalty to the native land and honors past generations, while also symbolizing justice, strength, and courage. The green stripe represents the brief Yakut summer, the taiga, and the region’s natural resources.

Image: HalanTul, CC BY-SA 3.0