Bulgaria

3×5' nylon national flag of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria's tricolor was born with the modern state. It was adopted in 1879, a year after Bulgaria emerged from five centuries of Ottoman rule, and it takes its form from the flag of the Russian Empire that helped win that freedom.

Design

Three equal horizontal bands of white, green and red.

History & Symbolism

The Tarnovo Constitution of 16 April 1879 adopted the flag. It follows the Russian white, blue and red, with green in place of blue for the fertile Bulgarian land. White stands for peace and freedom, and red for the courage and blood of the nation's defenders. Between 1947 and 1990 the communist state added its coat of arms at the hoist; the plain tricolor returned in 1990 and is confirmed in the 1991 constitution.

Flag Specifications

• Adopted: 16 April 1879
• Official proportions: 3:5
• Colors: white, green, red

Vexillographer's Note

Bulgaria's official 3:5 ratio matches the standard American 3×5' flag exactly, so this flag needs no adjustment in our size.

Humphrys Flag Company · Old City Philadelphia · Est. 1864