August 22 — National Flag Day of Russia: how will the holiday be celebrated in 2025

In Russia, National Flag Day is celebrated at the end of summer. The celebrations are held annually on August 22. In 2025, this date falls on a Friday. Izvestia has collected interesting facts about the main state symbol of the country and tells us what events will be held on the holiday in different cities.

National Flag Day — what is celebrated on August 22

State symbols are mandatory attributes of any state. They reflect the history and culture of the nation. The flag is one of these symbols that unites citizens, linking the past, present and future of the country.

Flag Day is celebrated in many countries around the world: in the USA (June 14), Canada (February 15), Argentina (June 20), Australia (September 3), Sweden (June 6), as well as in the republics of the former Soviet Union.

The holiday appeared in Russia relatively recently, although the history of the Russian flag dates back more than three hundred years. The celebration was officially fixed in August 1994 by presidential decree "On the Day of the National Flag of the Russian Federation." Since then, it has been celebrated annually.

The date of the holiday is fixed, it remains unchanged from year to year. In 2025, the National Flag Day will be celebrated for the 29th time.

What traditions are associated with the National Flag Day?

Despite the fact that August 22 is not an official day off, celebrations are taking place on a large scale throughout the country. Concerts, rallies, flash mobs and contests are held on the streets of cities. Volunteers distribute flags and balloons in the colors of the Russian tricolor. White, blue and red flags decorate the central squares and facades of houses.

The main tradition of the holiday is the unfurling of the National Flag and the creation of "live" flags. These actions take place in different cities every year. One of these actions, timed to coincide with the date, even got into the Guinness Book of Records. In 2013, Vladivostok residents set a record by creating a 700-meter flag. About 30 thousand citizens took part in the performance at that time.

A new Russian record in 2024 was set in the Orenburg region and in the ski resort of Sheregesh. A Russian flag with a length of more than 1,700 m was unfurled there. A year earlier, a flag measuring almost 1,500 square meters was unfurled in the Arctic at the North Pole-41 drifting station.

Other Flag Day events:

• solemn raising of the tricolor under the anthem of Russia;
• Congratulatory speech by the President and deputies;
• presentation of state awards and certificates of honor;
• beautification of transport and urban spaces;
• concerts with the participation of pop stars;
• historical quizzes and film screenings;
• launching balloons in the colors of the flag into the sky.

Celebration of the National Flag Day in 2025

In Moscow, celebrations will be held on August 22 and 23 in all districts of the city. Guests will be welcomed in museums, parks, at the sites of the "Summer in Moscow" project and the "My Documents" offices. Concerts, excursions, lectures and festive events have been prepared for them. Muscovites will also be able to take part in a car rally along the Garden Ring and star in a folk video dedicated to the National Flag Day.

According to tradition, the Victory Museum has a large-scale tricolor. Representatives of volunteer and youth organizations will take part in the ceremony. The Heroes of the Russian Federation, whose exploits are inscribed in the history of the country, will address the guests with parting words. Public transport will also be decorated with flags of Russia and Moscow. And bright posters will appear on billboards, billboard stands and bus stops.

In addition, a video greeting was prepared for Muscovites and guests of the city. The video will be broadcast on August 22 on 250 screens, according to the official website of the Mayor of Moscow. Congratulations will also appear on the media facades on Novy Arbat, Spartak Square and Sadovaya-Samotechnaya Street.

In St. Petersburg, the center of the celebration will be the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The venue will host a concert with the participation of city groups, creative and educational activities for the whole family. Everyone will be able to leave wishes to fellow citizens and write letters to the military in their area. Themed flash mobs, workshops and a festival of drawings on asphalt will be held in different parts of the city.

Similar events are planned in other cities. In addition, from August 18 to 22, 2025, the Colors of the Motherland campaign will be held throughout Russia, the purpose of which is to tell about the history of the creation of the national flag and its symbols.

Interesting facts about the National Flag of Russia

The regulations on the flag of Russia were approved by presidential decree in 1993, and in 2000 the federal constitutional law "On the State Flag of the Russian Federation" was adopted. It defines the National Flag as the official state symbol of the country, which is protected by law. Criminal liability is provided for desecration of the flag.

We owe the current appearance of the National Flag to Peter I. The Autocrat personally drew the pattern and approved the order of the horizontal stripes. In 1705, the tricolor became the official flag of the Russian merchant fleet. In the XVIII–XIX centuries, it was actively used in the navy, as well as during naval expeditions. At the same time, the tricolor was first raised on the Russian ship Orel back in 1668 during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.

Since the middle of the 19th century, by decree of Alexander II, an alternative black-yellow-white flag, known as the coat of arms, was introduced. But already under Alexander III, it was ordered to display exclusively the white-blue-red flag on special occasions. However, the black-yellow-white was not formally abolished. In 1896, Nicholas II finally approved the tricolor as the national symbol of the Russian Empire.

After the October Revolution of 1917, the Russian flag was replaced by a red banner with a hammer and sickle. This option lasted until the collapse of the Soviet Union. In August 1991, the white-blue-red banner was again raised over the White House in Moscow. This event marked the victory of the democratic forces under the leadership of the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, says historian Arseny Zamostyanov. Then thousands of people marched through the main streets of the capital with a tricolor flag, which represented a step into a new life, the symbol of which was the famous Petrovsky tricolor.

Over the years, the white-blue-red flag began to be perceived as a symbol of the unity of the country. This has been especially noticeable in the last decade, the historian emphasizes, due to the annexation of Crimea in 2014. He recalled that at that time, residents voluntarily raised a tricolor banner, thereby emphasizing the historical connection with Russia.

What do the colors of the Russian flag symbolize?

The interpretation of the tricolor colors varied depending on the historical epoch. In the Russian Empire, white symbolized freedom, blue symbolized the mantle of the Virgin Mary, who was considered the guardian of Russia, and red symbolized the strength of the Russian empire. In the modern context, the white color often symbolizes freedom and independence, reflecting the desire of the Russian people for progress and justice. Blue emphasizes the importance of spiritual and cultural values, red represents strength, courage and loyalty to the Fatherland.

In addition to the flag, the state symbols of Russia also include the coat of arms and the anthem. The procedure for their use is determined by the relevant laws.

Earlier, Izvestia told how to congratulate on the National Flag Day.