The flag of Bulgaria consists of three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red.

The white represents peace, green represents the fertility of the Bulgarian lands, and red stands for the courage of the people.

Originally the flag used the Pan-Slavic colours, which were derived from the Pan-Slavism of 19th century Europe. The central band was blue, and so the flag was similar to the flag of Russia. However after Bulgarian independence in 1878, the central band was replaced with green due to Bulgaria's development as an agricultural country. The flag of Eastern Rumelia, a former Turkish province now part of Bulgaria, also originally consisted of the same colours.

In later history, the former coat of arms on the left side of the white stripe was removed after 1989 - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the years 681, the year the first Bulgarian state was established, and 1944, the year when Communist Party took power.

See also

• Coat of Arms of Bulgaria

External links

• Law for the State Seal and National Flag of the Republic of Bulgaria
• About Bulgarian national symbols

National flags | Bulgarian culture

Национално знаме на България | Bulharská vlajka | Flagge Bulgariens | Bulgaaria lipp | Bandera de Bulgaria | Zastava Bugarske | Bandiera bulgara | דגל בולגריה | Bulgária zászlaja | Vlag van Bulgarije | ブルガリアの国旗 | Bulgarias flagg | Flaga Bułgarii | Bandeira da Bulgária | Steagul Bulgariei | Флаг Болгарии | Застава Бугарске | Bulgariens flagga | Drapea del Bulgåreye | 保加利亚国旗