The Flag, the Anthem, and the Coat of Arms of a state form the fundamental triad of symbols through which a nation asserts its identity, values, and continuity over time. In the case of Romania, the blue-yellow-red tricolor has become, over the centuries, an element of cohesion, courage, and hope, being present both in glorious episodes and in moments of hardship in history. In times of distress, the flag was carried with dignity in battles or raised in popular demonstrations, encouraging entire generations with its symbolic message. In times of joy, the tricolor shone on buildings, at the entrances of institutions, and in the hands of those celebrating the country’s achievements.

The importance of the flag in national identity

Romania’s Flag Day is celebrated each year on June 26, a date established by law in 1998. This date was not chosen at random but refers to the Revolution of 1848, when the tricolor was officially proclaimed a national symbol. 

Thus, at the end of June, Romanians celebrate not just a material object but the entire historical, spiritual, and patriotic significance carried by its colors.

The meaning of the tricolor’s three colors

The three colors of the Romanian flag were not chosen randomly but reflect values deeply rooted in the mentality and spirit of the people. Blue represents the serenity of the sky but also clarity of thought and consciousness, suggesting balance and faithfulness. At the same time, blue symbolizes the people’s deep connection to their land, stability, and the peace offered by a sacred space of belonging.

Yellow signifies wealth, strength, and purity, evoking light and the radiance of Romanian virtues. It is the color of fertile fields, grains, and the riches of the land, but also a symbol of dignity and national prestige. In yellow, we find the idea of prosperity and nobility, an expression of the grandeur of the state.

Red symbolizes courage, generosity, and joy. Beyond these meanings, it represents the blood of ancestors shed for the defense of Romanian soil. Through red, the tricolor conveys the message of ultimate sacrifice and calls for a love of the country as strong and intense as the vibrant hue of the flag.

The first forms of the Romanian tricolor

The official history of the national flag begins in 1834, during the reign of Alexandru Ghica in Wallachia. He requested the approval of Sultan Mahmud II for a model of flags and naval pennants for Romanian warships. The proposed flag consisted of red, blue, and yellow—a first appearance of the tricolor in symbolic form.

In 1840, the same ruler introduced the first official red-yellow-blue tricolor, arranged horizontally, with red on the top and stripes of equal width. In the center was placed a white shield outlined in gold, featuring the Roman eagle crowned and carrying a cross.

The Revolution of 1848 and the consecration of the tricolor

A decisive moment in establishing the tricolor as a national symbol occurred during the Revolution of 1848. After Gheorghe Bibescu’s abdication, the Provisional Government in Bucharest issued a historic decree on June 14/26, 1848. The document clearly stated that “The National Flag shall have three colors: red, yellow, and blue,” and the motto “Justice, Brotherhood” was to be inscribed on the banners.

For the first time, the colors were given explicit meanings: red symbolized brotherhood, yellow represented the wealth of the land, and blue signified freedom. The bands were arranged vertically and proportionally, representing equality, and their upward orientation indicated the uprightness and dignity of the Romanian people.

The day after the decree, on Filaret Plain, later called the Liberty Plain, the tricolor was blessed during a large public assembly, marking one of the most emotional moments in the history of the national symbol.

The tricolor in Moldova and Transylvania in 1848

In Moldova, the tricolor was raised in Iași on March 27, 1848, at the Petersburg Hotel, during the Constituent Assembly presided over by Vasile Alecsandri. However, it was not officially adopted, as the assembly was dispersed by Russian troops stationed at the border.

In Transylvania, at the Great National Assembly in Blaj on May 3/15, 1848, attended by about 40,000 Romanians, a large tricolor flag was brought from Wallachia. The motto “Roman Virtue Revived” was inscribed on it. The flag, carried by Ioan Cavaler de Pușcariu, represented the unity of aspirations of Romanians on both sides of the Carpathians.

Although initially the colors used were blue, white, and red, later the white was replaced with yellow to emphasize the desire for unification with Romania.

The consecration of the tricolor during Cuza’s era

After the double election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 1859, the tricolor became increasingly present in Romanian society. In 1861, the ruler officially declared the tricolor as the civil flag of the United Principalities, emphasizing its solemn importance. He stated that the flag represents “the family, the fields of each person, the house of our parents and children” and that it embodies “the past, present, and future of the country.”

During his reign, the order of the stripes varied, but in 1867, with the arrival of Prince Carol I, the vertical arrangement was definitively established, with blue nearest the hoist. Thus, Romania aligned with European vexillological rules for tricolor flags.

In 1866, the Romanian Constitution officially consecrated the colors blue, yellow, and red, and in 1867, their precise order was fixed. The national coat of arms appeared only on military and princely flags.

The tricolor in Bessarabia and Transylvania until 1918

In December 1917, the Democratic Moldavian Republic was formed in Bessarabia. Heraldist Paul Gore designed its flag: a blue-yellow-red tricolor arranged horizontally. The flag of the National Council was similar, with the name of the institution written on the blue stripe.

In Transylvania, until December 1, 1918, the Romanian tricolor was forbidden. However, the colors were widely promoted by ASTRA, by priests and teachers, and were incorporated into icons, floral arrangements, and folk art objects.

For the Great Union, the rural delegations from Sălaj, for example, lacked flags, so women handmade tricolor banners, painting them with the colors available. Historical accounts describe these flags being carried in marches, raised on church towers, and hidden at great personal risk.

The tricolor after 1918 and changes during the communist period

After the Great Union, the tricolor became the flag of all Romanians, raised on public institutions and respected with solemnity. With the establishment of the communist regime, monarchical symbols were abolished, and in 1948, the flag of the People’s Republic of Romania was defined, with the coat of arms placed on the yellow stripe.

Between 1948 and 1989, the coat of arms changed three times, each alteration reflecting the regime’s ideology. During the December 1989 Revolution, Romanians cut out the coat of arms from flags, creating the famous flag with a hole, which became a symbol of the struggle for freedom.

The tricolor after 1990 and the current form

The 1991 Constitution officially established the Romanian flag but did not define the coat of arms on the flag. In 2016, the Parliament decided to restore the Steel Crown on the Roman eagle in the coat of arms, and public institutions were obliged to adopt the updated version by the end of 2018.

Today, the Romanian tricolor is not only a state symbol but also the expression of shared ideals, a bridge between a glorious past and aspirations for the future. It remains the emblem of the nation’s identity, dignity, and unity, proudly displayed on holidays, at sporting events, and in all moments when Romanians assert their national belonging.

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