Estonia Flag - Republic of

The flag of Estonia consists of three equal horizontal stripes - the top stripe is blue; the middle one black; and the bottom stripe is white. Each colour commemorates an aspect of Estonian history, nature and culture. The blue stripe represents faith, loyalty and devotion. It also describes the country’s sky, sea, and lakes. The black symbolises the country’s dark past and suffering. It is also the Estonian peasant in his traditional black jacket. The white stands for the nation’s campaign for enlightenment, virtue, hope and freedom. It is also the color of birch bark and snow, and Estonian summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun.

The colours of the Estonian flag are known to date back to the early 1880’s and originate with a fraternity who adopted them as their collegiate colours. The first Estonian flag surfaced in 1905 as a symbol of independence and protest. It appeared again in 1917 during the Russian Revolution in defiance to the Marxists. The flag was officially adopted on November 21st, 1918 to commemorate Estonia’s declaration of independence from Russia. This freedom would last until Soviet occupation was again forced upon the Estonians in June of 1940. The Soviets immediately replaced the flag of Estonia with a Soviet friendly version. It would take until August 20, 1991 for the Estonian people to regain their freedom. Prior to the soviet collapse, liberties were being exercised in the spirit of Perestroika. One of these liberties was the design and re-adoption of the former flag on August 7, 1990.