The true meaning of the St. George ribbon. What do the colors on the St. George's Ribbon mean?

On the big holiday "Victory Day" of the city Russian Federation decorated with elegant symbols. During the holiday you can see people with St. George's ribbon. Sometimes, ribbons can be seen on cars, bags, instead of ribbons in hair. If earlier it was quite difficult to get this ribbon for the holiday, today volunteers distribute it immediately before the holiday itself.

But not everyone knows the history of the origin of this ribbon, what the St. George ribbon means today, and also what its colors represent.

The history of the appearance of the St. George ribbon

The history of the St. George's ribbon begins in the distant 18th century, namely on November 26, 1769. Then Catherine II established the Order of St. George the Victorious. It was within this order that there was a ribbon similar to our modern one.

Then the “Guards Ribbon” appeared in the USSR, similar to the ribbon of the Order of St. George the Victorious. It differed only in some additions. The Guards Ribbon was given to soldiers for special distinctions before the fatherland. The same ribbon was used to cover the block of the Order of Glory.

Today the ribbon is available in two colors - black and orange. Orange symbolizes flame, and black symbolizes smoke. These two colors together represent military prowess and glory. However, there is still debate about the designation of colors. Officially, the colors mean smoke and fire, but in some sources the symbolism of these colors goes deep into the history of Russia and is associated with the image of St. George the Victorious, who defeats the snake.

St. George ribbons occupied place of honor among other awards and orders for faithful and valiant service for the benefit of the Motherland. After the Great Patriotic War, St. George ribbons began to decorate many military orders and medals.

In 2005, the St. George's Ribbon campaign began. It was then that the media began to call the “Guards Ribbon” “St. George’s Ribbon.” Unlike the ribbon that is issued with the order, the St. George ribbon is offered to all people free of charge on the Victory Day holiday, which means “I remember, I am proud.”

St. George's ribbon today

Today, wearing a St. George ribbon means that a person remembers the Great Patriotic War and is proud of his ancestors. It is distributed free of charge in more than thirty countries around the world, and can often be seen on the Victory Day holiday.

This action was invented by RIA Novosti employee Natalya Loseva for the 60th Anniversary of Victory holiday. The action has spread very widely throughout the country and neighboring countries in recent years. The action is still supported by the authorities, the media, citizens and various organizations. For example, in 2010, the longest ribbon in the world was unfurled in Chisinau - 360 meters in length.

Before the holiday, the action begins with the distribution of St. George ribbons among the population. The ribbons are small pieces of black and orange identical St. George's ribbon. Then the tape must be tied to your clothing, wrist or car antenna. The purpose of the action is to create a widespread holiday atmosphere so that people can feel the importance of the holiday and pride in their fathers and grandfathers who shed blood for the country in the Great Patriotic War.

However, today not everyone wears ribbons and supports the action. Some people think that the St. George ribbon is disrespect for the symbols of Victory, because initially this ribbon served as a symbol of valor and military distinction. Many people believe that tying ribbons to clothes and other things is disrespect for their ancestors and their merits. Many also oppose the use of the Victory symbol for commercial purposes. This point of view is supported by some media and organizations.

The St. George's ribbon is a symbol of the Second World War. The black and orange ribbon has become the main attribute modern day Victory. But as statistics show, unfortunately, not all citizens of the Russian Federation know its history, what it means, and how to wear it.

St. George's Ribbon: what it means, its colors, history

The St. George's ribbon, bicolor orange and black, appeared simultaneously with the soldier's Order of St. George the Victorious, which was established on November 26, 1769 by Empress Catherine II. This award was given only for feats in battle in the form of encouraging loyalty and courage for the good Russian Empire. Along with it, the recipient received a considerable lifelong allowance.

There are several versions of color decoding. According to the first, black symbolizes smoke or gunpowder, and orange symbolizes fire. According to another version, the colors were taken from the old coat of arms of Russia. Historians also say that black and Orange color but they were imperial and state, this is a symbol of a black double-headed eagle and a yellow field.

The first to receive the Order of St. George were the participants in the naval battle in Chesme Bay. Medals on the St. George ribbon were first awarded in August 1787, when Suvorov’s army defeated the Turks.

The ribbon changed slightly and during the Soviet era began to be called the “Guards Ribbon.”

During the Great Patriotic War, the block of the very honorable “soldier’s” Order of Glory was covered with it.

How to wear the St. George's ribbon?

For 13 years in a row, on the eve of May 9, the “St. George Ribbon” campaign has started, during which volunteers hand out ribbons and tell people how to wear it correctly.

Nowadays, there is a tradition of decorating clothes with the St. George Ribbon as a sign of respect, memory and solidarity with Russian soldiers. However, there are currently no official rules for wearing it. It is important to remember that this is not a fashion accessory, but a sign of respect for fallen soldiers. Therefore, the St. George Ribbon must be treated with care and respect.

It is recommended to wear the St. George ribbon on the left side near the heart - as a sign that the feat of the ancestors will forever remain in it. You can attach it in the form different figures using a pin. You should not use the ribbon as a decoration on the head, below the waist, on a bag, or on the body of a car (including on the car’s antenna). It would be indecent to use it as shoelaces or lacing for a corset. If the St. George ribbon has deteriorated, it is best to remove it.

There are several ways to tie a St. George's ribbon so that it looks beautiful and meets the bounds of decency. To do this, the main thing is to use your imagination, or use the Internet, where you can find step-by-step instructions.

The standard and easiest way is a loop. To do this, the ribbon is folded crosswise and attached with a pin.

Lightning or zigzag. The tape will need to be folded in the form of the English letter “N”.

A simple bow is most often used to tie a ribbon in kindergartens and schools.

A person with a St. George's ribbon tied in a tie will look elegant. It will need to be wrapped around the neck so that the ends are of different lengths. Afterwards you need to cross them and thread the right one around the left one to make a loop. Next, you need to pull the end out of the loop and thread it through the eyelet.

The St. George's Ribbon is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russian reality in recent years. This black and orange ribbon is one of the main attributes of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (WWII) - one of the most respected holidays in our country. Unfortunately, few of those who tie the St. George Ribbon on their clothes or attach it to their car know what it really means and how to wear it correctly.

The history of the St. George ribbon

On November 26 (December 7), 1769, Empress Catherine II established an award for officers of the Russian Army, awarded for personal courage shown on the battlefields - the Order of St. George, it was supposed to be worn on a “silk ribbon with three black and two yellow stripes”, subsequently followed by it and the name stuck - St. George's Ribbon.

Order of St. George, approved by Catherine II

The order was divided into 4 classes. The first degree of the order had three signs: a cross, a star and a ribbon consisting of three black and two orange stripes, which was worn over the right shoulder under the uniform. The second degree of the order also had a star and a large cross, which was worn around the neck on a narrower ribbon. The third degree is a small cross on the neck, the fourth is a small cross in the buttonhole.

Star and insignia for the Order of St. George

Some of the first holders of the Order of St. George were participants in the naval battle in Chesme Bay, which took place in June 1770. In this battle, the Russian squadron, under the overall command of Count A.G. Orlov, completely defeated the superior Turkish fleet. For this battle, Count Orlov was awarded the Order of St. George, first degree, and received the honorary prefix “Chesmensky” to his surname.

The first medals on the St. George Ribbon were awarded in August 1787, when a small detachment under the command of Suvorov repelled an attack by an outnumbered Turkish landing force trying to capture the Kinburn fortress. Suvorov, who was in the front ranks of those who fought and inspired them by personal example, was wounded twice in this battle; the courage of the Russian soldiers allowed them to defeat the Turkish landing.

For the first time in Russian history The medal was not awarded to everyone who took part in the battle; it was awarded only to those who showed the greatest personal courage and heroism. Moreover, it was up to the soldiers who took direct part in the hostilities to decide who was more worthy of the award. Among the twenty awarded for this battle was the grenadier of the Shlisselburg regiment Stepan Novikov, who personally saved Suvorov from the Janissaries who attacked him. Black and orange ribbons were also used for other medals of this war, which were awarded to participants in the heroic assault on Ochakov and those who distinguished themselves during the capture of Izmail.

St. George's ribbon at collective awards.

The ribbon of the Order of St. George begins to occupy a particularly revered position during collective awards of various military units Russian Army. These include the so-called St. George's pipes, introduced in 1805. These pipes were made of silver, and an image of the St. George's Cross and an inscription were applied to the body, indicating why this distinction was given. In addition, a lanyard made of black and orange ribbon was attached to the pipe.

St. George's Trumpet

There were two types of pipes - cavalry and infantry. The differences between them were in their shape. The infantry one was curved, and the cavalry one was straight.

Since 1806, St. George's Banners have appeared among collective incentives. At the top of these banners there was a white order cross, and under the top a St. George ribbon with banner tassels was tied. The first to receive such a banner were the Chernigov Dragoon Regiment, two Don Cossack regiments, the Kiev Grenadier and Pavlograd Hussar regiments. They were awarded “For their exploits at Shengraben on November 4, 1805 in a battle with an enemy consisting of 30 thousand.”

In 1807, Emperor Alexander 1 established a special award for the lower ranks of the Russian Army for personal courage in battle, which was called the Insignia of the Military Order. The wearing of the cross was prescribed on a ribbon, the colors of which corresponded to the colors of the Order of St. George. It was from this period that popularity St. George's ribbon becomes popular, since the common Russian people saw such awards much more often than golden orders of officers of the Russian Army. This sign was later called the soldier's Cross of St. George or the soldier's George (Egory), as it was popularly called.

Since 1855, officers who received the golden weapon “For Bravery” were ordered to wear lanyards from the St. George ribbon for a more visible distinction. Also in 1855, the medal “For the Defense of Sevastopol” was established. For the first time in the history of the Russian Empire, a medal was awarded not for a heroic victory, but specifically for the defense of a Russian city. This medal was silver, intended for both military officials and civilians who participated in the defense of Sevastopol. For generals, officers, soldiers and sailors of the Sevastopol garrison who served there from September 1854 to August 1855, the medal was awarded on the St. George Ribbon.

Military distinctions and clergy were not spared. Back in 1790, a special decree was issued to reward military priests for their exploits while participating in military battles. At the same time, the award golden pectoral cross on the St. George ribbon was established. Many of the regimental priests of the Russian Army took direct part in the combat operations of the Russian troops and earned this high distinction with their heroic deeds. One of the first to be awarded the pectoral cross was regimental priest Trofim Kutsinsky. During the storming of the Izmail fortress, the battalion commander, in which Father Trofim was a priest, died. The soldiers stopped in confusion, not knowing what to do next. Father Trofim, unarmed, with a cross in his hands, was the first to rush at the enemy, dragging the soldiers along with him and supporting their fighting spirit.

In total, during the time from the establishment of the golden pectoral cross to Russo-Japanese War, it was awarded to one hundred and eleven people. And behind each such award there was a specific feat of the regimental priests of the Russian Army.

Approved back in 1807, the medal “For Bravery”, also worn on a black and orange ribbon, was assigned to the Order of St. George in 1913 and became, along with the Cross of St. George, the most popular soldier’s medal awarded for personal bravery.

During the existence of the black and orange ribbon of St. George, from its appearance in 1769 until 1917, it was an indispensable attribute of a variety of awards of the Russian Empire awarded for military courage. Golden officer's crosses, lanyards of golden weapons, insignia, medals, as well as collective ones - silver trumpets, banners, standards. Thus, in the award system of Russia, a whole system of military rewards was formed, among which the St. George Ribbon was a kind of connecting link of them all into a single whole, representing a symbol of military valor and glory.

The day of the establishment of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George on November 26, 1769 in the history of Russia was considered the Day of the Knights of St. George. This day was celebrated annually. On this day, not only in the capital of the empire, but also in almost all corners of the Russian land, holders of St. George's honors were honored. Everyone was honored, regardless of rank and title, since the feats that these people accomplished were performed not in the name of awards, but in the name of their Fatherland.

During the Great Patriotic War, continuing the military traditions of the Russian army, on November 8, 1943, the Order of Glory of three degrees was established. Its status, as well as the yellow and black coloring of the ribbon, were reminiscent of the St. George Cross. Then the St. George's Ribbon, confirming the traditional colors of Russian military valor, adorned many soldiers' and modern Russian award medals and badges.

Order of Glory 3 degrees

On March 2, 1992, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia “On State Awards of the Russian Federation,” it was decided to restore the Russian Order of St. George and the “St. George Cross” insignia.

And in the spring of 2005, the “St. George’s Ribbon” first appeared on the streets of Russian cities. This action was born spontaneously, it grew out of the Internet project “Our Victory”, the main goal of which was the publication of stories and photographs from the time of the Great Patriotic War. The ribbon has become a kind of attribute special occasions, traditional meetings with veterans, holiday celebrations in many cities of the Russian Federation.

Code of the St. George's Ribbon promotion

1. The St. George's Ribbon campaign is neither commercial nor political.
2. The purpose of the action is to create a symbol of the holiday - Victory Day.
3. This symbol is an expression of our respect for veterans, a tribute to the memory of those who fell on the battlefield, and gratitude to the people who gave everything for the front. To all those thanks to whom we won in 1945.
4. The "St. George's Ribbon" is not a heraldic symbol. This is a symbolic ribbon, a replica of the traditional bicolor St. George ribbon.
5. The use of original St. George's or Guards ribbons in the promotion is not allowed. "St. George's Ribbon" is a symbol, not a reward.
6. "St. George's Ribbon" cannot be an object of purchase and sale.
7. "St. George's Ribbon" cannot be used to promote goods and services. The use of tape as an accompanying product or element of product packaging is not allowed.
8. "St. George's Ribbon" is distributed free of charge. It is not permitted to issue a ribbon to a visitor to a retail establishment in exchange for a purchase.
9. The use of the “St. George Ribbon” for political purposes by any parties or movements is not permitted.
10. The “St. George Ribbon” has one or two inscriptions: the name of the city/state where the ribbon was produced. Other inscriptions on the ribbon are not allowed.
11. This is a symbol of an unbroken people who fought and defeated fascism in the Great Patriotic War.

What do black and orange mean?

In Russia, they were the imperial, state colors, corresponding to the black double-headed eagle and the yellow field of the state coat of arms. It was precisely this symbolism that Empress Catherine II apparently adhered to when approving the colors of the ribbon. But, since the order was named in honor, the colors of the ribbon perhaps symbolize St. George himself and indicate his martyrdom - three black stripes, and his miraculous resurrection - two orange stripes. It is these colors that are now called when designating the colors of the St. George Ribbon. In addition, a new award was awarded exclusively for military exploits. And the colors of war are the color of flame, that is, orange, and smoke, black.

How to wear the St. George's ribbon correctly

There are no official rules for wearing the St. George ribbon. However, it should be understood that this is not a fashion accessory, but a sign of memory, respect, grief and gratitude to the participants of the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, you should treat the ribbon with care and respect.

Basic methods

It is customary to wear the St. George ribbon on the chest on the left as a sign that the feat of Soviet soldiers remains forever in the hearts of descendants. You should not wear the tape on your head, below your belt, on your bag, or on the body of a car (including on the car’s antenna). There is also no need to use it as laces or lacing on a corset (such cases have also happened). In addition, wearing the St. George ribbon in damaged form is not allowed.

Loop

A simple and common option is to attach a St. George ribbon in the form of a loop. To do this, you need to cut 10-15 centimeters of the ribbon, cross the ends in the form of the letter “X” and pin the middle with a brooch, pin or badge. Wear on the left side of the chest.

You can attach the St. George ribbon in the form of a simple bow. It can be tied in any usual way, the main thing is to straighten the knot, “ears” and ends of the ribbon. You can also not tie the ribbon, but simply form two loops out of it and secure them in the middle with a pin or badge.

Figure eight bow

Take about 30 centimeters of tape, fold it into a figure eight, and secure it in the middle. Take a shorter ribbon and also fold it into a figure eight and secure it. Next you need to take two more tapes, each smaller than the previous one. You will get four ribbons of different lengths, folded into eights. Stack them on top of each other and fasten them with another ribbon. You will get a large but discreet bow, which should be secured on the left side of the chest.

The St. George ribbon can be attached to clothing in the form of a zipper or a zigzag. To do this, fold the tape three times like an accordion and pull the ends a little to form the letter “N”. Secure with pins or sew. Attach to clothing with a pin, brooch or badge.

To tie a St. George's ribbon and tie, you will need a long ribbon. You can use any usual method of tying a tie. For example, wrap the ribbon in a circle so that the left end is longer. Place the right end over the left and pass crosswise under it. Then wrap the ends again, forming a loop, into which you thread the left edge from bottom to top and pull it out of the loop, thread it through the eyelet and tighten.

Wear your St. George's ribbon correctly

When the celebration of Victory Day is over, do not throw away the St. George ribbon. Left on the streets, thrown into the mud, or thrown into trash bins, the ribbons leave a painful impression and upset the veterans, but the action is aimed at ensuring that their feat is not forgotten.

It is best to remove the St. George ribbon until next year or wear it on special dates - for example, on the day the Great Patriotic War began or on the day the Battle of Stalingrad ended.

IN Lately Video recordings appear on the Internet reflecting the psychosis reigning in the American puppy colony in relation to the St. George tape. Moreover, the virus of madness and hatred for this attribute of the celebration of the Great Victory, which became a symbol of the glory and heroism of our fathers and grandfathers during the Great Patriotic War, struck many representatives of the liberal public, from whom one can often hear reproaches about someone wearing a St. George ribbon on their chest in days of the relevant promotion, as well as during various types of commemorative and festive events.

For Russian liberals, as well as for the possessed admirers of Bandera in Ukraine, the St. George ribbon is a symbol of Russia’s non-existent aggression in the Donbass. actions that plunged Ukraine into civil war, chaos, chaos and poverty. Well, in the most amazing country, nothing that happens in it can no longer be surprising:

St. George Ribbon: history and meaning

The St. George Ribbon is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russian reality in recent years. This black and orange ribbon is one of the main attributes of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (WWII) - one of the most respected holidays in our country. Unfortunately, few of those who tie the St. George Ribbon on their clothes or attach it to their car know what it really means.

The St. George ribbon is a ribbon consisting of two colors (orange and black), which in pre-revolutionary Russia was attached to several awards dedicated to St. George the Victorious. These included: the St. George Cross, the St. George Medal and the Order of St. George.
In addition, starting around the 18th century, the St. George ribbon is actively used in Russian heraldry: the ribbon was used as an element of the St. George banners (standards), it was worn on the uniforms of military personnel of particularly distinguished units, the St. George ribbon was on the caps of the sailors of the Guards crew and sailors of ships awarded St. George's banners.

History of the St. George Ribbon

Already at the beginning of the 18th century, black, orange (yellow) and White color and began to be considered the state colors of Russia. It was this color scheme that was present on the state emblem of the Russian state. The sovereign eagle was black, the field of the coat of arms was gold or orange, and the white color meant the figure of St. George the Victorious depicted on the shield of the coat of arms.

In the middle of the 18th century, Empress Catherine the Great established a new award - the Order of St. George, which was awarded to officers and generals for their merits in the military field (however, the first recipient was the Empress herself). This order was accompanied by a ribbon, which was named St. George's in honor of the order.

The statute of the order stated that the St. George Ribbon should have three black and two yellow stripes. However, it was not yellow that was initially used, but rather orange.

In addition to matching the colors of the state emblem of Russia, this color scheme had another meaning: orange and black are symbols of “fire and gunpowder.”

IN early XIX century (1807), another award was established dedicated to St. George the Victorious - an insignia of the Military Order, which was unofficially called the Cross of St. George. This award was given to lower ranks for exploits performed on the battlefield. In 1913, the St. George Medal appeared, which was also awarded to soldiers and non-commissioned officers for courage shown in the face of the enemy.

All of the above awards were worn along with the St. George Ribbon. In some cases, the ribbon could be an analogue of an award (if the gentleman for some reason could not receive it). During the First World War, holders of the St. George Cross in winter wore a ribbon on their overcoat instead of an insignia.

At the beginning of the 19th century, St. George's banners (standards) appeared in Russia; in 1813, the Marine Guards crew was awarded them, after which the St. George's ribbon appeared on the caps of its sailors. Emperor Alexander II decided to award ribbons for merit to entire military units. The St. George's cross was placed at the top of the banner, and the St. George's ribbon was tied under the pommel.

The St. George ribbon was actively used in Russia until the October Revolution of 1917: after it, the Bolsheviks abolished all tsarist awards. However, even after this, the St. George Ribbon remained part of the award system White movement. The White Guards used this attribute in their insignia, which appeared already in the period Civil War.

In the White Army there were two particularly respected insignia: “For the Ice Campaign” and “For the Great Siberian Campaign”, both of them had bows from the St. George’s ribbon. In addition, the St. George Ribbon was actively used in the White movement: it was worn on headdresses, tied on uniforms, and attached to battle flags.

After the end of the Civil War, the St. George Ribbon was one of the most common symbols of emigrant White Guard organizations.

The St. George's Ribbon was very widely used by various organizations of collaborators who fought on the side of Hitler's Germany during the Second World War. The Russian Liberation Movement (ROD) included more than ten large military units, including several SS divisions, which were staffed by Russians.

Guards ribbon

After the devastating defeats of the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the leadership of the USSR desperately needed symbols that could unite the people and raise morale at the front. The Red Army had very few military awards and insignia of military valor. This is where the St. George Ribbon came in handy.

The USSR did not completely repeat the design and name. The Soviet ribbon was called “Guards”, and its appearance was slightly changed.

Back in the fall of 1941, the honorary title “Guards” was adopted into the USSR award system. IN next year the “Guard” badge was established for the army, and the Soviet Navy adopted its own similar sign - “Naval Guard”.

At the end of 1943, a new award was established in the USSR - the Order of Glory. It had three degrees and was issued to soldiers and junior officers. In fact, the concept of this award largely repeated the royal Cross of St. George. The block of the Order of Glory was covered with a Guards ribbon.

The same ribbon was used in the medal “For Victory over Germany,” which was awarded to almost all military personnel who fought on the Western fronts. After the victory in World War II, about 15 million people were awarded this medal, which was approximately 10% of the entire population of the USSR.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the black and orange ribbon in the minds of Soviet citizens became a real symbol of victory in the war over Nazi Germany. In addition, after the end of the Second World War, the Guards Ribbon was actively used in a wide variety of visual propaganda related to the theme of war.

Modern Russia

In modern Russia, Victory Day is one of the most popular holidays. For state propaganda, the theme of World War II is one of the main tools for raising the patriotism of the population.

In 2005, in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the victory over Germany, an action was launched at the state level to promote the St. George Ribbon as the main national symbol of the Great Patriotic War.

On the eve of May holidays St. George's ribbons began to be distributed free of charge directly on the streets of Russian cities, in shops and government institutions. People hang them on clothes, bags, car antennas. Private companies began to often (sometimes even too often) use the tape to advertise their products.

The motto of the action was the slogan “I remember, I am proud.” In recent years, events related to the St. George Ribbon have begun to take place abroad. At first, the tape was distributed in neighboring countries; in the last year, promotions were held in Europe and the USA.

Russian society received this symbol very favorably, and the St. George Ribbon received a rebirth. Unfortunately, people who wear it usually have little knowledge of the history and meaning of this sign.

The first thing that should be said: the St. George Ribbon has nothing to do with the award system of the Red Army and the USSR in general. This is the insignia of pre-revolutionary Russia. If we talk about the period of the Second World War, the St. George’s Ribbon is most likely associated with the collaborators who fought on the side of Hitler’s Germany.

In 1992, by decree of the Russian President, the St. George Cross was restored to the country's award system. The current St. George's ribbon, in its color scheme and arrangement of stripes, completely coincides with the royal insignia, as well as with the ribbon worn by Krasnov and Vlasov.

However, this is not a big problem. The St. George Ribbon is truly a real symbol of Russia, with which the Russian army has gone through dozens of wars and battles. Disputes about Victory Day being celebrated with the wrong ribbon are stupid and insignificant. The differences between the Guards and St. George ribbons are so small that only historians and heraldry specialists can understand them. It is much worse that this sign of military valor is actively used by politicians and, as usual, not always for good purposes.

St. George's ribbon and politics

Over the past few years, this insignia has been actively used in politics, and this is done both within Russia and abroad. This trend became especially acute in 2014, after the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in the Donbass. Moreover, the St. George Ribbon became one of the main distinctive signs of those forces that were directly involved in these events.
The St. George ribbon is very actively used by supporters of the DPR and LPR. Russian propaganda is trying to draw a parallel between the fighters of the separatist formations in eastern Ukraine with the Red Army soldiers who fought the Nazis during World War II. Russian media usually portray the modern Ukrainian government as Nazis.

Therefore, in the last few years, the St. George ribbon has turned from a symbol Great War into a propaganda tool. This sign is increasingly perceived as a symbol of support for the current government. And this is very wrong. And the St. George Ribbon on vodka, toys or the hoods of Mercedes looks like a complete insult. After all, both the St. George Cross and the Order of Glory could only be earned on the battlefield.

The Great Patriotic War is such a grandiose and tragic event that May 9 should become a day of remembrance for the millions of victims, whose remains are still scattered throughout our forests.

It seems that not so long ago the St. George’s ribbon became an attribute of Victory Day. Meanwhile, twelve years have passed. Let us remember that the tradition was started by Moscow journalists and was picked up almost immediately throughout the country, as well as beyond its borders. They picked it up so quickly because the symbol has a long and glorious history. And Alexander Semenenko, candidate of historical sciences, reminded us of it on the eve of the next Victory Day.

The St. George Ribbon is a memory of the two-color ribbon for the Order of St. George, the St. George Cross and the St. George Medal. The award came at the height of Russian-Turkish War, when Empress Catherine II established the order in honor of St. George the Victorious. “George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of the Russian army. In addition, he is depicted as a patron on the coat of arms of Moscow. And then such a long-standing tradition developed that St. George the Victorious is, first of all, a man, and then a symbol of the inflexibility of the Russian spirit. The introduction of such an order was supposed to contribute to the rise of soldiers,” says our interlocutor.

The order, as he notes, has a heraldic component attached to it, and it found its origins in existing symbols: “Black is the symbol of the eagle, and the eagle is the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. The orange field was initially yellow. I would like to note that orange and yellow are considered a type of golden field. This is the field of the Russian state emblem."

This is the true meaning of ribbon colors. But today we often hear that gamma means smoke and flame. As an option - gunpowder and flame. It sounds nice, but it's not true. And it also has a long history. In the nineteenth century, as some sources note, some nobles wrote that “the immortal legislator who founded this order believed that its ribbon connected the color of gunpowder and the color of fire.”

“The common belief that orange symbolizes fire, and black symbolizes ash or smoke, is fundamentally wrong,” says Alexander Mikhailovich. - There is classical heraldry. Such comparisons are beyond the bounds of science. The St. George ribbon is a historical image and it is better to work with explanations of classical heraldry, rather than invent something. I propose to agree with the arguments of Catherine II. Black is the heraldic color of the eagle. The double-headed eagle is now both the Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation and the Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire, which we borrowed during the era of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III, thanks, among other things, to his second wife Zoya, or Sophia Paleologue. And the yellow or orange color, as we said, is a kind of heraldic understanding of the golden color around the state emblem. George the Victorious himself became a kind of symbol of Russia. Although it is worth noting that George is close to Muslims and some other religions, so representatives of different faiths are happy to come to our Victory Square to pay tribute to those who fought for the freedom of our Motherland.”

The image of the St. George ribbon was dear to the people even in Soviet times. During the Great Patriotic War, it became clear that it was necessary to revive national heraldic traditions. “And when the guard was born in the battle of Moscow, guards ribbons appeared, they were slightly modified, but they were based on the St. George component. Then the Order of Glory appears for soldiers and sergeants, there, too, on the order block we see the St. George ribbon. So when Soviet Union won the war, a medal “For Victory over Germany” appeared, and the St. George’s ribbon is also depicted on the order block. And if we look at the anniversary medals of our veterans, the St. George format is reproduced everywhere,” explains the historian.

The chain of times, according to the interlocutor, closed when in 2005, at the celebration of the next anniversary of the Great Victory, people wanted to find some symbol that was not invented, but took into account both Russian and Soviet traditions and would be understandable to modern youth. “The St. George’s ribbon became such a symbol. She gained popularity very quickly. Twelve years have passed, and it has become clear that this is a good designation for the holiday and involvement in it. And, of course, this is a kind of belonging to the Russian world, a sign that you remember the victories of your ancestors, and these are Nevsky, Kutuzov, Bagration, Zhukov, Vasilevsky,” says Alexander Semenenko.

As we can see, we didn’t have to invent anything in order to get a bright symbol of the great holiday that was close to millions. “You just need to comprehend the traditions and carefully try to recreate everything. If it had been superficial, artificially imposed, it would probably have been rejected. The ribbon continues to live, and it continues to unite us all - the fallen, the living, and those who will come after us,” the interlocutor concludes.

Black and yellow colors reproduce the colors of the state emblem under Catherine II: a black double-headed eagle on a golden background. The image of George both on the state emblem and on the cross (award) itself had the same colors: on a white horse, white George in yellow raincoat, killing a black snake with a spear, respectively, a white cross with a yellow-black ribbon. This is the true meaning of ribbon colors. But today we often hear that gamma means smoke and flame. As an option - gunpowder and flame. It sounds nice, but it's not true.