CELEBRATING UKRAINE’S FLAG DAY

Every August 23, Ukrainians celebrate Flag Day. It’s the day to admire the beautiful blue-and-yellow banner waving proudly over cities, towns and schools.

The flag has two horizontal stripes: blue on top, yellow below. The blue symbolizes the sky above Ukraine, and the yellow represents endless fields of wheat.

The colors have deep roots. 16th-17th century Cossacks sometimes used blue and yellow in their banners. Fast forward to 1918, when the Ukrainian Central Rada officially adopted the flag. After Ukraine regained independence in 1991, this flag returned as the national symbol.

The modern flag was first raised over Kyiv’s Sofia Square in 1990, a dramatic prelude to independence — and yes, people took pictures that would make Instagram jealous.

How Ukrainians celebrate

· Flag ceremonies: Schools, government buildings, and military units raise the flag with patriotic music and speeches. Sometimes entire towns gather in squares to watch.

· Public displays: Giant flags hang from rooftops, bridges, and even statues. People take selfies and kids run around waving mini flags.

· Cultural events: Some cities organize concerts, art exhibitions, and parades. The focus is always unity, pride, and fun.

· Ukrainians abroad: Communities in the US, Canada, Poland, and beyond also hold flag-raising events, cultural festivals, and picnics—bringing a piece of Ukraine to the world.

How to join as a foreigner

· Visit Ukraine on August 23 and attend a public flag ceremony, ensuring you check local event listings for specific locations and times, and follow any safety guidelines provided by local authorities.

· Share pictures of your own blue-and-yellow creations on social media with a friendly note: “Happy Flag Day!”

· Learn a patriotic song or two—bonus points if you sing while holding a mini flag.

Vocabulary

· flag day – День прапора

· stripe – смуга

· Cossack – козак, український воїн

· banner – прапор, знамено

· ceremony – церемонія

· parade – парад

· unity – єдність

· patriotism – патріотизм

Flag Day is hands down a fantastic celebration — full of pride, unity, and some seriously patriotic vibes—but it’s also like the warm-up act for Independence Day, kicking off the very next day, August 24! So, get your game face on and prep yourself! These weekends are shaping up to be a blast for all you Ukraine enthusiasts and Ukrainian culture buffs!