Flag of Romania

The Romanian flag, known as the “blue-yellow-red tricolor,” is the official symbol of Romania. Its vertical design reflects the country’s historical unity and national ideals. This flag has a common origin with the flags of other countries, but at the same time is a unique symbol of Romanian statehood.

History of the Romanian flag

The history of the Romanian flag is connected with the unification of the Romanian principalities and their struggle for independence.

The origin of the flag

• XIV-XVII centuries: The separate principalities that are now part of Romania (Wallachia, Moldova, and Transylvania) used different colors in their coats of arms.
• 1821: During the revolutionary events in Wallachia, the first version of the tricolor with a horizontal arrangement of colors appeared.
• 1848: During the revolution, Romanian patriots officially proclaimed the blue-yellow-red flag as the national symbol.

The modern flag

• 1859: The unification of the principalities of Wallachia and Moldova into one state under the rule of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The tricolor became the official symbol of the new union.
• 1866: The modern vertical order of colors was established – blue, yellow, red.
• 1989: After the fall of the communist regime, the Romanian flag was restored without the Soviet symbols that had been added in the middle of the 20th century.

Colors of the Romanian flag

Meaning of the colors of the flag

Each of the three colors of the Romanian flag has its own symbolic meaning:

1. Blue:
   • Symbolizes freedom, sky and loyalty.
   • It is associated with the historical coat of arms of the Principality of Moldova.
2. Yellow:
   • It represents justice, prosperity and wealth of the country.
   • Reflects the fertile lands of Wallachia.
3. Red:
   • Symbolizes brotherhood, strength and blood shed for independence.
   • It comes from the traditional symbolism of Transylvania.

Flag color codes

The official colors of the Romanian flag are approved to accurately reproduce its design:

1. Blue:
   • RGB: (0, 43, 127)
   • HEX: #002B7F
   • CMYK: (100, 66, 0, 50)
   • Pantone: 280 C
2. Yellow:
   • RGB: (252, 209, 22)
   • HEX: #FCD116
   • CMYK: (0, 18, 91, 1)
   • Pantone: 116 C
3. Red:
   • RGB: (206, 17, 38)
   • HEX: #CE1126
   • CMYK: (0, 91, 81, 19)
   • Pantone: 186 C

Format and proportions

The flag of Romania has a vertical tricolor design.

Flag proportions

The official aspect ratio of the flag is 2:3, which is standard for most national flags.

The arrangement of the stripes

1. The left stripe is blue.
2. The central stripe is yellow.
3. The right stripe is red.

In the case of vertical hanging, the order of colors remains unchanged, from left to right: blue, yellow, red.

Interesting facts about the flag of Romania

1. Similarity to the flag of Moldova: The flag of Romania is identical to the flag of the Republic of Moldova, except that the Moldovan flag has the national emblem in the center.
2. French influence: The Romanian tricolor was inspired by the French flag, which symbolizes the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity.
3. Official Flag Day: Celebrated annually on June 26, when the tricolor was first officially recognized as a national symbol in 1848.

The Romanian flag is an important national symbol, reflecting its historical heritage, the struggle for independence and the unity of the people. Its simple but meaningful design remains one of the main symbols of Romanian national identity.