Do you know? Ukraine - Independent European State

The country we live in is Ukraine. We say that our country is an independent state.

And more than 140 countries in the world acknowledged our sovereignty.

Ukraine was proclaimed the independent state when the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine on the 16^th of July, 1990 in Kyiv.

Ukraine is the Independent state because we have:

ü state boarders, Ukraine boarders on Russia, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland; Belorus.

ü the main law of the state-the Constitution of Ukraine

ü the state emblem, flag, and anthem;

ü the national currency;

ü the armed forces of Ukraine;

ü the own taxation system;

ü the state language-Ukrainian;

ü the three branches of power.

Ukraine pursues its own independent domestic and foreign policy. It has diplomatic relations with many countries of the world.

National Symbols

The Constitution states that the national symbols of Ukraine shall be the National Flag, the National Emblem and the National Anthem.

The Ukrainian flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width. The top is blue, the bottom is yellow. Blue and yellow, the colours of the sky, mountains, streams, and golden fields had symbolized Kyivan Rus' long before the introduction of Christianity. With the acceptance of Christianity, blue and gold were incorporated into church symbolism. After the Mongol-Tatar invasion in the 1200s, the-use of blue and gold was interrupted to be revived again in church ornaments and city crests some time later. The emblem of the city of Myrhorod, for example, was a gold trident over a blue background. Another city, Pryluky, used the head of an ox in gold over a blue background as its insignia. And in Lubny the city emblem pictured a hand holding a golden mace over a blue background. The banners of the Cossacks (XVII century) were blue with gold stars, a gold cross or with pictures of saints rendered in gold.

The National Emblem is a trident. The first image of a trident appeared in the IX century A.D. When Ihor, Prince of Kyivan Rus' from 912 to.945, sent ambassadors to sign a treaty with the Byzantine emperor, they sealed the document with a trident. As the official emblem of the Kyivan princes, the trident was stamped on coins and seals; it was depicted on porcelain and in frescos. It is thought that the trident represented -the division of the world into three spheres: the earthly, the celestial and the spiritual — as well as the union of the three natural elements: air, water and earth. The trident was endorsed as the National Emblem of Ukraine, and the blue and yellow flag — as the National Flag of Ukraine — by the Verkhovna Rada in 1992.

The national anthem of Ukraine “Ukraine has not perished yet” was created by Mykhailo Verbytskyi and Pavlo Chubynskyi in the 19^th century. It has a catchy melody and patriotic text.

In conclusion, it is necessary to mention that citizens of Ukraine must respect national symbols of the country.

1. Answer the questions.

1. What are the national symbols of Ukraine?

2. Describe the National Flag.

3. Where were the blue and golden colours incorporated?

4. What emblems of the cities do you know?

5. What is the National Emblem?

6. Why was trident chosen to be the emblem?

7. When were the Emblem and the Flag of Ukraine endorsed?

8. Who wrote the lyrics and music to the Anthem of Ukraine?

2. Why does any state need national symbols? Why are Ukrainian national symbols so popular among Ukrainians today?

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1066