Did you know that natives of the Vitebsk region were at the origins of the creation of the state symbols of Belarus?

Published: May 15, 2023

Belarus became the first country in the world to use a national ornament as an element of the flag. The ornament was embroidered in 1917 by Matrena Markevich from the Senno region.

The coat of arms after the referendum in 1995 was transformed twice. In 2012, the font and shades on the image of the globe were slightly changed. And in 2021, the contour of the country became golden, the forms of ears of corn, clover and flax were redone. The balloon now shows that part of Europe where Belarus is located.

Back in 1944, the music for the anthem was written by the Belarusian composer Nestor Sokolovsky, a native of the Dokshitsy region. This melody was approved as the anthem of the BSSR in 1955, after the death of the author. In 2002, a vote was held, according to which the majority of citizens chose Sokolovsky’s melody. The text for the anthem was written by Mikhas Klimkovich and Vladimir Karizna.

In Vitebsk, on May 14, a solemn event dedicated to the Day of the State Flag, the State Emblem and the National Anthem of the Republic of Belarus was held near the main flag of the region on the site in front of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Employees of the State Archives of Vitebsk take part in the event