Bulgaria’s flag is a horizontal tricolour of white, green, and red. First codified in 1879 after liberation from Ottoman rule, it echoed the Russian white‑blue‑red while substituting green to reflect national identity and the land. Under communist rule a state emblem was added and removed in 1991 when the plain tricolour was restored. Law defines a 2:3 ratio, respectful use, and colour order; the flag is prominent on national days such as 3 March (Liberation Day).
Bulgaria’s national flag—white, green, and red in three equal horizontal bands—emerged from liberation-era politics and has served, with brief emblematic interruptions, as the state’s principal symbol for nearly a century and a half. Its adoption linked gratitude for assistance in independence to a distinct national identity expressed through colour choice.
Following the Russo–Turkish War of 1877–1878 and the Treaty of Berlin, Bulgaria achieved autonomy after centuries under Ottoman rule. The Tarnovo Constitution of 1879 designated the national colours as white, green, and red, deliberately echoing the Russian tricolour that had flown over liberating forces but substituting green for blue. The substitution gave voice to Bulgarian distinctiveness: white conveyed peace and purity; green evoked the country’s fertile lands and Slavic heritage; red represented courage and the blood shed for freedom.
In the monarchic period (1878–1946), the plain tricolour served as the national flag, while certain state standards incorporated the coat of arms for official or military use. During the People’s Republic (1946–1990), authorities placed a socialist state emblem—featuring a red star, a lion within a wreath, and inscriptions—near the hoist or centre, creating a distinct state flag variant. With the fall of communism and constitutional changes in 1991, the emblem was removed and the plain tricolour reinstated as the national flag for all civil and many state uses, signalling a return to pre-socialist symbolism and a democratic future.
Current legislation fixes the aspect ratio at 2:3 and details proper handling. Flags must be kept in good condition, replaced when faded or frayed, and never allowed to touch the ground. The national flag is flown on public buildings, schools, and embassies, and it appears prominently on Liberation Day (3 March), Unification Day (6 September), and Independence Day (22 September). Half-masting conventions and order-of-precedence rules apply when flown with other national flags or the European Union flag.
Interpretation of the colours remains conventional rather than statutory: white for peace and spiritual values, green for the land and renewal, red for bravery and sacrifice. These readings sustain the flag’s appeal across political changes, anchoring it in widely shared historical narratives. The design’s simplicity aids recognition domestically and abroad, at sporting events, cultural festivals, and diplomatic venues.
By restoring the plain tricolour in 1991, Bulgaria reaffirmed a core identity forged in the nineteenth-century national revival. The flag’s continuity across upheaval—retained through monarchy, socialism, and democracy—has made it a trusted emblem of statehood and a rallying sign for civic pride.