On the day of the celebration of the holiday "Victory Day" throughout the Russian Federation citizens tie certain symbols on their outfits. Very often you can observe how the St. George ribbon proudly develops on the chest of people. Most young people know that such a ribbon is a symbol of the holiday, but few know what is hidden behind the symbolism. Let's figure out what the St. George ribbon means.
St. George ribbon colors
The St. George Ribbon has always been associated with Victory, and here's why. The colors of this ribbon, orange and black, represent the following:
- orange - symbolizes the eternal flame of fire;
- black is the smoke of burnt Russian cities.
Orders with such colors were considered exclusively a military award.
The history of the St. George ribbon
In the 18th century, Catherine II, by her order of November 26, 1769, founded the Order of St. George the Victorious, they were awarded to distinguished soldiers. A ribbon of the same color was attached to this order and because of this it was called St. George's.
Most likely, based on the foregoing, historically it so happened that in the USSR they began to reward the military with the “Guards Ribbon”, which, like two drops of water, was similar to the ribbon of the Order of St. George the Victorious. True, the then government of the USSR made its own minor additions.
Soldiers who had special distinctions before the Motherland were awarded with such a ribbon.
What does the St. George ribbon mean today
Today, the St. George ribbon is a sign of memory about the feat accomplished by our people. Walking down the street with such a ribbon means expressing your respect and solidarity with the soldiers who laid down their lives for the opportunity to give birth to ours. Before May 9, young people tie such ribbons on garments and distribute them to passers-by on the street. 
How the St. George ribbon became a symbol of victory
In 2005, employees of the Ria Novosti news agency held the St. George Ribbon action. It was then that in the newspapers it was renamed from “Guards” to “St. George”. As the workers themselves say, the original task of this action was to pay tribute to the veterans who survived the battles, and not to forget about those who died on the battlefield. A brilliant idea was the creation of symbols that will emphasize the full depth of the legacy of the Second World War. The scale of the action has been gaining and gaining momentum every year, and the number of ribbons distributed on the eve of the holiday is growing from year to year.
Today, the St. George ribbon is distributed to everyone and it means "I remember and I'm proud." 
A completely insignificant element like a ribbon can become a symbol of Victory, but the strength, depth and spiritual energy that it carries can become a property, and not just an attribute of a holiday.
The meaning of the St. George ribbon should be known to every inhabitant of our native country, who is proud of the exploits of his ancestors.
We all know that the St. George Ribbon is an all-Russian campaign for the distribution of symbolic black and orange ribbons, meaning Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The Action Code states that the St. George Ribbon symbolizes respect for war veterans, a tribute to the memory of those who died, and gratitude to those who gave everything for the sake of victory in the war. Ribbons, as a symbol of the unbroken spirit of the people who defeated fascism, began to be distributed since 2005 at the initiative of the Student Community and RIA Novosti. However, few people know why this ribbon is black and orange, and also what exactly these colors mean.
In fact, the name of the action refers us to the St. George ribbon. This is the name of the two-color ribbon for the Order of St. George and some other awards. Since the establishment of the order by Catherine II in 1769, this ribbon has been black and yellow. In the sample of 1913, the yellow color changed to orange. True, both colors from a heraldic point of view are variations of gold. Thus, if we are talking specifically about the St. George ribbon, then it was used with awards presented in Russian Empire, and has no direct relation to the exploits of soldiers in the Great Patriotic War. In the USSR, imperial awards were canceled, but during the Great Patriotic War in 1942, the Guards Ribbon was established - three black stripes on a golden-orange ribbon. Thus, it is she who symbolizes the exploits of the people of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War, and, according to skeptics and critics, the commemorative ribbons handed out correspond exactly to the Guards, and not to the St. George's ribbon, despite the name of the action. But, by and large, the Guards Ribbon can actually be called the successor of the St. the title of "Guards" or "Guards", in the Order of Glory and in the medal "For the Victory over Germany".
Thus, the St. George Ribbon is an important symbol of Victory, uniting people who remember and honor the feat of their ancestors, the feat of people who, united, were able to save the Motherland and the world from the worst enemy.
Today, young people perceive the St. George's Ribbon as a fashion accessory, which on the eve of the Day Great Victory it must be attached so that it is in plain sight. Here, not everyone knows the measure - they fix it wherever possible and impossible. Few people think why this is done, and what it actually symbolizes - only a few know. Unfortunately, not many older people can answer these questions. But this "ribbon" has a rich history that dates back to the 18th century.
The history of the emergence of the St. George's ribbon
The Russian Empress Catherine II in 1769 approved the Order of St. George. It was awarded to officers who distinguished themselves most in the fields. Russian-Turkish war. According to etiquette, it was worn on a silk ribbon with stripes of the state colors of the Russian Empire: three black, two yellow. By the name of the order, it went down in history as St. George's.
The first cavalier of this order was Count Aleksey Grigoryevich Orlov-Chesmensky, under whose command the Russian squadron on the night of June 26 (July 7) in the Chesme Bay defeated more than twice the Turkish forces. Historians will call this battle one of the largest naval battles of the era of the sailing fleet.
The medal "For Distinction in the Battle of Kinburn" on a ribbon was awarded to the most distinguished fighters who, under the command of General-General Suvorov, on October 1 (12), 1787, were able to withstand the onslaught of superior Turkish landing forces and defend the fortress of Kinburn. This was the first major victory for Russian weapons in this war. For the first and probably the only time in history, the worthy of the award was chosen by the soldiers themselves, who had just repelled enemy attacks, hand in hand.
Ribbons of the color of the state flag of the Empire were also used for other awards, which were awarded to those who stormed the Turkish fortress of Ochakov, who showed valor during the siege and capture of Ishmael.
These awards were worn on the St. George ribbon, which was equal in value to the award received. Until the gentleman was awarded an order, cross or medal, it was an official replacement.
In view of the special veneration, entire military formations are awarded the ribbon of the Order of St. George. IN early XIX centuries, St. George's banners are introduced as such an award. A white order cross was attached to the top, a ribbon was placed below. For the courage shown in the battle on November 4, 1805, a 5,000th corps with a French 30,000th army near the village of Schöngraben (Austria), such a banner was awarded to Chernigov, Dragoon, two Don Cossacks, Pavlovsk Hussars, Kiev Grenadier regiments.
At that time, not all combat formations had banners (for example, sappers), but pipes and horns for giving signals were a necessary accessory for each. Thus, a tradition arose for special merits to award units with silver pipes, which were later called St. George's. The St. George Cross was embossed on the hull, short description feat, and the ribbon of the colors of the imperial flag served as his lanyard. They were issued several varieties - curved - for the infantry units, straight - for the cavalry.
Such a ritual existed until the moment when the Bolsheviks finally abolished the previously existing royal awards. The revival of the tape falls on the time of the severe trials of the Great Patriotic War.
Guards Ribbon
Especially in the first months of terrible battles with the Nazi troops and their allies, a symbol was needed that could raise the morale of the soldiers, lead them to attack and win. There were few awards, they had not yet managed to earn due respect, so they remembered the St. George ribbon, which for many years was the personification of Victory, courage and heroism of the Russian warrior. Although for ideological reasons appearance some adjustments were made: they changed the name to "Guards", but the essence remained unchanged.
Today, opinions about the St. George ribbon are divided. In the press and on TV, liberal-minded citizens deny her involvement in the Great Patriotic War, Soviet army, they call it "Colorado" (according to the color of the American beetle).
It is pointless to argue with them: they either do not know how to think and compare facts, or they are completely infected with the virus of Russophobia. Let us give examples that will suffice for thinking people.
Let's start with the question of why the Guards, in fact, St. George's Ribbon is a symbol of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
On the Day of signing the capitulation by fascist Germany, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decree approving the medal "For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." It was awarded to everyone who took part in the hostilities: soldiers, officers, who, due to injury or demobilization, were transferred to another job or previously dismissed from military service. Let's look at the colors framing the block.
From approval to the present time, an orange-black ribbon, the ribbon of the Order of St. George, framed the stocks of various orders of the Empire, and then the Soviet, Russian Army. They were marked by military personnel for their courage, heroism, loyalty to the Fatherland. In addition, the ribbon adorned the lanyards of award weapons, insignia, officer gold crosses, it framed the collective awards of military units - silver trumpets, banners, standards. Thus, it is a link, a symbol of military glory and valor of Russian weapons and warriors.
All data is taken from open sources, so if you have other, confirmed information, you do not agree with the facts given here, you want to dispute or supplement them, then write about it in the comments. We are grateful.
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
In Russia, the St. George Ribbon campaign has started, distributing the main symbol of Victory Day until May 9. But many treat it carelessly and wear it incorrectly - in our material we will tell you how to tie it beautifully and wear it with dignity.
History of the black and orange ribbon
For the first time, a black and yellow ribbon in the system of Russian awards appeared during the reign of Empress Catherine II, it was attached to the Order of St. George the Victorious. The Order of Saint George became the highest award in the Russian Empire: they were awarded for distinction in military exploits. The order had four degrees, it was issued to officers and soldiers (the soldier's order was called the "Insignia of the Military Order"). Later yellow changed to orange in the ribbon.
In 1913, another medal appeared in Russia that used a black and orange ribbon - the St. George medal. She was awarded to the lower ranks for courage and courage shown in peacetime or wartime.
After the October Revolution of 1917, the Order of St. George the Victorious, like other awards of the empire, was canceled. However, on the front civil war both former generals and the chiefs of the Red Army continued to award soldiers for distinction in battle with the Order of St. George and the St. George Medal.
The black and orange ribbon reappeared in 1941. Then, for the courage and courage of the personnel, such ribbons began to be given to units, formations and ships. The tape was called "Guards".
Later, already during the Second World War in 1943, the Order of Glory was established, to which the "guards ribbon" was attached.
The St. George Ribbon became a real symbol of Victory in 1945, when the medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War in 1941-1945" was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. This award was received by 15 million people - front-line soldiers and home front workers. The St. George ribbon was also attached to the medal.
Medal "For the victory over Germany" In 1992, the former Order of St. George was revived in the Russian Federation. So the order and the ribbon became a symbol of the continuity of generations and traditions of Russia.
In 2005, RIA Novosti news agency and ROOSPM Student Community, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Victory, announced the St. George Ribbon campaign - volunteers throughout Russia handed out thousands of ribbons to honor the memory of war heroes. The campaign has become an annual year will pass for the 13th time in a row.
What do the colors of the St. George ribbon symbolize?
Count Litta in 1833 wrote about the introduction of the tape by Catherine the Second: "The immortal legislator who established this order believed that his tape connects the color of gunpowder and the color of fire." Therefore, it is generally accepted that orange means flame, and black means smoke.
There is another version of the symbolism of the colors of the ribbon: black is the eagle on the coat of arms of Russia, and orange is the golden background (in heraldry, gold can be conveyed in yellow or orange colors). Thus, the ribbon reproduces the colors of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire.
How to wear a St. George ribbon?
The St. George ribbon is not an ornament that can be tied anywhere: you should not wear it on your head, below your waist, on a bag, or tie it on a bicycle or car. It is necessary to wear it near the heart, attaching it to clothes (for example, it is convenient to use the lapel of a jacket).
There are many ways to tie a ribbon, in this video you will learn about ten of them:
We also remind you that in our newspaper passes. Send us materials about your heroes, and we will place them on the main page.
,Foretell the holiday of the Great Victory. But what do black and orange represent? What is the history of the St. George ribbon? Historian Mikhail Morukov told our correspondent about this.
news: Mikhail Yuryevich, the St. George ribbon is an integral part of the Order of St. George ...
Mikhail Morukov: Yes, it all started with him. This order was established by Catherine II in 1769. Its full name is the Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. It was the most honorary order for awarding the military. Initially, it was intended only for officers and generals. Soldiers in the Russian army were awarded medals. But in the future, they decided that soldiers should be awarded more seriously for special merits. For example, for the salvation of the commander, the banner, or for the action that decided the outcome of the battle. For this, at the beginning of the 19th century, the "Insignia of the Military Order" was established. It was called the George Cross. This sign was the same cross as on the order, only not enamelled. (Officer crosses were covered with white enamel.) The cross was worn on the same two-color ribbon. Degrees, like the order, the cross had four. Initially, St. George's crosses were worn according to the principle from the lowest degree to the highest. That is, if the military has high degree of this badge, he cannot wear a lower one. But then it was decided that all St. George's crosses could be worn at the same time. Hence the title - full St. George's Cavalier. Our St. George's ribbon is connected directly with the St. George's cross, of course.
and: What do the colors of the ribbon mean?
Morukov: There are different opinions about the symbolism of the ribbon. The most common is that black and orange colors represent smoke and flames. The second option is heraldic. The coat of arms of Russia depicts a black eagle on a gold background. But the thing is that the eagle on the coat of arms of the Russian Empire was most often depicted in black, but the background was not always orange or gold.
and: Which of our famous military leaders had St. George awards?
Morukov: In Imperial Russia, the Order of George was the highest award. And not everyone, even our outstanding military leaders, had the Order of George. St. George's crosses were with Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov. To the first world war It was allowed to award the St. George Cross to soldiers and officers. Especially during the period of the Provisional Government from February to October 1917, they liked to do this. From the Soviet full St. George Knights most famous marshal Soviet Union Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny. By the way, he was twice deprived of St. George's crosses for misconduct, so in total he received George six times.
and: How were the St. George awards presented during the Great Patriotic War?
Morukov: Until 1941, the only color of our orders was red. And no awards were worn on the St. George ribbon. But with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Insignia of the military order was restored. They introduced the Order of Glory, which was intended to be awarded only to privates and sergeants. It was of three degrees and was worn on the St. George ribbon. This award was returned in order to emphasize the continuity of the traditions of the Russian army. Now they are again awarding the Order of George. But he is no longer the same. It is impossible to return the Order of George of that time - this is an imperial order. Now it's more of a tribute to tradition.
