In late April - early May, on the streets of Russian cities and towns, volunteers present everyone with a bright orange and black ribbon. This action is called “St. George's Ribbon”. Its organizers, the RIA Novosti news agency and the Student Community youth union, tried to express their gratitude to the veterans of the Great Patriotic War in this way. Most Russians liked the idea. St. George's ribbons are tied on the hand, attached to clothes and cars. However, not everyone knows the details about the origin and meaning of the new symbol of Victory Day.
For the first time, the St. George ribbon appeared in 1769 as an integral part of the highest military award of Russia - the Imperial Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. Catherine II commanded to hand it over to officers for courage and special services on the battlefield.
The order had 4 degrees. Together with the St. George Cross of the first degree, the officer was awarded a wide ribbon. It was supposed to be worn on a military uniform, tied over the right shoulder. The pads of crosses of all degrees were covered with the same tape.
The St. George ribbon received a specific color: two orange stripes between three black ones. A narrow orange edging was placed along the edges. However, another option is also possible: black stripes are combined with yellow ones. There is no violation of heraldic principles in this, tk. both yellow and orange represent gold. The colors of the St. George ribbon remind of the smoke and flames of war through which the winner of the award passed with honor. In addition, they repeat the scale of the state emblem of the Russian Empire during the time of Catherine II.
Somewhat later, the St. George ribbon began to be used in other awards and insignia of military distinction: banners, standards, silver pipes, headdresses, officer's weapons, etc. They were awarded for personal and collective military exploits.
The ribbon found its second life during the Great Patriotic War: in 1943 it adorned the Order of Glory, and in 1945 - the medal "For Victory over Germany". Since then, St. George's bicolor has got another name, "the ribbon of the Order of Glory." Historians consider these names to be equivalent, given the high value of both military awards. Calling the black-and-orange ribbon of the Guards is permissible only when it comes to the symbols of the Navy: flags, pennants, peakless caps, badges.
In 1992, the Order of St. George was returned to the system of state awards of the Russian Federation. In addition to it, the insignia - "St. George's Cross" was introduced. Both awards are adorned with the same black and orange ribbon.
As an integral part of a particular award, St. George's bicolor means the personal courage of a soldier, his devotion to the Fatherland, courage shown in military operations, high moral qualities of the hero. A ribbon awarded for personal military merit cannot be passed on to other people.
The ribbons distributed during the Victory Day campaign became for the majority of Russians a symbol of national unity, memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War, a sign of gratitude to the heroes and sorrow for the soldiers and officers who fell on the fronts for the freedom of the Motherland.
