The flag of Belarus consists of a red and green horizontal stripe with a white vertical stripe on the left-hand side. The red and green stripes are equal in size and represent the country’s fields and forests, respectively. The white stripe represents the country’s snow-covered landscape and its noble traditions.
A traditional ornament called a “Pahonia” resides in the center of the white stripe. It features a charging knight on horseback with a sword raised in his right hand. The Pahonia is a national symbol of Belarus and represents the country’s struggle for freedom and independence.
Belarus adopted the current design of its flag on June 7, 1995. They modified the previous design to remove the hammer and sickle emblem of the Soviet Union. They adopted the previous design in 1951. It featured a hammer and sickle emblem on the red and green stripes.