1. Secondary School # 4,
Students Center for Creative Development
Olekminsk, Sakha Republic, Russia
2.
3. The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is one of the
biggest in the Russian Federation. It is
situated in the north-east of the Russian
Federation and occupies one fifth of the
total territory of Russia, its area is 3.1
million square kilometers! The whole area of
the republic is covered by permafrost.
Winter temperatures here drop to 60 C below
zero, the summer temperature may reach +
40 C. Sakha is a multinational republic, over
110 different nationalities were registered in
the republic.
4.
5. The National Emblem of the Sakha Republic
combines a few symbols of the early sakha
people: it is a circle symbolizing the sun; in
the center of the circle there is a horseman
with the banner. This image was taken from
the rock paintings found on the Lena river
rocks. In the upper part of the Sun disk there
is a traditional ornamental pattern consisting
of seven dark-blue diamond-shaped crystals,
which stand for diamonds, the main wealth
of Yakutia’s land. The number seven has
magic meaning for Yakuts.
6. The national flag of the Sakha Republic
(Yakutia) consists of four colour stripes and a
white circle in the middle of the flag: that’s
the white north sun shining on the blue sky.
The white colour is the symbol of
wisdom, purity. All what was good early
Yuakuts connected with the white colour.
Green – is the colour of hope, friendship and
vast expanses of taiga. Red is the symbol of
friendship between the nations and tribute
to preceding generations.
7. We live in the town of
Olekminsk. On the 25th of
August, 2005 a new emblem of
the region was established.
The emblem depicts the
powerful Lena river, which has
been honoured by people for
centuries and called Mother
Lena. The wheat sheaf above
the river is the symbol of the
fertile soil of the region – a
farming land of Yakutia. Seven
diamonds symbolize the
connection of the region with
the whole Sakha Republic.
8.
9. Cattle husbandry, reindeer husbandry, fishing and hunting
have always been the main occupation of the local population.
For the Sakha indigenous people reindeer was one of the main
source for making living: it’s still being used in the north
remote areas for transportation; people make warm winter
clothes of reindeer skin – hats, mittens, boots, coats, rugs.
Reindeer skin is used as a home heat insulation material.
Reindeer meat and milk is a nutritious food for local people.
10. Squirrel – is the symbol of smart
mind.
Sable – is the symbol of welfare.
Choron - a jar made of wood is the
symbol of hospitality.
Lily – is the symbol of the local
nature’s beauty.
Silver ornaments – protection from
the evil spirits.
Gold – the symbol of luck.
11. We live in a small town located on the left bank of
the beautiful Lena River. The town has a rich history.
It was founded in 1635. People of different nations:
Yakuts, Russians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Buryats and
Evenks live here.
Tatars appeared in Olekminsk in 1816. Those were
Tatar rebels exiled to a cold and remote Yakutia
because of their disobedience to the power of
Russian tsar. Soon a tatar district appeared in
Olekminsk. Farming, trade, handicraft were their
main occupations. They lived in peace and friendship
following the Koran, Muslims’ sacred book, and their
national traditions. Tatars contributed a lot into the
culture of Olekminsk: they built a theatre and
performed Tatar classic plays; they organized
Sabantuy (national holiday) celebrations; founded
Tatar school.
12. The national Tatar emblem depicts a shield
– a symbol of security, and eight petal
aster – the symbol of the sun and a long
life. A winged snow leopard is depicted
inside the three-colour circle – the colours
of Tatar flag. The red stripe – is the colour
of the sun, early people considered it as
the colour of power and life triumph.
Green stripe – is the colour of summer
nature, the symbol of the youth. The white
colour – is the symbol of purity, good will
and benevolence.
13.
14. Running weasel in the silver field was the
symbol of this animal which was abundant in
the early Ufa region. Weasel fir was
important at that time and was often
exchanged for iron and other necessary
products with the other tribes.
Silver gulls with extended wings symbolized
the location of the place and belonging it to
the Volga River basin. Gull’s extended wings
look like human open palms – symbol of work
hands.
15.
16. Koran is a sacred Muslims book. The letters
on the early Koran front cover are gold as
gold was the symbol of the highest value.
Crescent (lunnitsa) on the top of the
mosque, ornaments and amulets is the
symbol of Islam, and matrimony as well. The
tradition of wearing crescent in Tatar
costume was lost in XIII century, during the
period of Mongol oppression. Besides, wide
spread of Christianity might contribute to the
process of neglecting some traditions. But
today young generations of many countries
try to revive old symbols and traditions.
17.
18. You can often find the image of a wolf in the
early Tatar painting. Wolf is a symbol of
freedom, independence, intrepidity, purity.
The white wolf is the protector of the tribe.
As the old legend says, he saved his tribe
from death.
Women jewellery was mainly the sign of
richness or was worn as a protection. Copper
dishes were the symbol of welfare and
hospitality. Housing ornaments also served as
protection from evil.
19.
20. Symbolic meaning of color:
Green – symbol of
spring, joy, hope, nature, welfare, stability.
Golden – symbol of the highest
value, richness, permanency, greatness, pow
er, generosity, intelligence, intuition and
foresight, the colour of the sun.
Silver colour – is the symbol of
perfection, nobleness, purity of mind, peace.
Dark red – is the symbol of
wisdom, courage, energy, maturity, vitality.
Black – is the symbol of wisdom and
discretion, honesty, resignation, eternity of
being.
21. Every spring Tatar
people have folk
festival called
Sabantuy. On this day
people carry
embroidered towels on
the staff. Those towels
are the symbol of the
holiday.
22. Symbols of different nations can tell a lot about the people,
they can be called small historical monuments of our country.
Symbols research and study help us understand our nation
better and make us think about the peoples’ fate and culture.