National Emblem Day: history and meaning of the trident

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the State Emblem – one of the key symbols of statehood.

The holiday was introduced in 2018. The date was not chosen by chance: it was on February 19, 1992 that the parliament approved the golden trident on a blue shield as the Small State Emblem of Ukraine and a component of the future Great Emblem.

The trident has a thousand-year history. It was used as early as the time of Prince Volodymyr as a sign of power and unity. Scholars put forward dozens of versions of the origin of the symbol – from a stylized falcon or anchor to a sign of the trinity of the world.

In the 20th century, the trident became a symbol of the national liberation struggle. The Ukrainian People’s Republic adopted it as the state emblem. Under Soviet rule, the use of the trident was banned, and the symbol itself was defined as nationalist.

After regaining independence in 1991, Ukraine returned the trident as its official emblem, emphasizing the continuity of the state tradition. However, the Great State Emblem has not yet received final approval, despite several competitions and parliamentary attempts in 2020-2021.

Today, the trident remains one of the key state symbols of Ukraine and reminds of the struggle for independence and the preservation of national identity.