A Transient Historical past of the Scandinavian and Nordic Flags

Flag of Sweden (Sveriges flagga)

The Swedish flag incorporates a yellow/gold cross and a blue physique. It was formally adopted in 1906. The colours are stated to be impressed by the Swedish coat of arms, which options blue and gold, and was modelled on the Danish flag.

The origin legend of the Swedish flag holds that King Eric IX noticed a golden cross within the blue sky when he landed in Finland throughout the First Swedish Campaign of 1157, prompting him to undertake the image and colours as his banner. Others assert that this story is slightly too near the Danish flag’s origin legend.

In contrast to in Denmark, the Swedish state flag and civil flag are one and the identical. The navy and naval ensign (tretungad flagga), which might be seen beneath, options three prongs. Although it was initially a swallowtail silhouette, just like the Danish flag, within the mid 1600s the three tail model was adopted.

The Swedish royal normal (Kungliga flaggan), can also be a tretungad flagga, with the addition of the coat of arms that includes the Order of the Seraphim, an order historically dominated by the Swedish throne.

Sweden’s areas and provinces even have their very own nordic cross flags with distinct colourings:

Flag of Norway (Norges flagg)

The Norwegian flag incorporates a blue cross outlined in white and a purple physique. It was designed by member of Parliament Fredrik Meltzer and adopted in 1821, though it wasn’t formally flown till 1899 after Norway’s union with Sweden dissolved.

As in Sweden, the oblong flag is just for civilian use. The state and naval flag has three prongs, just like the Swedish state flag (see picture beneath).

Norway’s path to their present flag was not as easy because it was for the opposite Scandinavian international locations. As a substitute, years of becoming a member of then dissolving unions with each Denmark and Sweden usually resulted in frustration across the flag. Between 1814, when Norway gained independence, and 1821, Norway’s state flag was merely the Danish flag with the symbolic Norwegian lion within the high left nook. On the identical time, 1815, Norway’s battle flag was merged with that of Sweden; a Swedish three pronged flag with a Danish flag within the higher left nook. The ins and outs of those flags may make your head spin!
 

Flag of Finland (Suomen lippu)

The Finnish flag incorporates a blue cross and a white physique. It was formally adopted in 1978 after having been used because the flag of Helsinki-based yacht membership Nyländska Jaktklubben from 1861. When Finland gained its independence in 1917, the state held a contest for an official flag. The ultimate design was by Finnish artists Eero Snellman and Bruno Tuukkane; it included a coronet and coat of arms. The flag was additional up to date in 1922, then once more in 1978, the iteration of the present flag.

Finland’s civilian flag, which might be flown by anybody at any time, is the straightforward rectangle. The state flag is identical form and measurement because the civilian flag, however options the coat of arms of Finland in the midst of the blue cross. The flag seen beneath is the navy and naval flag, which options three prongs.

Midsummer in Finland is often known as Finnish Flag Day; the civilian flag is flown from 6 pm on Midsummer’s eve to 9 pm on Midsummer’s day, symbolizing that the day the very best of the 12 months.

Flag of Iceland (íslenski fáninn)

The Icelandic flag incorporates a purple cross outlined in white with a blue physique. It was formally adopted in 1944, however was used unofficially as a logo of each Iceland and Christianity as early as 1913, and extra prominently from Iceland’s independence in 1918.

The unique flag of the nation was an inverted model of the Finnish flag, with a white cross an a blue background.

Although the Icelandic flag is modelled on the Danish flag, the colours had been chosen to represents vital components of Iceland: purple is the hearth from the island’s volcanoes, blue is the mountains, and white is the snow and ice protecting the nation.

The flag pictured beneath is the civilian flag, whereas the state, battle, and naval flag seems within the swallowtail form, with two prongs.

When are the Nordic flag days?

The Nordic flag days, often known as independence days or structure days, are:

The Scandinavian cross flag world wide

There are numerous cities and provinces outdoors of the Nordic area that additionally use the Scandinavian cross flag, together with Vinland close to Canada, and United Kingdoms flags akin to Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, Caithness, Scotland, and Sutherland, Scotland. The flags of Calais, France, Mizoram, India, Tbilisi, Georgia, and Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, additionally use the Scandinavian cross.

Many minority ethnic teams use this flag as nicely, such because the flag of the Swedish talking Finns. It’s clear from the huge array of locations and peoples that make the most of this design that it has been massively impactful throughout the globe.