From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nordic flags. From left to right respectively; the flag of Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
Nordic Cross Flag, Nordic Cross, Scandinavian Cross is a pattern of flags usually associated with the flags of the Scandinavian countries of which it originated. All the Nordic countries have adopted such flags. The cross design symbolises Christianity and is depicted extending to the edges of the flag with the vertical part of the cross shifted to the hoist side as opposed to flags where the cross is centred on the flag. The first flag with this design was the Danish Dannebrog; thereafter, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and some of their subdivisions used this as inspiration for their own flags. The Norwegian flag was the first Nordic cross flag with three colours. Though the flags share this pattern, they have individual histories and symbolism.
Some of the flags in this list do not have official status. Also, note that flag proportions may vary between the different flags and sometimes do even between different versions of the same flag.
[edit] National flags of the Nordic countries
[edit] Nordic Cross flags of autonomous regions
[edit] Other Nordic flags with the Nordic Cross
Note that most of these flags are historical or have not been officially adopted and their use remains limited.
[edit] Denmark
|
|
Naval flag of Denmark. Note the darker kraprød colour.
|
18th century flag of mourning
|
|
Proposal for flag of Jutland, designed by artist Per Kramer [1] (actual use is not recorded)
|
Another proposal for flag of Jutland, dating from 1972 (not in use)
|
Proposed flag of Vendsyssel (not commonly used or known)
|
Proposal for Flag of Greenland, designed in 1984 by Sven Tito Achen. Rejected in favour of non-Nordic-Cross flag.
|
[edit] Finland
|
|
|
|
Flag used by Finnish yacht clubs. Club insignia goes in the canton.
|
[edit] Iceland
|
|
|
Flag of the Icelandic Customs Service
|
|
Proposal for flag of Iceland, designed in 1914 by Magnús Þórðarson
|
[edit] Norway
Naval ensign and state flag of Norway.
|
|
The common naval ensign and war flag of Sweden and Norway from 1815 to 1844.
|
Merchant flag of Norway 1844-1898 with the union badge representing the union with Sweden.
|
[edit] Sweden
[edit] Nordic cross flags of Germany
Nordic flags in Germany were historically used to allude to the nation's Norse heritage and Nordic origins. Nordic flag designs very similar to Denmark's, Sweden's, and Norway's national flags were proposed as Germany's national flags in both 1919 and 1948, after World War I and World War II, respectively. Today, the Nordic cross is a feature in some city and district flags or coats of arms.
Flag of the Danish monarch, flown in his capacity as Duke of Holstein until 1863 and Schleswig until 1864.[2]
|
|
Former war flag of Nazi Germany (1938-1945), now forbidden in Germany
|
|
Proposed National flag of Germany, circa 1919.
|
|
A proposed flag for West Germany (1948)
|
Another proposed flag for West Germany (1948) by the same designer
|
[edit] Unofficial Nordic cross flags of ethnic or linguistic groups
|
|
Unofficial flag of the Veps
|
Unofficial flag of the Votes
|
|
|
|
|
Unofficial flag of Småland (no actual use recorded)
|
|
|
|
[edit] Other Nordic cross flags of the Baltic
Many territories around the Baltic Sea have begun using Nordic cross flags. Sometimes this is done to bolster the locality's association with the Scandinavian states (and, as with the proposed flags of Latvia and Lithuania, to assert a Baltic identity over a long-standing affiliation with the Russian sphere of influence.)
[edit] Nordic cross flags of Britain and its islands
Many locations in England and Scotland were colonized by Norwegian and Danish settlers and viking raiders during the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries. Several locales, particularly in the Scottish islands, have flags based on the Nordic cross as a recognition of this Scandinavian heritage.
[edit] Nordic cross flags of Brazilian municipalities
|
|
|
|
Flag of Balneário Gaivota, SC
|
|
|
Flag of Carmo do Paranaíba, MG
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flag of Frei Martinho, PB
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flag of Lagoa Formosa, MG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[edit] Flags elsewhere that feature the Nordic Cross or similar design
Flags where the vertical bar is centered (such as certain Greek and Swiss flags) are not included here; see Gallery of flags with crosses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed National Flag for an independent Zealandia.
|
Flag of Bleimor Breton Scouting organization.
|
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Kunstavisen
- ^ In 1844, German nationalists in the two duchies of Holstein and Schleswig created a blue-white-red tricolour as a symbol for independence which began to see widespread use. In 1845, Denmark responded by outlawing all other flags than the Danish one shown here. This ban was enforced as long as Denmark controlled the two duchies (Holstein and Lauenburg: effectively until 1863, in Schleswig effectively until early 1864.) Use of the Danish flag was in turn outlawed by the secessionist administration that claimed both provinces 1848-1851.
- ^ http://www.handelskammaren.net/item.aspx?id=411
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
.svg/120px-Flag_of_Denmark_(state).svg.png)
.svg/120px-Flag_of_Finland_(state).svg.png)
.svg/120px-Flag_of_Yorkshire_(Flag_Institute).svg.png)
.svg/120px-Flag_of_Andalucía_(Colómbia).svg.png)
