Nordic cross flag
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A Nordic cross flag is a flag bearing the design of the Nordic or Scandinavian cross, a cross symbol in a rectangular field, with the centre of the cross shifted towards the hoist.
All independent Nordic countries have adopted such flags in the modern period, and while the Nordic cross is named for its use in the national flags of the Nordic nations, the term is used universally by vexillologists, in reference not only to the flags of the Nordic countries but to other flags with similar designs.[1] The sideways cross is also known as the Cross of Saint Philip the Apostle, who preached not in Scandinavia but in Greece, Phrygia and Syria instead.
The cross design represents Christianity,[2][3][4] and was first seen in the Dannebrog, the national flag of Denmark in the first half of the 13th century. The same design, but with a red Nordic cross on a yellow background, was used as union flag during the Kalmar union (1397 to 1523), and when that union fell apart in 1523 the same design, but with a yellow cross on a blue background (derived from the Swedish coat of arms adopted in 1442), was adopted as national flag of Sweden, while Norway adopted their flag in 1821. From its adoption in the early 16th century until 1906 the background of the flag of Sweden was dark blue, but was changed to the currently used lighter shade of blue in a new flag law that was adopted in 1906, after the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway. After gaining independence the other Nordic countries adopted national flags of the same design, Iceland in 1915, Finland in 1917 and Faroe Islands in 1919. The Norwegian flag was the first Nordic cross flag with three colours. All Nordic flags may be flown as gonfalons as well.[citation needed]
Flag formats[]
Bicolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Tricolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Bicolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Tricolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross
Flags of the Nordic countries[]
Note that some of these flags are historical. Also, note that flag proportions may vary between the different flags and sometimes even between different versions of the same flag.
The Flag of Greenland is the only national flag of a Nordic country or territory without a Nordic Cross. When Greenland was granted home rule, the present flag — with a graphic design unique to Greenland — was adopted in June 1985, supported by fourteen votes against eleven who supported a proposed green-and-white Nordic cross.[5]
Denmark[]
- Flag of Denmark (1748)
- State flag of Denmark (17th century)
- Naval ensign of Denmark (17th century). Note the darker kraprød colour (1939).
Royal standard of Denmark
Standard of Frederik the Crown Prince of Denmark
Standard of the Regent of Denmark
Standard of the royal house- used by other members of the Royal Family
- Flag of the Faroe Islands (1919)
Finland[]
- Flag of Finland (1918)
- State flag of Finland (1918)
- War flag and naval ensign of Finland (1918)
- Flag of the President of Finland, with the Cross of Liberty in the canton (1978)
- Finnish yacht club ensign. Ratified club emblem in the canton (1919)
- Flag of the Åland Islands (1954)
Iceland[]
- Flag of Iceland 1944–present
- State flag of Iceland
- Flag of the President of Iceland
- Flag of the Icelandic Directorate of Customs
Norway[]
- Flag of Norway 1821–1844 and 1899–present
- Naval ensign of Norway since 1905, civilian state flag since 1899.
- Former flag of Norway (1814–1821).
- 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.
- Naval ensign and state flag of Norway 1844–1905.
Sweden[]
- Flag of Sweden 1906–present
- Flag of Sweden before 1815
- Flag of Sweden 1815-1844 representing the Union with Norway
- Flag of Sweden 1844–1905 representing the union with Norway
- Naval ensign of Sweden
- Royal standard of Sweden with the Greater coat of arms, used by the King and Queen of Sweden
- Royal standard of Sweden with the lesser coat of arms, used by princes and princesses of Sweden
- Flag of the Swedish province of Scania and Skåneland
Kalmar Union[]
Historical flag of the Kalmar Union, which united Denmark, Sweden and Norway 1397 to 1523. No pictorial evidence survives of the Kalmar Union's Flag. The flag appearing here is a reconstruction based on references in 1430 letters by King Eric of Pomerania.
Unofficial Nordic flags[]
These flags either do not have official status or represent various private entities. They have not been officially adopted and their use remains limited.
- Unofficial flag of Bornholm (1970s)
- Proposal for flag of Jutland, designed by artist Per Kramer (1975)[6] (actual use is not recorded)
- Another proposal for flag of Jutland, dating from 1972 (not in use)
- Proposal for a flag of Greenland, designed in 1984 by Sven Tito Achen. Rejected in favour of the non-Nordic-Cross flag.
- Unofficial flag representing the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland. To be flown along with the Finnish National Flag (1902)
- Former unofficial flag of Iceland (ca. 1900)
- Proposal for flag of Iceland, designed in 1914 by Magnús Þórðarson
- Flag of Norwegian fascist party Nasjonal Samling 1933–1945.
- Unofficial flag of the Finnish speaking minority in Sweden
- Flag of Vendsyssel, Denmark
- Unofficial flag of Norrland, the northernmost land of Sweden
- Flag of the Forest Finns, the unofficial flag of the Finnish Minority groups in Norway and Sweden
- Flag of Gotland, the unofficial flag of the Swedish island of Gotland
- Flag of the Swedish province of Hälsingland
- Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Härjedalen
Nordic cross flags outside the Nordic countries[]
Armenia[]
- Flag of Ejmiatsin.
Brazil[]
- Flag of Areias, São Paulo State
- Flag of Borborema, São Paulo State
- Flag of Carmo do Paranaíba, Minas Gerais
- Flag of Chapadinha, Maranhão
- Flag of Colorado, Rio Grande do Sul
- Flag of Domingos Martins, Espírito Santo
- Flag of Escada, Pernambuco
- Flag of Frei Martinho, Paraíba
- Flag of Grão Pará, Santa Catarina
- Flag of Guaíra, São Paulo State
- Flag of Itu, São Paulo State
- Flag of Lagoa Formosa, Minas Gerais
- Flag of Nova Prata, Rio Grande do Sul
- Flag of Peritiba, Santa Catarina
- Flag of Pirapora do Bom Jesus, São Paulo State
- Flag of Santo Antônio do Pinhal, São Paulo State
- Flag of Santo Cristo, Rio Grande do Sul
Estonia[]
- Flag of Pärnu, Estonia
- Flag of Türi Parish
- Flag of Setomaa
- A proposed flag for Estonia
- A proposed flag for Estonia (2)
- A proposed flag for Estonia (3)
- A proposed flag for Estonia (1919)
France[]
Flag of Calais, Hauts-de-France
Alternative flag of Normandy
Alternative flag of Normandy
Flag of , Brittany
Georgia[]
- Flag of Tbilisi, Georgia
- Flag of the Georgian Orthodox Church
- Flag of Gori Municipality
- Flag of Khoni Municipality
- Current flag of Zugdidi Municipality
- Old flag of Zugdidi Municipality (2012-2018)
- Variation of the old flag of Zugdidi Municipality (2015)
Germany[]
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.
- Teutonic Knights and their State
- Flag of the Danish monarch, flown in his capacity as Duke of Holstein, Schleswig and Lauenburg. The three duchies were ceded to Austria and Prussia in 1864 as a result of the Second Schleswig War.[7]
- Civil flag of Oldenburg[8]
- Former North German Federal Navy Ensign (1867–71), Reichskriegsflagge
- Former War Ensign of Nazi Germany (1938–1945), now illegal in Germany
- Flag of the former Saar Protectorate, Germany
- Proposed National flag of Germany, circa 1919.
- Flag proposed by the conspirators of the July 20 plot against Hitler, nowadays often used in a right-wing context.[9]
- A proposed flag for West Germany (1948)
Hungary[]
- Flag of Balatonszőlős
- Flag of Kozármisleny
- Flag of Tatárszentgyörgy
- Flag of Fűzvölgy
- Flag of Pat
Latvia[]
- Flag of Alūksne, Latvia
- Flag of Grobiņa Municipality, Latvia
- Flag of Cēsis, Latvia
- Flag of Ventspils, Latvia
- Flag of Ventspils Municipality, Latvia
Lithuania[]
- Nordic cross proposal for Lithuanian flag
Netherlands[]
- Flag of Aldtsjerk
- Flag of Bedum
- Flag of Hof van Twente
- Flag of Koewacht
- Flag of Rosmalen
- Flag of Skarsterlân
- Flag of Tilburg
- Flag of Utrechtse Heuvelrug
- Flag of Wierden
- Flag of Wouw
Teutonic Order[]
- Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order (1230–1525)
Ukraine[]
- Flag of Volyn Oblast
- Flag of Zhytomyr
- Flag of Bershad Raion
- Flag of Khrestivka
United Kingdom[]
A number of flags for localities in the United Kingdom (primarily Scotland) are based on Nordic cross designs, intended to reflect the Scandinavian heritage introduced to the British Isles during the Viking Age and through the High Middle Ages.[10]
- Flag of Shetland (2005)
- Flag of Orkney (2007)
- Flag of Caithness (2016)
- Flag of Yorkshire West Riding (2013)
- Cross of St Magnus, former unofficial Flag of Orkney (1990s)
- Unofficial flag of North Uist (2018)
- Flag of the island of South Uist (recognised 2017)[11]
- Isle of Barra (recognised 2017)[12]
- Flag of the Isle of Skye (2020)
- Official flag of Sutherland (2018)
United States[]
- Flag of Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Flag of Little Rock, Arkansas
- Flag of Staunton, Virginia
- Flag of Portland, Oregon
- Campaign Flag of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
- Flag of Wilmington, Delaware
- Flag of the Episcopal Church
- Flag of New Milford, Connecticut
Other[]
Flag of Andalucía, Colombia
Proposed Flag of Belarus (1992)
Flag of Pula, Croatia
Royal Standard of Greece (1863). Note: George I was also a prince of Denmark.
Flag of Hernandarias, Paraguay
Proposed flag of South Island, New Zealand
Flag of Stavropol Krai, Russia
Naval ensign of South Africa (1952–1981)
Naval ensign of Tonga
Alternative flag of Tudela, Navarre, Spain
Flag of Westarctica, a micronation claiming Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica
Flag of Ladonia, a micronation in southern Sweden. Note that the white lines are not visible on the flag itself, yet it is still seen as bearing a Nordic Cross as it represents a boiled Swedish flag.
Unofficial flag of the Komi Republic used by activists.
Flag of Amambay Department, Paraguay.
Flag of the Principality of Snake Hill, a micronation in Australia.
The "Vinland flag", used by American band Type O Negative
Flag of Levokumsky District, Stavropol Krai, Russia
Flag of Vikesland, a Canadian micronation located on a ranch in Manitoba
Ethnic flags[]
- Flag of the Veps since 1992, designed by Vitaly Dobrynin. In 2000-2005 span used as the official flag of Vepsian autonomous region in Russian Karelia
- Flag of Provisional Government of Karelia, designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela in 1920. Later used as the ethnic flag of Karelians
- Proposed flag of Frisia (2006)[17]
- Flag of the Mi'kmaq people, Canada (horizontal version)
- Falaise Cross flag (Croix de Falaise) – Falaise in Normandy was the birthplace of William the Conqueror
- Flag of Setos
Sport societies[]
Flag of Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna
Ensign of the Hungarian Yachting Association
Fictional[]
Flag of Latveria, a fictional nation within the Marvel Comics universe
Flag of Norsefire, a fictional neofascist party ruling over the United Kingdom in Alan Moore and David Lloyd's comic series V for Vendetta
See also[]
- Flags of Central America
- Flag of Greenland
- Flag of Sámi
- Flag of Gran Colombia
- Pan-African colours
- Pan-Arab colours
- Pan-Slavic colours
- Southern Cross Flag
- Union Flag
- Tricolour
References[]
- ^ EnchantedLearning.com; Historical flags of the world: The Scandinavian cross; Eric Inglefield: "Fahnen und Flaggen" (translated to German by Dagmar Hahn), Delphin Verlag, Munich 1986, p.16
- ^ Jeroen Temperman (2010). State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 88. ISBN 978-9004181489. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
Many predominantly Christian states show a cross, symbolising Christianity, on their national flag. The so-called Scandinavian crosses or Nordic crosses on the flags of the Nordic countries–Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden–also represent Christianity.
- ^ Carol A. Foley (1996). The Australian Flag: Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon. William Gaunt & Sons. ISBN 9781862871885. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
The Christian cross, for instance, is one of the oldest and most widely used symbols in the world, and many European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greece and Switzerland, adopted and currently retain the Christian cross on their national flags.
- ^ Andrew Evans (2008). Iceland. Bradt. ISBN 9781841622156. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
Legend states that a red cloth with the white cross simply fell from the sky in the middle of the 13th-century Battle of Valdemar, after which the Danes were victorious. As a badge of divine right, Denmark flew its cross in the other Scandinavian countries it ruled and as each nation gained independence, they incorporated the Christian symbol.
- ^ "Nu vajer det grønlandske flag over Danmark". Retrieved 2016-06-24.
- ^ "Kunstavisen på internettet – Artikler". Archived from the original on 2 October 2008.
- ^ In 1844, pro-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 three duchies (Holstein and Lauenburg: effectively until 1863, Schleswig effectively until 1864.) Use of the Danish flag was in turn outlawed by the secessionist government that claimed the three duchies between 1848–1851.
- ^ "Grand Duchy of Oldenburg 1815-1918 (Lower Saxony, Germany)". Flagspot.net. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "Pegida und das Symbol der Hitler-Attentäter". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 3 August 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ Scots communities go Nordic in rising demands for their own flags HeraldScotland
- ^ "South Uist flag". Hebrides-news.com. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "Isle of Barra's flag officially recognised". BBC News. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ Пюккенен, А. Ю.; Сыров, А. А. (2002). Что такое Ингерманландия? Краткое введение в историю ингерманландских финнов [What is Ingria? A short introduction to the history of the Ingrian Finns] (in Russian). Saint Petersburg.
- ^ Пюккенен, А. Ю. (2011-05-30). "Геральдика Невского края" [Neva region heraldry]. Санкт-Петербургские ведомости (in Russian). Saint Petersburg: АО Издательский дом «С.-Петербургские ведомости».
- ^ "Hur ser Svenskfinland ut om 100 år?" (PDF). Medborgarbladet (in Swedish). Helsinki: Svenska folkpartiet RP. 61 (4): 20. December 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ Engene, Jan Oskar (10 March 1996). "Swedish speaking population in Finland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ "Interfrisian flag". Groep fan Auwerk. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
Bibliography[]
- Znamierowski, Alfred (2002). The world encyclopedia of flags : The definitive guide to international flags, banners, standards and ensigns. London: Hermes House. pp. 103 and 134. ISBN 1-84309-042-2.
External links[]
Media related to Nordic Cross flags at Wikimedia Commons
- Lists and galleries of flags
- Nordic countries
- Christian crosses
- Nordic Cross flags
- Types of flags
- Christian symbols