Nordic Cross Flag

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Short description: Flag bearing the design of the Nordic or Scandinavian cross


Nordic flags, from left to right: Finland , Iceland, Norway , Sweden and Denmark .
A selection of official, in-use Nordic Cross flags in Northern Europe region.
Larger flags, from left to right: Iceland, Faroe Islands, Denmark , Norway , Sweden, Finland ;
Smaller flags, from left to right: Barra, South Uist, Yorkshire West Riding (historical), Orkney, Shetland, Scania, Åland, Pärnu, Setomaa (ethnic), Vepsians (ethnic).

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 and Finland in 1917. The Norwegian flag was the first Nordic cross flag with three colours. All Nordic flags may be flown as gonfalons as well.

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

Some of these flags are historical. Also, 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]

  • Flag of Denmark
  • Flag of Finland
  • Flag of Iceland
  • Flag of Norway
  • Flag of Sweden

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 Åland (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

This is the historical flag of the Kalmar Union, which united Denmark, Sweden and Norway from 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.

  • Flag of the Kalmar Union.svg

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.

  • Proposed flag of Norway by Christian Frederick (1814)
  • Proposed flag of Norway (Anonymous proposal) (1814)
  • Proposed flag of Norway by Niels Aall (1815)
  • Proposed flag of Norway by Fredrik Meltzer (1821)
  • 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)
  • Template:FIAV 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 Swedish region of Bergslagen
  • Flag of the Swedish province of Bohuslän
  • Flag of Gotland, the unofficial flag of the Swedish island (and province) of Gotland
  • Flag of the Swedish province of Hälsingland
  • Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Härjedalen
  • Flag of the Swedish province of Småland
  • Flag of the Swedish county of Västra Götaland (or West Sweden in general)
  • Flag of the Swedish province of Öland
  • Unofficial flag of the Swedish province of Östergötland

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 Palotina, Paraná
  • Flag of Peritiba, Santa Catarina
  • Flag of Pirapora do Bom Jesus, São Paulo State
  • Flag of Santa Helena, Paraná
  • Flag of Santo Antônio do Pinhal, São Paulo State
  • Flag of Santo Cristo, Rio Grande do Sul

Estonia

  • Flag of Pärnu
  • Flag of Türi Parish
  • Flag of Koigi Parish
  • Flag of Setomaa
  • Proposed flag for Estonia
  • Proposed flag for Estonia (2)
  • Proposed flag for Estonia (3)
  • Proposed flag for Estonia (1919)

France

  • Flag of Calais, Hauts-de-France

  • Flag of Dol-de-Bretagne, Brittany

  • Alternative flag of Normandy, nicknamed "St. Olaf's Cross"

  • Alternative flag of Normandy

  • Flag of Presqu'île de Crozon, Brittany

  • Viking flag of Vendée, Pays de la Loire

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.

  • The unofficial 'Noordlandflagg' of Low German-speaking people in northern Germany, northeastern Netherlands and southern Denmark
  • Teutonic Knights and their State
  • Template:FIAV 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 20 July plot against Hitler, nowadays often used in a right-wing context.[9] (Wirmer Flag)
  • 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 Cēsis
  • Flag of Cēsis Municipality, 2022–
  • Flag of Ventspils
  • Flag of Ventspils Municipality
  • Flag of the former Grobiņa Municipality, 2011–2021
  • Nordic cross proposal for Latvian flag

Lithuania

  • Nordic cross proposal for Lithuanian flag

Netherlands

  • Flag of Aldtsjerk
  • Flag of Bedum
  • Flag of Havelte
  • 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

Russia

  • Flag of Alyoshino, Tver Oblast
  • Flag of Levokumsky District
  • Flag of Likhoslavlsky District
  • Flag of Mikhaylovsk, Stavropol Krai
  • Flag of Mikhaylovskoe, Republic of Karelia
  • Flag of Plodovskoe, Leningrad Oblast
  • Flag of Predgorny District, 1997–2017
  • Flag of Rameshki, Tver Oblast
  • Flag of Rameshkovsky District
  • Flag of Stavropol
  • Flag of Stavropol Krai

Spain

  • Flag of Burón
  • Flag of Casar de Palomero
  • Flag of Paterna del Río

  • Alternative flag of Tudela, Navarre

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)
  • Proposed flag of Lancashire (1990s)
  • Proposed flag of Orkney (2007)
  • Proposed flag of Orkney (2007)
  • Proposed flag of Somerset (2013)

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 a Chilean ambassador

  • Flag of Andalucía, Colombia

  • 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

  • Naval ensign of South Africa (1952–1981)

  • Naval ensign of Tonga

  • Flag of Westarctica, a micronation claiming Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica

  • Flag of Ladonia, a micronation in southern Sweden. 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, now a potential White Supremacist logo.[13]

  • Flag of Vikesland, a Canadian micronation located on a ranch in Manitoba

  • Flag of the Foundation Interdisciplinary Center for Cultural Studies, Argentina

Ethnic flags

  • Unofficial flag of Ingrian people, designed in 1919[14][15]
  • 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
  • One of the two flags of Votians
  • Flag of Provisional Government of East Karelia, designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela in 1920. Later used as the ethnic flag of Karelians
  • Flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns (1918)[16][17]
  • Flag of the Sweden Finns
  • Proposed flag of Frisia (2006)[18]
  • 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
  • Not adopted proposal for the flag of Sápmi
  • Unofficial flag of Ludic Karelians
  • 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

  • Flag of Kekistan, a fictional country created by 4chan members as a political meme and online movement

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
  • Saint George's Cross

References

  1. ↑ 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
  2. ↑ 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. https://books.google.com/books?id=Khag6tbsIn4C&pg=PA88. Retrieved 31 December 2007. "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." 
  3. ↑ Carol A. Foley (1996). The Australian Flag: Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon. William Gaunt & Sons. ISBN 9781862871885. https://books.google.com/books?id=WV7ag4EpHF8C&pg=PA10. Retrieved 31 December 2007. "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." 
  4. ↑ Andrew Evans (2008). Iceland. Bradt. ISBN 9781841622156. https://books.google.com/books?id=9_GfdBAASUQC&pg=PA27. Retrieved 31 December 2007. "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." 
  5. ↑ "Nu vajer det grønlandske flag over Danmark". 21 June 2016. http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/nu-vajer-det-groenlandske-flag-over-danmark. 
  6. ↑ "Kunstavisen på internettet – Artikler". http://www.netgallery.dk/kunstavisen/artikler/artikel_2001_09_1.asp. 
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Grand Duchy of Oldenburg 1815–1918 (Lower Saxony, Germany)". http://flagspot.net/flags/de-ol815.html. 
  9. ↑ "Pegida und das Symbol der Hitler-Attentäter" (in de). Süddeutsche Zeitung. 3 August 2015. https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/wirmer-flagge-pegida-und-das-symbol-der-hitler-attentaeter-1.2593682. 
  10. ↑ Scots communities go Nordic in rising demands for their own flags HeraldScotland
  11. ↑ "South Uist flag". http://www.hebrides-news.com/south-uist-flag-28617.html. 
  12. ↑ "Isle of Barra's flag officially recognised". BBC News. 23 November 2017. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42094599. 
  13. ↑ "Vinland Flag: General Hate Symbols". https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/vinland-flag. 
  14. ↑ Пюккенен, А. Ю.; Сыров, А. А. (2002) (in ru). Что такое Ингерманландия? Краткое введение в историю ингерманландских финнов. Saint Petersburg. 
  15. ↑ Пюккенен, А. Ю. (30 May 2011). "Геральдика Невского края" (in ru). Санкт-Петербургские ведомости (Saint Petersburg: АО Издательский дом «С.-Петербургские ведомости»). 
  16. ↑ "Hur ser Svenskfinland ut om 100 år?" (in sv). Medborgarbladet (Helsinki: Svenska folkpartiet RP) 61 (4): 20. December 2006. http://www.sfp.fi/files/Medborgarblad/MED 4_06.pdf. Retrieved 6 June 2008. 
  17. ↑ Engene, Jan Oskar (10 March 1996). "Swedish speaking population in Finland". Flags of the World. https://www.fotw.info/flags/xn_fi-se.html. 
  18. ↑ "Interfrisian flag". Groep fan Auwerk. http://www.groepfanauwerk.com/homeIflagge.html. 

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. https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi0000znam/page/103. 

External links

  • Extensive compilation of official and non-official Nordic Cross flags (at Flags of the World).



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