Flag of Finland
Nordic cross on white field.Dimensions: 4:3:4 (vertically) 5:3:10 (horizontally) | |
State flag | |
Coat of Arms of Finland (colours gold and silver on red) | |
Tailed state flag | |
Coat of Arms of Finland (colours gold and silver on red), swallow-tailed. Dimensions: 4:3:4 (vertically) 5:3:6:5 (horizontally) | |
Flag of the president of the Republic of Finland | |
Nordic cross on white field, rectangular coat of arms of Finland (colours gold and silver on red), swallow-tailed, Cross of Liberty in canton (colors gold on blue) | |
Proportion | 1:1 |
---|---|
Adopted | 1918 |
Design | A white field with the coat of arms of Finland in the center |
The Flag of
The state flag has a coat of arms in the centre, but is otherwise identical to the civil flag. The swallow-tailed state flag is used by the military. The presidential standard is identical to the swallow-tailed state flag but also has in its upper-left corner the Cross of Liberty after the Order of the Cross of Liberty, which has the president of Finland as its grand master. Like Sweden's, Finland's national flag is based on the Nordic cross. It was adopted after independence from Russia, when many patriotic Finns wanted a special flag for their country, but its design dates back to the 19th century. The blue colouring is said to represent the country's thousands of lakes and the sky, with white for the snow that covers the land in winter. This colour combination has also been used over the centuries in various Finnish provincial, military, and town flags.
History
The first known "Flag of Finland" was presented in 1848, along with the unofficial national anthem "Maamme". Its motif was the coat of arms of Finland, surrounded by laurel leaves, on a white flag.
The current blue-crossed design was first used in Finland by
In 1910, in connection with Russification of Finland, the Russian authorities decreed that a Russian flag was to be added to the canton. However, this was met with resistance; the flag was derided as the "slave's flag" (orjalippu), and most Finns refused to fly it. Instead, a triangular pennant without this modification was flown, thereby circumventing the decree concerning flags.
Shortly after Finland declared its full independence in 1917, a competition was held for the design of the Finnish flag. Several different designs were submitted. Regarding the colours, the entries fell mainly into two categories – one using the red and yellow from the Finnish coat of arms, and the other using the present blue and white colours.
One entry had the
The Finnish state flag was further modified in 1922 when the coronet was removed, and again in 1978 when the shield-shaped coat of arms was changed into a rectangular shape.
Legal definition
Flag Construction
Size
Under Finnish law, the ratio of the flag is 11:18 (height:width), very close to the golden ratio. The swallow-tailed state flag is one unit longer, and the tails are five units long. The cusp width of the blue cross is three units of measure, giving a ratio set of 4:3:4 (vertical) and 5:3:10 (horizontal). When flown from a flagpole, the flag is recommended to have a width equalling one-sixth of the height of the pole.
Usage
The Finnish flag is used in three main variants. The usual national flag is used by all citizens, organizations and Finnish
The swallow-tailed national flag, which is also the naval ensign, is flown by the Finnish Defence Forces. The presidential standard and the command signs of the minister of defence, chief of defence, and commander of the Finnish Navy are flown only by the respective persons.
All public bodies as well as most private citizens and corporations fly the flag on official flag flying days. In addition to the official flag flying days, there are about ten unofficial but generally observed flag flying days. Besides flag flying days, normally, no flags or corporate flags are flown. Flag Day is celebrated on Midsummer's Day.
The Finnish flag is raised at 8 am and lowered at sunset, however not later than 9 pm. On
As a special custom in Finland, the flag is flown at Midsummer from 6 pm of Midsummer eve until 9 pm of Midsummer's day. This is done to symbolize the fact that the darkness does not come to any part of Finland during Midsummer's Night. Midsummer is also celebrated as the day of the Finnish flag.[9]
Colours
The colours are defined in both
Colours scheme |
Blue | Red | Yellow |
---|---|---|---|
CIE (x, y, Y) | 0.1856, 0.1696, 5.86 | 0.576, 0.312, 10.9 | 0.486, 0.457, 45.7 |
CIE (L*, a*, b*)
|
29.06, 7.24, −36.98 | 39.4, 59.0, 29.6 | 73.4, 14.8, 79.0 |
SS 01 91 22 | 4060-R90B | 1090-Y90R | 0080-Y204 |
Pantone | 294 C | 186 C | 123 C |
*Section 3 of the source gives for the CIE values illuminant D65 and measurement geometry d/2°. *Source: http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/1993/19930827 Government Decision 827/1993 (in Finnish) |
There is no official RGB definition for the colours because its
Red and yellow are used in the coat of arms that appears on the state flag.
Other rules
Under Finnish law, it is forbidden to deface the flag or to use it in a disrespectful way. It is also illegal to remove a flag from its pole without permission. Anyone who breaks these regulations may be fined for disgracing the flag.
Finnish law also forbids the use of the presidential standard or state flag without permission, as well as the addition of any extra symbols to the flag. One may not sell a flag which has different colours or geometry than defined by the law. These are considered violations of the flag regulations and can lead to a fine.
There are also common rules on how to treat the flag respectfully. The flag must not be dirty or damaged. The flag must never touch the ground. When the flag is washed, it must be dried indoors. A worn-out flag must be disposed of by burning (though not with the intent to disgrace it), or alternatively by cutting it to pieces small enough not to be recognizable as parts of the flag. The flag must not be buried in the ground or the sea (including any disposal of the flag).
In Finland, the official term for flying a flag at half-mast is known as suruliputus (mourning by flag(ging)). It is performed by raising the flag briefly to the top of the mast and lowering it approximately one-third of the length of the flagpole, placing the lower hoist corner at half-mast. On wall-mounted and rooftop flagpoles, the middle of the flag should fly at the middle of the flagpole. When removing the flag from half-mast, it is briefly hoisted to the finial before lowering completely.[10]
Traditionally, private residences and apartment houses fly the national flag at half-mast on the day of the death of a resident, when the flag is displayed at half-mast until sunset or 21:00, whichever comes first. Flags are also flown at half-mast on the day of the burial, with the exception that the flag is to be hoisted to the finial after the inhumation takes place.
Flags are also to be flown at half-mast by government agencies and embassies across the World on the days of national mourning, and "the entire nation is asked to join in." Such days are the deaths of former or current Finnish presidents, as well as significant catastrophic events such as the aftermath of 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, 2011 Norway attacks and significant national events such as the 2004 Konginkangas bus disaster and school shootings of Jokela and Kauhajoki.
Historically, flags were flown at half-mast on the Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers which takes place on the third Sunday of May. Originally, the flag was raised to the finial in the morning, displayed at half-mast from 10:00 to 14:00, and again raised to the finial for the rest of the day. In 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the tradition of flying the flag at half-mast was discontinued and the flag is displayed at the finial in a usual manner.
Yachting club ensigns
A Finnish speciality is that any yachting club registered in Finland may apply to have a flag with the club emblem officially approved for use on yachts. Such an ensign will be the civil ensign with a white cross, 3⁄5 of a unit-wide, superimposed on the blue cross and with the club emblem in the upper hoist corner. Most yachting clubs distribute these ensigns to their members, and they are much used, but their use is not recommended outside Finnish waters to avoid confusion.[citation needed] Officially, however, the yachting club ensign is valid even for international use.[11]
Historical flags
Presidential Standard of Finland as used by Field Marshal Mannerheim, 6th President of Finland
(1944–1946)
Proposals
-
Proposed flags of Finland 1862–1918, compiled by Olof Eriksson.
-
Proposed flags of Finland 1862–1918, compiled by Olof Eriksson.
See also
- List of flags of Finland
- 90th Anniversary of the Finnish Flag commemorative coin
- Nordic Cross flag
- Flag flying days in Finland
- Coat of arms of Finland
- Holidays in Finland
- National anthem of Finland
- Finnish national symbols
- Household pennants of Finland
- Raising the Flag on the Three-Country Cairn
References
- ISBN 978-9004181489. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
Many predominantly Christian states show a cross, symbolising Christianity, on their national flag. Scandinavian crosses or Nordic crosses on the flags of the Nordic countries–Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden–also represent Christianity.
- ISBN 9789510100813. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
Suomen lippu ei juuri yhdisty mielissämme kristinuskon ristiin.
- ISBN 9781862871885. 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.
- ISBN 9781841622156. 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.
- ^ Suomen lippu muistuttaa kristillisistä arvoista Archived 9 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Rauhantervehdys 41/2013. Retrieved 3 August 2015. (in Finnish)
- ^ Inglefield, Eric (1978). Flags. Ward Lock. p. 53.
- ^ Laki Suomen lipusta (380/1978). 4 §. Retrieved 3 October 2007. (in Finnish)
- ^ Laki Suomen lipusta (380/1978). 5 §. Retrieved 3 October 2007. (in Finnish)
- ^ Asetus Suomen lipusta (383/1978). 3–4 §. Retrieved 3 October 2007. (in Finnish)
- ^ "Flying the flag at half-mast - Ministry of the Interior". Sisäministeriö. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Laki Suomen lipusta (380/1978). 4.2 §. Retrieved 3 October 2007. (in Finnish)