Nordic cross flag

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.

"Nordic flag" redirects here. For the Nordic Council flag, see Flag of the Nordic Council.

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).

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
    Bicolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
  • Tricolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
    Tricolor Nordic/Scandinavian cross
  • Bicolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross
    Bicolor Swallowtail Nordic/Scandinavian cross
  • Tricolor 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]

Denmark
  • Flag of Denmark (1748)
    Flag of Denmark (1748)
  • State flag of Denmark (17th century)
    State flag of Denmark (17th century)
  • Naval ensign of Denmark (17th century). Note the darker kraprød colour (1939).
    Naval ensign of Denmark (17th century). Note the darker kraprød colour (1939).
  • Royal standard of Denmark
    Royal standard of Denmark
  • Standard of Frederik the Crown Prince of Denmark
    Standard of Frederik the Crown Prince of Denmark
  • Standard of the Regent of Denmark
    Standard of the Regent of Denmark
  • Standard of the royal house- used by other members of the royal family
    Standard of the royal house- used by other members of the royal family
  • Flag of the Faroe Islands (1919)
    Flag of the Faroe Islands (1919)

Finland

Iceland

Norway
  • Flag of Norway (1821–1844 and 1899–present)
    Flag of Norway (1821–1844 and 1899–present)
  • Naval ensign of Norway since 1905, civilian state flag since 1899.
    Naval ensign of Norway since 1905, civilian state flag since 1899.
  • Former flag of Norway (1814–1821).
    Former flag of Norway (1814–1821).
  • The common naval ensign and war flag of Sweden and Norway from 1815 to 1844.
    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)
    Merchant flag of Norway (1844–1898 with the union badge representing the union with Sweden)
  • Naval ensign and state flag of Norway (1844–1905)
    Naval ensign and state flag of Norway (1844–1905)

Sweden
  • Flag of Sweden (1906–present)
    Flag of Sweden (1906–present)
  • Flag of Sweden before 1815
    Flag of Sweden before 1815
  • Flag of Sweden (1815–1844) representing the union with Norway
    Flag of Sweden (1815–1844) representing the union with Norway
  • Flag of Sweden (1844–1905) representing the union with Norway
    Flag of Sweden (1844–1905) representing the union with Norway
  • Naval ensign of Sweden
    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 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
    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
    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.

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.

Nordic cross flags outside the Nordic countries

Armenia

Brazil

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

France

Georgia

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.

Hungary

Latvia

Lithuania

Netherlands

Russia

Spain

Teutonic Order

Ukraine

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]

United States

Other

Ethnic flags

Sport societies

Fictional
  • Flag of Latveria, a fictional nation within the Marvel Comics universe
    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 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
    Flag of Kekistan, a fictional country created by 4chan members as a political meme and online movement

See also

References
  1. EnchantedLearning.com Archived 3 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine; Historical flags of the world: The Scandinavian cross Archived 2 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine; 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. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. 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. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  6. "Kunstavisen på internettet – Artikler". Archived from the original on 2 October 2008.
  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)". Flagspot.net. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  9. "Pegida und das Symbol der Hitler-Attentäter". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  10. Scots communities go Nordic in rising demands for their own flags Archived 11 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine HeraldScotland
  11. "South Uist flag". Hebrides-news.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  12. "Isle of Barra's flag officially recognised". BBC News. 23 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  13. "Vinland Flag: General Hate Symbols". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. Пюккенен, А. Ю. (30 May 2011). "Геральдика Невского края" [Neva region heraldry]. Санкт-Петербургские ведомости (in Russian). Saint Petersburg: АО Издательский дом «С.-Петербургские ведомости».
  16. "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 21 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
  17. Engene, Jan Oskar (10 March 1996). "Swedish speaking population in Finland". Flags of the World. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
  18. "Interfrisian flag". Groep fan Auwerk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.

Bibliography

Media related to Nordic Cross flags at Wikimedia Commons

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