Flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns is an unofficial red flag with a yellow cross used in the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland to represent the Finland-Swedish.[1][2] It may be flown in addition to the Finnish blue and white flag. This flag is unfamiliar to many Finland Swedes and possibly not very often used,[3] but what is known as "husband pennants" (fi. isännänviiriä, sv. husbondsvimplar) with the same colours and demonstrating one's identity as swedishspeaking, are all the more common[4] and can be seen on many flagpoles in areas where there live many Swedish-speaking Finns, especially in rural areas.
The flag may have been used in the Finland-Swedish context in the 16th century,[4] but it is more likely to have been introduced in the 1920s or 1930s.[5] As such, the flag is based on a proposal to civil ensign put forward by the Senate flag committee in 1917. This proposal included nine white roses in the upper left corner.[6] It also contains the same colours as one of the candidates for the Finnish flag on independence in 1917 and may even have been a proposal for the state flag itself.[7] The current blue and white state flag became official on the 28th May 1918.
The colours are traditional and based on the red and yellow of the Finnish coat of arms (and can, for example, also be seen in the weapon of Southwest Finland).[8] The design symbolizes the unity with the other Nordic countries.[4] There are probably no official decision on the cross width but a width of not less than that of the Swedish flag, (ie 5:2:9 horizontally and vertically 4:2:4) and not more than that of Finland (ie, 5:3:11 horizontally and 4:3:4 vertically) should apply. It has rectangular boxes rather than squares in the internal corners of the hoist. The flag is similar to that of Scania, but it is oblonger and has a broder and less centered cross. It is however identical to a flag that the Quisling government of Norway, under the German occupation, used.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ "Hur ser Svenskfinland ut om 100 år?" (in Swedish) (December 2006). Medborgarbladet 61 (4): 20. Helsinki: Svenska folkpartiet RP.
- ^ Engene, Jan Oskar (10 March 1996). Swedish speaking population in Finland. Flags of the World. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ Engene, Jan Oskar (20 August 2002). Swedish speaking population in Finland. Flags of the World. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ a b c Weegar, Rune. I min iver... (Swedish). Kuriren. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ "SJ" (9 November 2004). Swedish speaking population in Finland. Flags of the World. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ Savolainen, Paula. Suomen lipun historia (Finnish). Suomi 80. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ "SJ" (11 November 2004). Swedish speaking population in Finland. Flags of the World. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ Engene, Jan Oskar (10 March 1996). Swedish speaking population in Finland. Flags of the World. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ Elfverson, J. Christer (17 August 2002). Swedish speaking population in Finland. Flags of the World. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
