Flag of Sweden

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Flag of Sweden
Flag of Sweden.svg
Vexillological symbol : Civil and service flags on land, commercial and service flags at sea?
Aspect ratio: 16:10; (5−2−9) :( 4−2−4)
Officially accepted: June 22, 1906

The shape of the flag of Sweden is based on the Danish flag, the Dannebrog (see also list of flags with Scandinavian cross ).

description

Colours

Flag of Sweden

The choice of colors goes back to the coat of arms of Sweden , in which the colors yellow and blue are also used. They have the following values ​​according to the NCS color system

  • Blue: (NCS) 4055-R95B
  • Yellow: (NCS) 0580-Y10R

According to the regulation, these colors are converted into the CIE xyY color space :

  • Blue: x = 0.189; y = 0.192; Y = 8.3
  • Yellow: x = 0.472; y = 0.465; Y = 64.4

Swedish law (1982: 269) describes the colors as:

3 § Flaggans are given just mellanblå på fold och gold på corset.
Translated roughly: The colors of the flag are light medium blue on the fields and golden yellow on the cross.

These color values ​​cannot be converted unambiguously into RGB values ​​for display on computer monitors. The Swedes themselves use the color values ​​blue: R = 0 G = 91 B = 174 (# 005BAE) and yellow: R = 255 G = 195 B = 1 (# FFC301) on the official website.

Dimensions

The inner blue fields have a ratio of 4: 5 (height: width), the outer 4: 9 (height: width). The arms of the cross are half the width of the individual blue fields.

history

Union jack of Sweden and Norway 1844–1905.
National flag until 1905

King John III 1569 expressed the wish that the cross in the large coat of arms should appear for all flags and banners in the empire. A flag law of 1663 established the basic type of flag that is still used today. To indicate that the King of Sweden ruled Norway in part at the same time in the 19th century, there was a union symbol in the jack for a long time , which was a combination of the Swedish and Norwegian flags. The current flag was officially introduced on June 22, 1906.

Historical flags

flag Period use description
Sweden-Flag-1562.svg circa 1520s to circa 1650 State and war flag Compared to the current military flag, only a simple double stand and with slightly different colors and proportions
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Mid 17th century to 1815 State and war flag Compared to the current military flag with slightly different colors and proportions
Sweden-1761-army-fleet.svg 1761 to 1813 Military flag for the Arméns flotta ("Fleet of the Army") Tongued double stand entirely in blue, which was used by Arméns flotta or Skärgårdsflotta , a Swedish armed force from 1756 to 1823
Swedish and Norwegian naval ensign (1815-1844) .svg 1815 to 1844 State and military flag white St. Andrew's cross on a red background in the upper leech. The red and white jack was supposed to represent Norway.
Svensk flag 1815.svg 1815 to 1844 Trade flag The same as the current national flag with slightly different colors and proportions
Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg 1818 to 1844 Union trade flag in distant waters white St. Andrew's cross on a red background in the upper leech. The red and white jack represented Norway. The flag was introduced on October 26, 1818 for use in distant waters, i.e. beyond Cape Finisterre in north-west Spain , as an alternative to the normal Swedish merchant flag, which could also be used by Norwegian ships if desired. With the resolution of the king of July 17, 1821, the St. Andrew's cross flag was arranged as a common commercial flag
Flag of Sweden (1818-1844) (alternative) .svg 1818 to 1844 changing state flag used by private ships serving the Royal Swedish Post
Swedish civil ensign (1844–1905) .svg 1844 to 1905 National and commercial flag Union license plate as a jack in the upper leech
Naval Ensign of Sweden (1844-1905) .svg 1844 to 1905 State flag and military flag Union license plate as a jack in the upper leech
Union Jack of Sweden and Norway (1844-1905) .svg 1844 to 1905 Union flag as jack of the Swedish Navy and flag of diplomats at embassies a cross that includes the colors of both the flag of Norway and Sweden
Flag of Sweden (1897-1905) (alternative) .svg 1897 to 1905 changing state flag State flag for use on state ships and government buildings that do not fly the military flag. Used by private vessels before 1897 for the Royal Swedish Post.

Flag protocol

The flag is hoisted from March 1st to October 31st at 8:00 am; on the other days at 9:00 a.m. At sunset the flag must be raised again, but no later than 9:00 p.m. In the civil sector, these military rules are only to be understood as guidelines. Special regulations apply to areas north of the Arctic Circle .

Flag days

The Swedish flag is to be set on these days:

Day occasion
January 1st New Year
January 28th Name day of the king
March 12th Name day of the Crown Princess
varies Easter Sunday
April, 30th Birthday of the king
1st of May Labor Day
varies Pentecost Sunday
6th of June National holiday and flag day
Saturdays, varies Midsummer's Day (June 20 ... 26)
July 14th Birthday of the Crown Princess
8th August Queen's name day
second Sunday in September
every fourth year		 Reichstag election
October 24th UN day
November 6th Gustav Adolfs Day
10th of December Nobel Day
23rd of December Queen's birthday
25 December Christmas

Flags of the royal family

The flag of Sweden is not only the symbol of the Swedish kingdom, but also the royal emblem. As heir to the throne, Oscar II of Sweden had the royal flag (the kungliga flaggan) hoisted at Sofiero's summer residence . On Riksdagshuset , the seat of the Swedish Parliament , and other officials finally the daily flagging one followed his example until 1873 as King of Kings flag at Stockholm Royal Palace said.

The use of the war flag (Örlogsflagga) , a tongued double stand , with its various versions is reserved solely for the royal family as a standard and the Swedish armed forces , whereby the royal flag differs from the war flag with an additional white field in the middle with the large or small one Execution of the Swedish national coat of arms is different. In the large version, the royal order of the Seraphine , which the King of Sweden wears as Grand Master , hangs around the shield . The king personally decides on the specific use of the royal flag, which is used in various forms.

For example, the fyrduksflagga (roughly “four-cloth flag”), the king's flag in the small edition (360 × 180 cm), indicates that the king is in the kingdom and fulfilling his duties as head of state. The sexduksflagga (about "six-cloth flag"), the king's flag in the large version (540 × 270 cm), is hoisted on general flag days such as June 6, the Swedish national holiday and flag day. There is also the so-called stormflagga ("storm flag"), the king's flag in the 90 × 180 cm version, which is hoisted in adverse weather conditions.

If the king is prevented from performing his duties as head of state, for example during state visits abroad, he is generally replaced by the crown prince as head of the empire (Riksföreståndare) . Currently, this is the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden , who fulfills the duties in the king's absence. In such a case, the royal flag with the small version of the national coat of arms is hoisted at Stockholm Palace.

When the king drives up in an official connection with the car, the king's flag with the large national coat of arms is affixed to both sides. Vehicles with royal flags that contain the small national coat of arms are used by the other members of the royal family.

flag Period designation description
Royal standard of Sweden.svg 1905 until today Den kungliga flaggan ("royal flag", standard of the queen and king of Sweden ) Royal flag with the large version of the national coat of arms including the royal order of seraphines
Royal standard used by other members of the Royal House of Sweden.svg 1905 until today Standard of the ruler (Riksföreståndare) Royal flag with the small version of the national coat of arms (surrounded by the insignia of the royal order of seraphins)
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg 1905 until today Standard of the ruler (Riksföreståndare) if he is not royal The same as the general flag of war
Personal command-sign of the King of Sweden.svg 1943 until today Standard of the King of Sweden. The large version of the national coat of arms, which is quartered by a gold-blue paw cross

War flags

The general war flag (örlogsflaggan) is a tongued double stand in a ratio of 1: 2 (including the tails), which is used both as a military flag for the Swedish land forces (Försvarsmakten) and as a goose (örlogsgösen) , i.e. as a bow flag for the Swedish Marine (Svenska marinen) is used. The jacks are smaller than the military flags, but have the same proportions. The tongued double stand was originally the personal emblem of the king or the area of ​​command, which was transferred by the king. At first it was just a simple double stand until the tongue appeared in the middle of the 17th century.

General war flag

flag Period Name and use description
Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg 1905 to the present Örlogsflaggan , the military flag, which is also used as a jack (örlogsgösen) in the Swedish Navy Swedish national flag as a tongued double stand in the ratio SV 10:20 (4−2−4) :( 5−2−5−8)

Naval war flags or naval flags

flag Period Name and use description
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Amiralsflagga.svg 1972 until today Amiralsflagga ( command signal of the admiral ) The naval flag with four white stars in the upper leech . Prior to 1972 the flag carried three stars (like the current Vice Admiral's flag )
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Viceamiralsflagga.svg 1972 until today Viceamiralsflagga (command sign of the vice admiral) The naval flag with three white stars in the upper leech. Prior to 1972, the flag carried two stars (like the current rear admiral flag )
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Konteramiralsflagga.svg 1972 until today Konteramiralsflagga (command signal of the rear admiral) The naval flag with two white stars in the upper leech. Prior to 1972, the flag carried a star (like the fleet admiral's current flag )
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Flottiljamiralsflagga.svg 2001 until today Flottiljamiralsflagga (command signal of the fleet admiral) The naval flag with a white star in the upper leech.
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Örlogsstandert.svg Örlogsstandert (command signal of the commodore ) forked broad stand in the ratio 5: 8, which is horizontally divided with the colors in the ratio 1: 1
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Örlogsvimpel.svg Örlogsvimpel (command signal of the frigate captain (Kommendörkapten) , the corvette captain (Örlogskapten) or the captain lieutenant ( Kaptenlöjtnant or Kapten )) Pennant divided horizontally with the colors in a ratio of 1: 1
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Örlogsgaljadet.svg Örlogsgaljadet (command signal of the "Kompagnieofficer" (Kompaniofficer) with the rank of ensign ) wide triangular stand in the ratio 5: 8 with vertically divided colors
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Avdelningschef.svg Command signal of the "Association captain" (Avdelning chief) triangular stand that is horizontally divided with the colors in a 1: 1 ratio
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Flottiljchef.svg Command signal of the "Flotilla Captain " (Flottiljchef) vertical tricolor as a triangular stand
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Divisionschef.svg Command signal of the " division commander" (division chief) Swedish national flag as a triangular stander
Naval Rank Flag of Sweden - Äldste chef.svg Command symbol of the oldest commander (Äldste chef) horizontal tricolor as a triangular stand

Regional flags

Although the historical provinces, which are called Landskap (German: "Landscape"), have no longer had any political significance since the 14th century and have been replaced by the Län (German: "Lehen"), many Swedes still identify with it today their "landscape", which is why many of them use regional flags with official or unofficial status in addition to the national flag to express their local patriotism.

The official flags of the Swedish landscapes (Swedish: Landskapsflagga ) are usually square coat of arms banners with the coat of arms of the Swedish provinces as a motif. The coats of arms mostly date from the 16th century, whereby the background color of the shield often fills the entire flag cloth.

Unofficial landscape flags

In addition to the coat of arms banners, there are other flags for many landscapes, most of which were designed on private initiative in modern times. With the exception of the flag of Skåne, they have no official status, but are often better known than the official coat of arms banners and are often used to demonstrate regional independence and to promote regional tourism. Mostly these are Scandinavian cross flags , which with their traditional cross represent the bond with the Nordic countries . Among the best known is the flag of Skåne, designed in 1902 and officially recognized by the province of Skåne in 1999 , as well as the horizontal tricolor created in 1983 for the local patriotic cultural and marketing project Republic of Jämtland . It is precisely these two flags that have become recognized symbols of the region.

Flags for other areas and ethnic groups

Other flags do not represent a historical landscape or a present-day country, but they have great significance for a certain area or ethnic group. Among them, the flags of the Sami (since August 15, 1986) and Tornedalen (since July 15, 2007) have official status.

Using the Swedish flag outside of Sweden

The flags of Wilmington ( Delaware ) and Philadelphia ( Pennsylvania ) are modeled on the Swedish flag in memory of the short-lived Swedish colony of New Sweden .

Web links

Commons : Flags of Sweden  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Sveriges Riksdag: Förordning (1983: 826) med riktlinjer för färgnyanserna i Sveriges flagga , regulation with the guidelines for the colors of the Swedish flag (Swedish), accessed on June 26, 2010
  2. ↑ Sveriges Riksgag: Lag (1982: 269) om Sveriges flagga , Law on the Swedish flag (Swedish), accessed 26 June 2010
  3. ↑ Sveriges Riksdag: Förordning (1982: 270) om allmänna flaggdagar , Ordinance on General Flag Days (Swedish), accessed on June 26, 2010
  4. ↑ Sveriges Riksdag: Förordning 1994: 657 om använding av tretungad flagga , Ordinance on the use of the tongued double stand (Swedish), accessed on June 19, 2010
  5. ↑ Sveriges Kungahus: Flaggor , Swedish Royalty on Flags (Swedish), accessed June 19, 2010
  6. ^ Flag of the worlds: Regional flags (Sweden ), accessed June 20, 2010