Nordic Cross flag
The Nordic Cross Flag, Nordic Cross, or Scandinavian Cross is a pattern of flags usually associated with the flags of the Scandinavian countries of which it originated. All of the Nordic countries except Greenland have adopted such flags. The cross design, which represents Christianity,[1][2][3] is depicted extending to the edges of the flag with the vertical part of the cross shifted to the hoist side, rather than centred on the flag. All Scandinavian flags may be flown as gonfalons as well.
The first flag with the design was the Danish Dannebrog; thereafter, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and some of their subdivisions used this as inspiration for their own flags. The Norwegian flag was the first Nordic cross flag with three colours. Though the flags share this pattern, they have individual histories and symbolism.
Some of the flags in this list do not have official status. Also, note that flag proportions may vary between the different flags and sometimes even between different versions of the same flag.
Flags of the Nordic countries
Note that most of these flags are historical or have not been officially adopted and their use remains limited.
Denmark
Finland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Autonomous regions
Flags of Germany
Nordic flags in Germany were historically used to allude to the nation's Norse heritage and Nordic origins. 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.
Flags of the United Kingdom
Many locations in Scotland and England were colonized by Norwegian and Danish settlers and viking raiders during the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries. Several locales, particularly in the Scottish islands, have flags or have had flag proposals based on the Nordic cross as a recognition of this Scandinavian heritage.
Scotland
Former and unofficial flags (Scotland)
Flag proposals and unofficial flags (England)
Flags of the Baltic states
Many territories around the Baltic Sea have begun using Nordic cross flags. Sometimes this is done to bolster the locality's association with the Scandinavian states (and, as with the proposed flags of Latvia and Estonia, to assert a Baltic identity over a long-standing affiliation with the Russian sphere of influence.)
Flags of ethnic or linguistic groups
Flags elsewhere that feature the Nordic Cross or similar design
Flags of Brazilian municipalities
Flag of Santos F.C., Brazil.
Non-Nordic Cross flags of areas associated with the Nordic countries
Although different, the offset of the circles and the lines are reminiscent of the Nordic cross flags.
Image gallery
See also
References
- ^ Jeroen Temperman. State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 88. http://books.google.com/books?id=Khag6tbsIn4C&pg=PA88&dq=flag+of+sweden+christian&ei=S3tGTZrYAcqr8AbOqcWgDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CFAQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=flag%20of%20sweden%20christian&f=false. Retrieved 2007-12-31. "Many predominantly Christian states show a cross, symbolising Christainity, 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."
- ^ Carol A. Foley. The Australian Flag: Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon. William Gaunt & Sons. http://books.google.com/books?id=WV7ag4EpHF8C&pg=PA10&dq=sweden+flag+cross+christian&ei=ZX5GTcO3MIH58Abcq6jqAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CGkQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=sweden%20flag%20cross%20christian&f=false. Retrieved 2007-12-31. "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."
- ^ Andrew Evans. Iceland. Bradt. http://books.google.com/books?id=9_GfdBAASUQC&pg=PA27&dq=iceland+flag+christianity&ei=3YNGTbOfNML98AaumrzkDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=iceland%20flag%20christianity&f=false. Retrieved 2007-12-31. "Legend states that a red cloth with the white cross simply fell from the sky in the middle of the 13-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."
- ^ Kunstavisen
- ^ http://www.handelskammaren.net/sv/Omoss/Historik/Vastsvenska-flaggan/
- ^ In 1844, 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 two duchies (Holstein and Lauenburg: effectively until 1863, in Schleswig effectively until early 1864.) Use of the Danish flag was in turn outlawed by the secessionist administration that claimed both provinces 1848-1851.
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