Flag of Finland

The flag of Finland, also called Siniristilippu (The Blue Cross Flag), dates from the beginning of the 20th century, and is ultimately modelled on the Danish flag, the Dannebrog. It features a blue Scandinavian cross on a white background. Blue represents lakes and the sky, and white represents snow and the white nights of the Finnish summer. 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.

History

The current blue-crossed design was first used in Finland by Jaktklubben i Nylands län, a yacht club founded in Helsinki in 1861. In addition to the blue cross on the white backgound the yacht club flag had the crowned arms of the province of Uusimaa (Nyland) within two crossed branches in the upper hoist quarter. Except for the position of the cross, the flag was similar to the flag of St. Petersburg Yacht Club, founded previous year. The design can be traced to the Russian Navy ensign, which has a blue saltire on white background.

Shortly after Finland gained 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 famous blue and white.

One entry had the Dannebrog cross design, but with a yellow cross on a red background. Another entry had diagonal blue and white stripes, but it was criticized as being more suitable for a barber shop than a new independent country.

Legal definition

Size

Under Finnish law, the ratio of the flag is 11:18 (height:width). 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. When flown from a flagpole, the flag is recommended to have a width equalling one sixth of the height of the pole.

Colours

PMS colour system: Blue 294C, Red 186C, Yellow 123C

CMYK tones:

Blue C 100 %, M 56 %, Y 0 %, K 18,5 %
Red C 0 %, M 91 %, Y 76 %, K 6 %
Yellow C 0 %, M 30,5 %, Y 94 %, K 0 %

Red and yellow are used in the coat of arms that appears in the state flag; the PMS colours are specified in Government Decision 827/1993 (In Finnish).

Other rules

By 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 the 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, 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.

Yachting club ensigns

A Finnish specialty is that any yachting club registered in Finland may apply to have a flag with the club emblem officially approved for use in 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.

External links

Finland Ministry of the Interior: The Flag and Arms of Finland

National flags | Finnish culture | Nordic Cross Flags

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