The
Flag of Denmark - Description and Picture of the Danish Flag
As the
above picture of the Danish Flag indicates the overall
background is Red
The description of
the Danish Flag is as follows:
Red with a white
cross that extends to the edges of the flag
The vertical part
of the cross is shifted to the hoist side
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Danish flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Danish flag is
described as Scandinavian Cross reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Danish flag is described as
28:37
The lefthalf of the flag ( viewer's left side )
is called the Hoist and pictures the vertical part of the cross
The Meaning & History of the Danish Flag - The National flag of
Denmark is known as the Dannebrog which means "Danish cloth"
The origins of the
Danish flag are unknown but it is likely that they derive from the
Danish coats of arms used during the Crusades
Another possible
explanation of the origins and meaning of the Danish Flag is
that it it based on the coat of arms of Lubeck which was red
with a white cross
The first Danish
king was also king of Lubeck
Lubeck was founded
on the site of a ruined Slavic settlement on the Trave River
near the Baltic Sea
Lubeck was
destroyed by fire in 1138
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Danish
Flag Etiquette
Danish Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic
Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Danish as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Danish
State Flag of
Danish
Military Flag of
Danish (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Danish
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Danish Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Danish should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Danish flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Danish should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Danish flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Danish, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Danish Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Danish flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Danish flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Danish flag to the top, then lowering the
Danish Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Danish flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Danish flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Danish flag
The Danish flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Danish
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Danish flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Danish
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding Danish Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Denmark
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea
& the North Sea, on a
peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major
islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Danish Land Size : 42,394 sq km
Danish Climate / Weather
: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters
and cool summers
Danish Population :
5,413,392 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
n/a
Danish Capital
City: Copenhagen
Danish GDP: $167.7
billion (2003 est.)
Danish Main Industries :
food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing,
chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture and
other wood products, shipbuilding, windmills
The Vikings were prolific seafaring warriors from Denmark, Norway
and Sweden. In Norse the word 'víking' means piracy and the
Vikings were best known as raiders rather than as disciplined
soldiers. During the Viking Age the Vikings terrorised Europe,
including Russia, and established Viking settlements in Greenland,
Newfoundland and quite probably discovered the Americas 500 years
before Christopher Columbus. Their narrow, long boats were key to
their success allowing them to access countries via rivers. In
845AD the Viking Chieftain, Ragnor, led 120 Viking ships down the
River Seine to Paris! The access to major cities via the rivers
Vikings enabled the Vikings to settle and establish trading
throughout Europe. The Vikings converted to Christianity, became
assimilated into different civilisations and so ended the Viking
Warrior culture.
The Viking Timeline
793
Vikings first raid in England. The monastery of St. Cuthbert at
Lindisfarne is sacked
844
Vikings raid Seville in Spain
845
Vikings, led by Ragnor, travel up the River Seine in France
845 The
French King pays a ransom to prevent the sacking of Paris
860
Vikings attack Constantinople
862
Vikings found Novgorod in Russia
874
Vikings settle Iceland
900
Vikings raid the Mediterranean coasts
911
Vikings under Rollo are settled in Normandy
981
Erik the Red discovers Greenland
986
Vikings land in Canada
1000 Greenland
and Iceland are converted to Christianity by the Vikings
1001 Leif
Eriksson reaches the American coast
1050 Vikings
found the city of Oslo in Norway which is established as a major
trade center
Concise History of
Denmark & its Flag
965: Harald
Bluetooth (Harold I) converts the Danes to christianity
1016: the
Danish king Canute (Knut) II defeats the Wessex King Edmund and
becomes King of Denmark and England
1028: Danish Canute
conquers Norway
1035: Canute
dies. The heir to Denmark and England is Hardacnut
1042:
Hardacnut dies suddenly and Edward the Confessor regains the
throne of England
1350: the
Black plague, "Svartedauen" sweeps Denmark and Scandinavia
killing one third of the inhabitants
1397 - Union
of Kalmar unites Denmark, Sweden and Norway under a single
monarch. Denmark is the dominant power
1660:
Denmark becomes a hereditary monarchy under Frederik III
1729:
Greenland becomes a Danish province
1814 -
Denmark cedes Norway to Sweden
1914-18
World War I - Denmark is neutral
1939 -
Denmark signs 10-year non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany
1940 -
Germany invades Denmark
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1945 -
Germany surrenders and Danish occupation ends
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The
Danish Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Danish Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
