The
Flag of Sweden - Description of the Swedish Flag
As the
above picture of the Swedish Flag indicates the overall
background is Blue with a Yellow cross
The description of
the Swedish Flag is as follows:
Blue with a golden
yellow cross extending 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 Swedish flag represent the
following:
Yellow - a
symbol of generosity
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Swedish flag is
described as the 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 Swedish flag is described as
5:8
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 Swedish Flag
The Swedish
flag
dates back to 1569
Inspired by the
Coats of Arms of Sweden, which feature three yellow crowns on a
blue background
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
Swedish
Flag Etiquette
Swedish 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 Swedish as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Swedish
State Flag of
Swedish
Military Flag of
Swedish (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Swedish
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Swedish Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Swedish 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 Swedish flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Swedish should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Swedish flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Swedish, 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 Swedish Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Swedish flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Swedish flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Swedish flag to the top, then lowering the
Swedish Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Swedish flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Swedish flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Swedish flag
The Swedish 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 Swedish
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
Swedish flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Swedish
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 Swedish Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Sweden
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and
Norway
Swedish Land Size
: land: 410,934 sq km
Swedish Climate / Weather : temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and
cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Swedish Population
: 8,986,400 (July 2004 est.)
Swedish Capital
City: Stockholm
Swedish GDP: $238.1
billion (2003 est.)
Swedish Main Industries :
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and
telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products,
processed foods, motor vehicles
Swedish Agricultural
products : barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Swedish Currency :
Swedish krona (SEK)
Main Colors of the
Swedish Flag :
Blue with a Yellow cross
The
Vikings AD793 - 1050 The Viking Age
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 Coloumbus. 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
Sweden & its Flag
1350: the
Black plague, "Svartedauen" sweeps Sweden 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
1523 Gustav
I of Sweden re-establishes separation of the Swedish Crown from
the union
1523 - 1654
Vasa Dynasty
1654 - 1720
Wittelsbach Dynasty (Pfalzisks)
1611-1718
Sweden becomes a great power
1632 - 1654
Queen Christina rules Sweden
1720 - 1751
Brabant Dynasty (Hessen)
1751 - 1818
Holsten-Gottorp Dynasty
1814 The
peace treaty of Kiel and Denmark cedes Norway to Sweden
1818 -
Present Day the Bernadotte Swedish Dynasty
1901 Alfred
Nobel, the Swedish millionaire chemist and industrialist,
initiates the Nobel prizes
1905 The
union with Sweden disintegrates and Norway becomes an
independent kingdom
1914-18
World War I Sweden remains neutral
1939 - World
War II Sweden declares its neutrality
Sweden
rejects a request from Germany to use its territory as a transit
route for troops
1940 -
Sweden is forced to allow German troops to march through Sweden
to Norway
1939 - 1945
WW11
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1945
Germany surrenders to the Allies
"Around the World in 80
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A combination of information
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In just a short period of time this
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The
Swedish Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Swedish 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!
