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 minutes!"
A combination of information regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this concise information with specific facts will improve your overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80 minutes!"
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!
