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The Scandinavian cross-shaped flag was first put on banners as a Christian symbol during wars. Between 1397 to 1523, the Union of Kalmar, which consisted of the Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark and Norway and some of the areas of Finland, adopted a flag with a cross in red and a yellow-coloured background.
The cross is a Christian image that initially showed up in the Dannebrog, Denmark’s public banner, in the first half of the thirteenth century. A similar design, however with a red Nordic cross shape on a yellow background, was the banner during the Kalmar Union(1397 to 1523). When that was dissolved in 1523, another one with a yellow cross on a blue background (from the Swedish coat of arms embraced in 1442), was taken on as Sweden’s public banner, while Norway’s banner was taken on in 1821.
The Appearance Of The Nordic Flag
Denmark’s Flag (Dannebrog)
The Danish national flag features a white-coloured cross shape on a red background. After acting as the trade banner since 1748 and being flown unofficially throughout the nation from the 14th century, it was formally recognised in 1854.
The origin narrative of the Danish National flag is the Lindainse Battle, which took place in 1219 during the Crusade of Livonian. Legends have it said that just as the surrender of Danes was going to happen, Dannebrog descended from the clouds and filled the hearts of the Danish National men with bravery, propelling them to be victorious.
The three forms of the Danish Nation flag are the civilian population flag, which civilians can fly, the Splitflag, which is the official Danish National flag which the military uses when on land, and the Orlog Flag, which is flown by naval forces. State flags with two ends are exclusively used for formal purposes.
Sweden’s Flag (Sveriges Flagga)
A yellow/gold cross shape and a blue coloured body make up the Swedish Nation flag and it was formally adopted in 1906. Colours were supposed to be based on the Danish flag and were influenced by the Swedish coats of arms, which combine gold colour and blue colour.
As per folklore, when King Eric arrived in Finland in 1157, he saw a golden-coloured cross shape in the blue clouds, driving him to embrace the sign and colouring as his flag. However, others argue that this tale resembles the original mythology of the Danish National flag.
Norway’s Flag (Norges Flagg)
The flag of the Norwegian nation has a red coloured body with a blue coloured cross shape highlighted in white. It was made by an MP, adopted in the year 1821, but it wasn’t formally used till the year 1899, after the dissolution of Norway’s alliance with the Swedish Nation.
Similarly to the flag of Sweden, the rectangle-shaped banner is only for normal civilian usage. Like the Swedish National flag, the state and the naval flag have three prongs.
Finland’s Flag(Suomen Lippu)
A blue coloured cross shape and a white coloured body make up the Finnish flag. After serving as the banner of a club named Nyländska Jaktklubben since 1861, it was officially approved in 1978. Finland held a contest for a formal flag after gaining independence in 1917. The ultimate design, which includes a coronet, was created by artists from Finland. The flag of Finland nation was changed again in 1922 and then in 1978, which is the present iteration.
The plain rectangle is Finland’s civilian population flag, which anyone can hoist at any time. The state national flag has many similarities to the civilian population flag, but the Finnish coat of arms is the center of the blue colored cross shape. The flag of naval forces and military forces has three prongs.
Iceland’s Flag (Íslenski Fáninn)
The Iceland National flag has a red coloured cross shape and a white coloured boundary and a blue coloured background. It was formally accepted in the year 1944, but it had been used as an unofficial symbol of Christianity since 1913, even more notably, since Iceland’s freedom in 1918.
The country’s first flag was an upside-down version of Finland’s, along with a white coloured cross shape on a blue backdrop.
Conclusion
Denmark was the first among the Nordic countries to use the Cross-based pattern in their flags. Subsequently, the other Nordic countries followed suit, adopting different variations to suit their needs. Over the years they have undergone changes but the basic cross pattern on vividly coloured background has remained intact. A few other places in other countries have also adopted this pattern for regional flags like the Orkney and Shetland Islands in Scotland, UK, Calais in France, etc.
