Swedish Flag

Swedish Flag

 

FLAGS - NATIONS - HISTORY - GEOGRAPHY

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 left half 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
 

Canton - Flag Terminology

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
 
 
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
 
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 anew flag
 
 
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
 

National Flags of the World Map

Sweden

Location: Northern Europe, bordering
the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak,
between Finland and
Norway

 
 

Sweden

  • 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
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.

 

Swedish Flag

Swedish Flag - Picture - Information - Facts - History - Swedish Flag - Emblem - Coat of Arms - Meaning - Colors - Flag Terminolgy and Protocol  - Swedish Flag - Culture - Geography - Info - Picture - Information  - Swedish Flag - Pictures - Facts - History - Emblem - Coat of Arms - Meaning  - Swedish Flag - Colors - Flag Terminolgy and Protocol - Hoist - Fly - Canton - Swedish Flag - Culture - Geography - Info - Picture - Swedish Flag - Swedish Flag - Outdoor Flags - house Flags - Military Flags - Historical Flags - Patriotic Flags - Buy Flags - Historic Flags - National Flags - Writtn By Linda Alchin