Flag of Norway

The flag of Norway (Bokmål: Norges flagg; Nynorsk: Noregs flagg) is red with an indigo blue Scandinavian cross fimbriated in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog, the flag of Denmark.[1]

See also: List of flags of Norway

Kingdom of Norway
UseNational flag and ensign
Proportion8:11
Adopted13 July 1821 (1821-07-13)
DesignA red field charged with a white-fimbriated dark blue Nordic cross that extends to the edges; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.
Designed byFredrik Meltzer
Variant flag of Kingdom of Norway
UseState and war flag, state and naval ensign
Proportion16:27
Variant flag of Kingdom of Norway
NameKongeflagget ("The King’s Flag")
"Ancient Royal Standard" (1905)
UseSporadic 13th-18th century (Norwegian Realm, Kalmar Union, Denmark-Norway)
1905-present (Kingdom of Norway)
Proportion8:11
Adopted15 November 1905 (1905-11-15)
DesignThe Coat of arms of Norway in banner form that features a golden lion over a red field.
Designed byVarious (Anders Thiset, Eilif Peterssen, Cabinet of Norway)

History
See also: Royal Standard of Norway
A depiction originally from ca 1370 of a Nordic king holding the historic emblems and coats of arms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
The first war flag of independent Norway, introduced 27 February 1814, replaced 7 March 1815 by a common war flag for Sweden and Norway.
The national and merchant flag of Norway (1844-1899), with the Norway and Sweden union mark, the "herring salad".

It is difficult to establish what the earliest flag of Norway looked like. During ancient times countries did not fly flags. Kings and other rulers flew flags, especially in battle. Saint Olav used a serpent within a white mark at the Battle of Nesjar. Prior to this the raven or dragon was used. Magnus the Good used the same mark as Saint Olav. Harald Hardråde used the raven banner. This flag was flown by various Viking chieftains and other Scandinavian rulers during the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries AD. Inge used a red lion on gold. Sverre used an eagle in gold and red. The earliest known flag which could be described as a national flag of Norway is the one used today as the Royal Standard. Eirik Magnusson used a flag described as a golden lion with axe and crown on red from 1280 and this was since regularly the flag of the King of Norway and thereby also of Norway.

The flag is based on the coat of arms and was originally only a flag for the ruler of Norway (as it is today). It was later also used on ships and on fortresses until it was gradually phased out during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its earliest certain depiction is on the seal of duchess Ingebjørg in 1318. Around 1500 it became the custom for ships to fly the flag of their home country to identify their nationality. A red flag with the golden lion and silver halberd is depicted as the flag of Norway in a Dutch flag book from 1669 to 1670.[2] At least as late as 1698 the lion banner was flown over Akershus Fortress. The "Norwegian lion" was placed in the colours of all the Norwegian regiments in 1641. In 1748 a decree stated that the Dannebrog should be the only legal merchant flag.

From about the 16th century until 1814, Norway used the same flag as Denmark, as it was in union with that country. In 1814 independent Norway adopted the Danish flag with the Norwegian lion in the canton or the upper square at the hoist. This flag was in use as state and war flag until 1815 and as merchant flag until 1821. Later in 1814 Norway was united with Sweden, and on 7 March 1815 a common war flag for both states was introduced by royal order in council, the Swedish flag with a white cross on a red background in the square canton. The same design in a rectangular flag was introduced as an alternate merchant flag in 1818, for use in distant waters, i.e. south of Cape Finisterre in Spain.[3]

The current flag of Norway was designed in 1821 by Fredrik Meltzer, a member of the parliament (Storting). It was adopted by both chambers of the Storting on 11 May and 16 May, respectively. However, the king refused to sign the flag law, but approved the design for civilian use by royal order in council on 13 July 1821. The constitution of 1814 explicitly stated that the war flag was to be a union flag, hence the common flag (Swedish with a canton signifying Norway) was used by the armies and navies of both states until 1844.

Until 1838 the Norwegian flag was only used in Northern waters, i.e. the waters north of Cape Finisterre, as Norway had no treaty with the Barbary pirates of North Africa and had to fly the Swedish or union flag for protection. In 1844 a union mark combining Norwegian and Swedish colours was placed at the hoist of both countries' flags. The badge was jokingly or derogatorily called Sildesalaten ("the herring salad") because of its jumble of colours and resemblance to a popular dish on the breakfast tables of both countries. Initially, the union flag was popular in Norway, since it clearly denoted the equal status of the two united states. As the union with Sweden became less popular, the Norwegian parliament abolished the union mark from the national (merchant) and state flags in 1898. Although the law was not approved by the King, it became effective since it had been passed by three consecutive Stortings. The "pure" flag was first flown in 1899, but the union mark had to be kept in the war flag. After the dissolution of the union, it was removed from the navy flag as well on 9 June 1905. Sweden kept it in all flags until 1 November 1905.

Laws regarding the flag

The Norwegian flag law of 1898[4] specifies the appearance of the merchant and state flags and their use by merchant ships, customs and post vessels. The flag regulations of 1927[5] further describe the use of the state flag on state property and on national holidays.

The flag regulations also describe the time of day when the flag should be hoisted and lowered. From March to October the flag should be hoisted from 08.00. From November to February it should be hoisted from 09.00. The flag is lowered at sunset, although no later than 21.00, even if sunset is later than that. In the northern counties of Nordland and Troms the flag is flown between 10.00 and 15.00 from November to February. These rules do not apply for private use of the flag, but they are generally observed by all citizens.

There also exist written rules for the proper folding of the flag, for not letting it touch the ground, and in addition the unwritten rule that it should not be worn on the body below the waist.


National and merchant flag
State and war flag

The proportions of the national flag are 22:16 (width to length), its colour elements having widths of 6:1:2:1:12 and lengths of 6:1:2:1:6. The proportions of the state flag are 27:16, or 6:1:2:1:6:11 horizontally and 6:1:2:1:6 vertically.

The law regarding the Norwegian flag by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defines the colours as intense red and dark blue (“høirødt” og “mørkeblåt”) and white, with no reference to a specific colour system.[6]

Flag producers normally use the red colour 200 and blue colour 281 from the Pantone colour matching system[7] (note that no suffixes are specified in the PMS codes). These colours for the Norwegian flag were also defined on page 79 of the publication Flags and anthems manual, London 2012, and were used for the summer Olympic games in London 2012.[8] Oslo Orlogsforening also specify Pantone 200 and 281.[9] The flag manufacturer Langkilde & Søn even refers to Pantone 200 as «Norwegian Red» and Pantone 281 as «Norwegian Blue».[10]

Other sources have specified different colours for the red and the blue in relation to the Pantone colour matching system (PMS). In a document on the Norwegian government's web pages, the red colour is defined as “Pantone 032 U” and the blue as “Pantone 281 U”.[11] However, Norwegian flag producers consider this red colour to be incorrect, and have complained that the Norwegian state propagates what they perceive as misinformation. For example, it has been argued that pantone suffixes (such as C and U) only are relevant for print on paper, and thus should not be used to specify flag colours.[12] Norwegian authorities have since clarified that the colours only were an internal recommendation intended specifically for screen printing, and not a legal definition, and has since withdrawn the recommendation.[12] The Nordic Flag Society currently defines the red colour as PMS 186 and the blue as PMS 287.[13] The Nordic Council attributes their colours to this source but the red colour is defined as “Pantone 186 C” (note the C postfix) while the blue is identical to the source (“Pantone 287”).[14] However, in 2010 the same website defined the blue colour as “Pantone 301”. [15]

On 25 April 2018 the Norwegian foreign minister recommended that Norwegian flag manufacturers take initiative to form a technical standard describing a guidance on which colours to use in the flag of Norway,[16] similar to what has been done in Denmark.[17] It was stressed that it is the colour of the finished product that matters, and that this may result in the guide describing different colour codes for fabric, paper and web use.

Due to the vastly different ways colors are reproduced on physical flags versus on digital displays (using web colors), there is naturally no precise RGB equivalent to the Pantone colours. However, some websites list suggested color values. The site, Encycolorpedia, suggest #BA122B for PMS 200 (intense red)[18] and #002469 for PMS 281 (dark blue)[19]

Traditions regarding the flag

Music when raising (hoisting) or lowering the flag

When raising the Norwegian flag on festive or ceremonial occasions, the hoisting will often be accompanied by a bugle call, fanfare, or the national anthem (Ja, vi elsker). For civilian use on ceremonial occasions, there are no written rules concerning this. The Norwegian armed forces have a unified bugle call for hoisting and lowering the flag, known as "flaggappell" (Attention to the flag) (cf. Bugle calls of the Norwegian Army).

Code of conduct during flag hoisting and lowering

According to Norwegian Law as well as common usage, flags of other sovereign states are to be treated with the same respect as the Norwegian flag.

For civilians and non-uniformed government employees, there are no formal hand gestures (e.g. the U.S. hand-over-the-heart gesture {cf. United States Flag Code}) that must be performed. But it is commonly agreed that during the hoisting or lowering of the flag, civilians should conduct themselves in a respectful manner by facing the flag and standing still, straight, and quiet. Males should be bareheaded (unless there are religious, medical, or climatic reasons for covering the head).

All uniformed government personnel (e.g.: municipal traffic wardens, policemen, customs official, prison wardens, maritime pilots, armed forces personnel) follow the Norwegian Armed Forces regulation during flag hoisting or lowering. The regulations stipulate that when seeing the flag being hoisted or lowered, or hearing the bugle call, all activity should if possible be stopped, and personnel should execute the foot drill manoeuvre of "Halt and front face" (stopping up and turning one's body to face the flagpole).

If a person is not in formation and is wearing a uniform hat, cap or beret, he or she must render a salute. A person in formation or not wearing a prescribed uniform hat, should stand at attention for the duration of the bugle signal, or if in sight of the hoisting or lowering, until the flag is either at the top of the pole, at half mast, or until two thirds of the flag is in the hands of the flag party.

Rolling up the flag

Unlike the Anglo-American traditions of folding a flag (the triangular shape of the U.S. flag or the square shape of the UK's Union Flag), the Norwegian tradition is to roll the flag into a cylindrical shape and tie it up after lowering it.

The first step of this procedure is to fold the flag lengthwise so that its two long sides meet. Each half will then be folded 180 degrees, concealing the longitudinal white and blue stripes. Finally the folded full length flag, its width ​1⁄4 of the hoist, will be rolled up into a red cylinder.

If the flag is fitted with a line, this is wrapped around the flag and tied with a simple slip knot. The use of a simple slip knot allows one person alone to hoist the flag unaided.

Occupation flag

When on international missions, Norwegian armed forces may keep a flag (national or merchant flag) raised during the night and illuminated by a spotlight, to affirm their presence and to boost morale.

This tradition stems from World War II, when a small-sized flag was hoisted (usually above the CO quarters) in the numerous camps of Norwegian forces in the UK, USA, Sweden, and Canada, to symbolize that fight against the enemy would go on day and night until final victory.

Dishonoured flag

Military regulations stipulate that a Norwegian flag shall never touch the ground, since this is disrespectful towards the flag and may signify surrender.

Symbolism

Fredrik Meltzer submitted his proposal just in time to be exhibited in parliament on 4 May 1821 together with a large number of other proposals. It was approved by both chambers during the following two weeks. Meltzer himself provided no written explanation for his choice of design and colours. However, his intentions may be inferred from an earlier letter of 30 April with his comments regarding the proposal from the flag committee. That design was divided quarterly red and white. Meltzer objected to the colours because they were too similar to those of the Danish flag. He added that it would be equally unseemly to choose the colours of any of "those states with which we have been or are connected with". Instead, he recommended a tricolour of red, white and blue, "three colours that now denote freedom, such as we have seen in the French flag of freedom, and still see in that of the Dutch and Americans, and in the Union of the Englishmen".[20]

His eventual choice a few days later of a Nordic cross was clearly based on the tradition established by the other Nordic countries, Denmark and Sweden. This cross represents Christianity.[21][22] The red and blue colours also explicitly referred to the same two countries, former and present union partners. It was clearly understood by all who took part in the flag discussions locally, in the press or in parliament what those colours denoted. A predominantly red flag had many adherents among those who were attached to the union with Denmark or to its flag, which for centuries had also been that of Norway. Others, who saw Denmark as an oppressor, favoured the blue colour associated with the new Swedish dynasty which was seen as more receptive of Norwegian ambitions of autonomy.[23] Consequently, most of the other flag proposals on the agenda had either red or blue as the predominant colour, depending on the political preferences of the proposers.[24]

Norwegian flag days

Chronology
* = Contested
Usage Type Design(s) Note(s) Dates in use Duration
War*
Naval*		BannerReconstruction of the first recorded banner (one of several), the Raven banner, flown by chieftains and rulers in and from Scandinavia.8th – 10th century
Royal
National
Naval		Heraldic
Banner		Royal Standard of Norway: As a banner of arms, this has been the historical flag of the Old Kingdom of Norway and its kings. Used as the coat of arms from at least 1318, and also as flag-format on ships and fortresses.[27] This flag with the coat of arms of Norway is still in use today by the King of Norway.13th century – c. 1536
c. 1536 – 1748 →
1905 – present →
Union*Nordic crossProbable flag of the Kalmar Union.c. 1397 – c. 1523 →
Union
Naval		Nordic crossFlag of Denmark–Norway. From 1748 the only approved merchant flag.c. 1536 – 1748 →
1748 – 1814
National
Naval		Nordic cross
Canton		Flag of Norway (1814–1821). On ships only north of Cape Finisterre, Spain. On longer distances the two following flags were used.1814 – 1821
NavalNordic crossFlag used by Norwegian ships south of Cape Finisterre 1815–1818, optional until 1821.1815 – 1821
NavalNordic cross
Canton		Flag used by Norwegian ships south of Cape Finisterre, Spain 1818–1844. From 1821 it was also used by Swedish ships there.1818 – 1844
National
Naval		Nordic crossFlag of Norway (1821–1844). On ships only north of Cape Finisterre, Spain, until 1838.1821 – 1844
National
Union
Naval		Nordic cross
Canton		Flag of Norway (1844–1899)1844 – 1899
National
Naval		Nordic crossFlag of Norway (1899–present)1899 – 1940
1940 – 1945 →
1945 – present

See also

References
  1. Andrew Evans (2008). Iceland. Bradt. ISBN 9781841622156. Retrieved 31 December 2007. Legend states that a red cloth with the white cross simply fell from the sky in the middle of the 13th-century Battle of Valdemar, after which the Danes were victorious. As a badge of divine right, Denmark flew its cross in the other Scandinavian countries it ruled and as each nation gained independence, they incorporated the Christian symbol.
  2. Munksgaard, Jan Henrik (2012): "Flagget − Et nasjonal symbol blir til". Årbok Vest-Agder-museet, Kristiansand, p.15
  3. Munksgaard, Jan Henrik (2012): "Flagget − Et nasjonal symbol blir til". Årbok Vest-Agder-museet, Kristiansand, pp. 76-80
  4. "LOV 1898-12-10 nr 01: Lov om Norges Flag". Lovdata.no. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  5. "FOR 1927-10-21 nr 9733: Forskrift angående bruk av statsflagget og handelsflagget". Lovdata.no. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  6. "Lov om Norges Flag [flaggloven] - Lovdata". lovdata.no.
  7. "UD og norske flaggprodusenter krangler om dette er det riktige norske flagget".
  8. d'organisation, Jeux olympiques d'été Comité; d'organisation, Jeux olympiques d'été Comité (12 December 2017). "Flags and anthems manual London 2012 : SPP final version / London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games". LOCOG. London.
  9. "Flagget vårt". Oslo Orlogsforening. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  10. Norske flaggregler - Langkilde & Søn
  11. Regjeringen.no https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumentarkiv/stoltenberg-ii/ud/Lover-og-regler/Reglement/2006/instruks_for_utenrikstjenesten/13/id260737/
  12. Fargene i det Norske flagget | Flaggfabrikken a.s
  13. "Norway" (PDF). Nordic Flag Society. September 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  14. "The Norwegian flag". The Nordic Council. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  15. "Norges flag". The Nordic Council. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  16. Svar på spørsmål om fargen på det norske flagget - regjeringen.no
  17. Dansk Standard DS 359:2005
  18. Encycolorpedia - Pantone / PMS 200 / #ba122b
  19. Encycolorpedia - Pantone / PMS 281 / #002469
  20. Stortingsarkivet: Meltzer's letter of 30 April, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. Jeroen Temperman (2010). State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN 978-9004181489. Retrieved 31 December 2007. Many predominantly Christian states show a cross, symbolising Christianity, on their national flag. Scandinavian crosses or Nordic crosses on the flags of the Nordic countries–Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden–also represent Christianity.
  22. Carol A. Foley (1996). The Australian Flag: Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon. William Gaunt & Sons. ISBN 9781862871885. Retrieved 31 December 2007. The Christian cross, for instance, is one of the oldest and most widely used symbols in the world, and many European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greece and Switzerland, adopted and currently retain the Christian cross on their national flags.
  23. Stortingsarkivet: printed circular letter from Kielland, 5 September 1820, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. Munksgaard, Jan Henrik: "Et nytt flagg for Norge 1814-1821", In: Nordisk flaggkontakt, Vol. 40, 2005, pp.19-30.
  25. – Svært gledelig at kvenflagget heises i Tromsø
  26. https://lovdata.no/forskrift/1927-10-21-9733/§4
  27. "Norges flagg". 27 July 2016 – via Store norske leksikon.
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