Finland Flag

The flag of Finland consists in a Scandinavian Cross, and refers to the Danish flag, the Dannebrog. It is called Siniristilippu (the flag at the blue cross). Independent since 1917, Finland adopts a provisional flag which incorporates the arms of the country : a crowned golden lion on a red background, surrounded by white flowers and wearing a sword. A competition is then held to give the country an official flag. Proposals made to the commission are of two kinds: many use red and yellow, in reference to the flag then used, but other prefer white and blue, which also symbolize the geography and climate of the country. The finally chosen model is used since 1861 by the Yacht Club “Nyländska Jaktklubben”, which also includes the lion emblem on the crossing of the lines. Just before reaching the current flag, a flag representing a white crossed on a blue background was considered, but rejected as too close to the Swedish and Greek flags. Finally, Eero Snellman and Bruno Tuukkanen offer this model, that is adopted. It floats for the first time in 1920