In all countries, the flag, emblem and anthem are the symbols of statehood.Is no exception and Finland.But this country has great power with respect to its particular character.The official flag of Finland approved in three different types: national, state and presidential.The history of this character, and the way it looks now, we'll consider.
history flag
In 1556, Finland had won some freedom of choice in the XII century the Swedes.The new territorial unit - the Duchy - the emblem adopted two years later.It was depicted golden lion on a red background.The heraldic animal rampant and had a crown on his head.The right front paw, which was chained to the gauntlet, the beast was holding a silver sword.Leo propped scimitar silver - a symbol of Poland with which Finland as a part of Sweden has repeatedly fought.All this image okantovyvayut nine silver roses.Therefore, red and gold were "liveried colors" of the state.In 1809 the country won imperial Russia.After the Crimean War there was a question about the standard of vessels that have been assigned to the ports of the Baltic colony.Since she had the status of autonomy and called the Grand Duchy of Finland, it was decided to give her the flag.Shortly before the brother of Emperor Alexander II, Konstantin founded the Yacht Club in Nuland and came up with a logo for it - live blue cross on a white background.The current flag of Finland took this image as a basis.
Exemption from Russia
What happened?De facto autonomy of Finland was illusory.Grand Duke was the Emperor of Russia.In the years 1910-1916 was carried out reinforced Russification chauvinists, why in the upper left corner of the tricolor appeared as a symbol of domination over the people of the Empire Suomi.But as soon as the February Revolution, the Finns destroyed all signs of Russian domination.
But citizens could not come to a consensus.Some simply rip off the strip at the bottom of the Russian tricolor, and others used red flags, which adorned the golden lion.In February 1918, the Senate passed a flag of Finland: scarlet cloth with gold Scandinavian cross (short beam is installed vertically).But since the war "red" completely discredited in the eyes of the population, in May 1918, the Senate decided to change the colors of the national flag.They were white and blue.Finns have remembered the words of the poet Sakariasa Topelius, who as early as 1862 m urged the Senate to take these colors.He said that white - it is the country's snow-covered fields, and blue - is its numerous lakes.However, in 1920, pale cornflower blue color was replaced by dark blue.It has also changed and the emblem.Leo it lost its crown.
modern state symbols of the country
Flag and coat of arms of Finland approved the law of the country on June 1, 1978.He quashed the decision of the eighteenth, as amended twentieth.Dark, almost black crossbar of the cross now become intensely blue.The right front paw of a lion turned into a human hand.However, the militaristic sword still there - a symbol of the willingness to fight against external enemies.There have also been designed banner of three persons and the date when the flag should be raised.Presidential Oriflamma standard and the armed forces were adopted separately.At the core, they are all based on the national flag of the country, but complemented by three braids and special signs-symbols.
National flag of Finland
Siniristilippu - «sinekrestny" - so affectionately known as the civic flag Finns.It is very simple.The national flag is a rectangular white cloth, where the length relative to the width is 18: 11. It flaunts blue Scandinavian (that is inverted on the side) cross.The length of the cross member relative to the main axis is three to eleven.The width of the stripes blue cross is strictly regulated: three to eleven in relation to the entire cloth.Horizontal (main) axis divides the flag is strictly half.As you can see, the cross creates two pairs of white rectangles.Those closer to the flagpole have a ratio of 5: 11 width of the banner.A long rectangle at the free edge of the banner should be 10: 11, the width of the cloth.The transverse cross divides the flag in the proportion of five to three.
State flag of Finland
blue cross on a white background color and symbol on the Reigning country.This duality inherent flag of Finland, generates a lot of confusion, because in other states formally adopted banner of only one sample.But if you look, this is very simple.The national flag can lift anyone and for any occasion, up to family celebrations or funerals.Also, they are decorated with all the ships of Finland.A government banners raised only in clearly specified the date of the official national holidays.In addition, they are flying on flagpoles at the Houses of Parliament, the government and the ministries, central authorities and the courts.They decorated the Embassy of Finland, the central bank, border guards, pension fund, public higher education institutions.
What state flag different from the national?Only the presence of the coat of arms at the intersection of the two beams cross.As we recall, it is a rampant golden lion on a red background.The beast holds in paws a sword and tramples the sword.For the beauty of the red square of the emblem is framed by a yellow border, whose width is one-fortieth the thickness of the frogs.
flag Finnish President
addition to the national and state Crest in this Scandinavian country is also kielekkeinen valtiolippu - banner with braids.What is the flag of Finland with "teeth"?From his brethren, he is characterized in that the free edge of the cloth attached three cloth triangle.The base medium "plaits" is adjacent to the blue cross and the base is equal to its width.A top and bottom triangles form the corresponding angles in the free part of the cloth.All three plaits are deep recesses 5/11 the width of the banner, and their length should be one sixth of eleven free edge of the cloth.The flag symbolizes with teeth or the President or the Defense Ministry of the country.More exact affiliation can be determined by drawing attention to the top left box (the one that is closer to the flagpole).On Oriflamme President of the Republic there flaunts Cross of Liberty.It is a golden (yellow) color.
flag Finnish military
Kositsy is not only on the presidential Oriflamme.Military flag Finland photo you can see, also notched.It is used by the Minister of Defence, Chief of the Central Staff of the Armed Forces and the Department.In addition, three-prong banners adorn the stern military courts.On the banner Commander, as well as the Presidential banner, at the intersection of the two beams of the cross there is a coat of arms of Finland.In the Armed Forces in the upper left box has a special icon.
swastika or rune sign?
For many people, the flag of the Finnish Air Force, the photo you see a shock.Swastika?Fascism?Not at all.This rune sign designating the sun and its turnover, was worshiped by the Finns even before Hitler wondered manic idea take over the world.Even in 1918, a swastika was recognized as a symbol of the Air Force of Finland.After the Second World Finns committed to remove this icon from the offensive banner of the Air Force, but it never did.They argued that the Nazis swastika inclined, then as a symbol of the sun - a straight line.
