The flag of the Faroe Islands (in Faroese: Merkið [ˈmɛʃtʃɪ]) is an offset cross, representing Christianity. It is similar in design to other Nordic flags – a tradition set by the Dannebrog of Denmark, of which the Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory.
 | |
| Merkið | |
| Use | National flag and civil ensign     |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 8:11 |
| Adopted | 25 April 1940 |
| Design | A blue-fimbriated red Nordic cross on a white field |
| Designed by | Jens Oliver Lisberg |
The flag is called Merkið, which means "the banner" or "the mark". It resembles the flags of neighbouring Norway and Iceland.
Description and symbolism
The design of the flag incorporates a red Nordic cross, which is offset to the left. The red cross is fimbriated azure and is set on a white field. The flag design closely resembles that of the Norwegian flag, with the fimbriated cross and the same proportions, 6-1-2-1-6 and 6-1-2-1-12.
White symbolises the foam of the sea and the pure, radiant sky of the Faroe Islands, while the old Faroese blue and red colours are reminiscent of other Scandinavian and Nordic flags, representing the Faroe Islands' bonds with other Nordic countries.
Colours
The specific colours of the flag are defined in a 1959 law.
| Scheme | White | Red | Blue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pantone | Safe | PMS 032 | PMS 300 |
| RGB | #FFFFFF | #EF303E | #005EB9 |
History
The modern Faroese flag was devised in 1919 by Jens Oliver Lisberg and others while they were studying in Copenhagen. The first time Merkið was raised in the Faroe Islands was on 22 June that year in Fámjin on the occasion of a wedding. On 25 April 1940, the British occupation government approved the flag for use by Faroese vessels, during the tenure of Carl Aage Hilbert as Danish prefect. Britain did not want the same flag as German-occupied Denmark to be used. April 25 is still celebrated as Flaggdagur, and it is a national holiday. With the Home Rule Act of 23 March, 1948, the flag was recognized by the Danish Government as the national flag of the Faroes. The original flag is displayed in the church of Fámjin in Suðuroy.
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The flag of Denmark, was used before the Faroese flag became official. -
![image]()
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The old flag.[when?] -
![image]()
![image]()
Current Faroese flag.
See also
- Flag of Denmark
- Flag of Greenland
- List of flags of Denmark
- Nordic Cross flag
- Raven banner
Notes
- Andrew Evans (2008). Iceland. Bradt. ISBN 9781841622156. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
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.
- The Australian Flag: Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon. William Gaunt & Sons. 2010. ISBN 978-9004181489. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
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.
- * Benedikter, Thomas (2006-06-19). "The working autonomies in Europe". Society for Threatened Peoples. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
Denmark has established very specific territorial autonomies with its two island territories
Ackrén, Maria (November 2017). "Greenland". Autonomy Arrangements in the World. Archived from the original on 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2019-08-30.Faroese and Greenlandic are seen as official regional languages in the self-governing territories belonging to Denmark.
"Facts about the Faroe Islands". Nordic cooperation. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2015.The Faroe Islands […] is one of three autonomous territories in the Nordic Region
- Smith/Neubecker: Wappen und Flaggen aller Nationen. München 1981; ISBN 3-87045-183-1
- "Løgtingslóg no. 42 frá 17. juli 1959 um flaggið, sum broytt við løgtingslóg nr. 109 frá 29. desember 1998". logir.fo (in Faroese). 17 July 1959. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- PANTONE. "PANTONE Red 032 C - find a PANTONE Color". www.pantone.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- PANTONE. "PANTONE 300 C - find a PANTONE Color". www.pantone.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
References
- Faroe Islands at Flags of the World
- Learn about the Flag of Faroe islands on Faroeisland.fo
The flag of the Faroe Islands in Faroese Merkid ˈmɛʃtʃɪ is an offset cross representing Christianity It is similar in design to other Nordic flags a tradition set by the Dannebrog of Denmark of which the Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory Flag of the Faroe IslandsMerkidUseNational flag and civil ensignProportion8 11Adopted25 April 1940 84 years ago 1940 04 25 DesignA blue fimbriated red Nordic cross on a white fieldDesigned byJens Oliver LisbergSwallowtailed version of the flag unofficial but popular on the IslandsThe original flag now hangs in the church of Famjin The flag is called Merkid which means the banner or the mark It resembles the flags of neighbouring Norway and Iceland Description and symbolismThe design of the flag incorporates a red Nordic cross which is offset to the left The red cross is fimbriated azure and is set on a white field The flag design closely resembles that of the Norwegian flag with the fimbriated cross and the same proportions 6 1 2 1 6 and 6 1 2 1 12 White symbolises the foam of the sea and the pure radiant sky of the Faroe Islands while the old Faroese blue and red colours are reminiscent of other Scandinavian and Nordic flags representing the Faroe Islands bonds with other Nordic countries Colours The specific colours of the flag are defined in a 1959 law Scheme White Red BluePantone Safe PMS 032 PMS 300RGB FFFFFF EF303E 005EB9HistoryThe modern Faroese flag was devised in 1919 by Jens Oliver Lisberg and others while they were studying in Copenhagen The first time Merkid was raised in the Faroe Islands was on 22 June that year in Famjin on the occasion of a wedding On 25 April 1940 the British occupation government approved the flag for use by Faroese vessels during the tenure of Carl Aage Hilbert as Danish prefect Britain did not want the same flag as German occupied Denmark to be used April 25 is still celebrated as Flaggdagur and it is a national holiday With the Home Rule Act of 23 March 1948 the flag was recognized by the Danish Government as the national flag of the Faroes The original flag is displayed in the church of Famjin in Suduroy The flag of Denmark was used before the Faroese flag became official The old flag when Current Faroese flag Merkid at Funningur EysturoySee alsoWikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of the Faroe Islands Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merkid Faroe Islands portalKingdom of Denmark portalFlag of Denmark Flag of Greenland List of flags of Denmark Nordic Cross flag Raven bannerNotesAndrew Evans 2008 Iceland Bradt ISBN 9781841622156 Retrieved 2007 12 31 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 The Australian Flag Colonial Relic or Contemporary Icon William Gaunt amp Sons 2010 ISBN 978 9004181489 Retrieved 2007 12 31 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 Benedikter Thomas 2006 06 19 The working autonomies in Europe Society for Threatened Peoples Archived from the original on 2008 03 09 Retrieved 2019 08 30 Denmark has established very specific territorial autonomies with its two island territories Ackren Maria November 2017 Greenland Autonomy Arrangements in the World Archived from the original on 2019 08 30 Retrieved 2019 08 30 Faroese and Greenlandic are seen as official regional languages in the self governing territories belonging to Denmark Facts about the Faroe Islands Nordic cooperation Archived from the original on 23 April 2018 Retrieved 1 July 2015 The Faroe Islands is one of three autonomous territories in the Nordic Region Smith Neubecker Wappen und Flaggen aller Nationen Munchen 1981 ISBN 3 87045 183 1 Logtingslog no 42 fra 17 juli 1959 um flaggid sum broytt vid logtingslog nr 109 fra 29 desember 1998 logir fo in Faroese 17 July 1959 Retrieved 30 March 2021 PANTONE PANTONE Red 032 C find a PANTONE Color www pantone com Archived from the original on 2023 03 21 Retrieved 2021 03 29 PANTONE PANTONE 300 C find a PANTONE Color www pantone com Archived from the original on 2023 03 21 Retrieved 2021 03 29 ReferencesFaroe Islands at Flags of the World Learn about the Flag of Faroe islands on Faroeisland fo
