The Norwegian flag is shaped like a red rectangle with a blue cross outlined in white. It was designed by Frederick Meltzer in 1821. It is a flag inspired by that of Denmark. In fact, its design does not differ much from that of the flags of other Nordic countries. Including the Scandinavian cross.
However, it differs from several British Overseas Territories, in that none of its Overseas Territories (Bouvet Island, Queen Maud Land and Peter I Island) have the Norwegian flag in its upper left corner.
Current Flag of Norway
The cross present in the Norwegian flag has one arm shorter than the other (to the left), although both reach the edges of the rectangle. This cross refers to Christianity (although the country is mostly Protestant), but it also symbolizes relations with Sweden.
History of the flag of Norway
For almost 300 years (1536 to 1814), Norway and Denmark used the same flag as annexed kingdoms. After their separation, Norway continued to use the same flag but with a Norwegian lion in its upper left corner.
It was Frederick Meltzer, a Norwegian parliamentarian, who designed the Norwegian flag in 1821. However, it took 77 years before it was adopted as the official flag.
Since its creation and until 1838, it was only used in the northern seas to avoid mishaps with the pirates of North Africa. For this reason, the ships displayed the Swedish flag when traveling south of Cape Finisterre (Spain).
As early as 1838 the king authorized the use of the Norwegian flag throughout the world. From there, and until 1899, the Norwegian merchant marine used the flag with the "Symbol of the Union" with Sweden.
And it was in 1899 when it was hoisted for the first time as an independent national symbol alongside that of Sweden. Nonetheless, it became a national symbol of Norway in 1905.
Symbology of the Norwegian flag
The red, white and blue colors of the Norwegian flag represent freedom. That freedom could be a reflection of the independence wishes of the Norwegian people that materialized in the early twentieth century.
Although these colors also represent a couple of nations with which Norway shares its history: Denmark (red) and Sweden (blue).
One flag, eight flags
There are those who claim that the flag of Norway contains within itself the flag of eight different countries: Finland, San Marino, Poland, Indonesia, Monaco, Thailand, the Netherlands, Paraguay (without the shields) and France.
Sure, this is if you take only a small segment of the Norwegian flag in each case.
Iceland's flag has the same colors as Norway's, so it also has almost the same number of flags “inside” of its design, but it also includes those of Costa Rica and England.
References
- Flags (s / f). Norway. Recovered from: banderas-mundo.es.
- Crouch, Alex (2015). Flag of Norway: The mother of all flags. Recovered from: flaginstitute.org.
- Flagpedia (s / f). Norway. Recovered from: flagpedia.net.
- González, Diego (2011). Norway, the flag with eight other flags inside it. Recovered from: bordersblog.com.
- Roaldset, Ida (2014). Important dates in Norwegian history. Recovered from: blog.friskbrisrc.com.
- Norwegian Republic (2010). Patriotic symbols. National flag. Recovered from: repnoruega.blogspot.com.
- Sparrow, Thomas (2016). Why Norway flies the flag of peace in Colombia. Recovered from: bbc.com.