Wiki: Nordic cross flag

A Nordic cross flag is a flag bearing the design of the Nordic or cross, a cross symbol in a rectangular field, with the centre of the cross shifted towards the hoist.

All independent Nordic countries have adopted such flags in the modern period, and while the Nordic cross is named for its use in the national flags of the Nordic nations, the term is used universally by Vexillology, in reference not only to the flags of the Nordic countries but to other flags with similar designs. EnchantedLearning.com ; Historical flags of the world: The Scandinavian cross ; Eric Inglefield: "Fahnen und Flaggen" (translated to German by Dagmar Hahn), Delphin Verlag, Munich 1986, p.16 The Christian cross design represents Christianity,

Jeroen Temperman (2025). 9789004181489, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. . ISBN 9789004181489

Carol A. Foley (1996). 9781862871885, William Gaunt & Sons. . ISBN 9781862871885

Andrew Evans (2025). 9781841622156, Bradt. . ISBN 9781841622156

and was first seen in the Dannebrog, the national flag of Denmark in the first half of the 13th century. The same design, but with a red Nordic cross on a yellow background, was used as union flag during the Kalmar union (1397 to 1523), and when that union fell apart in 1523 the same design, but with a yellow cross on a blue background (derived from the Swedish coat of arms adopted in 1442), was adopted as national flag of Sweden, while Norway adopted their flag in 1821. After gaining independence the other Nordic countries adopted national flags of the same design, Iceland in 1915 and Finland in 1918. The Norwegian flag was the first Nordic cross flag with three colours. All Nordic flags may be flown as as well.

Flag formats

Flags of the Nordic countries

Some of these flags are historical. Also, Flag terminology may vary between the different flags and sometimes even between different versions of the same flag.

The Flag of Greenland is the only national flag of a Nordic country or territory without a Nordic Cross. When Greenland was granted home rule, the present flag — with a graphic design unique to Greenland — was adopted in June 1985, supported by fourteen votes against eleven who supported a proposed green-and-white Nordic cross.

Kalmar Union (historical)

This is the historical flag of the Kalmar Union, which united Denmark, Sweden and Norway from 1397 to 1523. No pictorial evidence survives of the Kalmar Union's Flag. The flag appearing here is a reconstruction based on references in 1430 letters by King Eric of Pomerania.

Regional Nordic flags

These flags either do not have full official status or represent various private entities. They have not been officially adopted and their use remains limited.

Nordic cross flags outside the Nordic countries

Nordic flag designs very similar to Denmark's, Sweden's, and Norway's national flags were proposed as Germany's national flags in both 1919 and 1948, after World War I and World War II, respectively. Today, the Nordic cross is a feature in some city and district flags or coats of arms.

A number of flags for localities in the United Kingdom (primarily Scotland) are based on Nordic cross designs, intended to reflect the Scandinavian heritage introduced to the British Isles during the Viking Age and through the High Middle Ages. Scots communities go Nordic in rising demands for their own flags HeraldScotland