Flag of the Faroe Islands
Encyclopedia
The flag of the Faroe Islands
is an offset cross, which represents Christianity
, following as with other Nordic flags the tradition set by Dannebrog
. The flag is called Merkið which means "the banner" or "the mark". It resembles the flags of neighbouring Norway
and Iceland
.
, with the fimbriated cross. The flag ratio is usually 16:22 or 8:11.
White symbolises the creators of the flag, the foam of the sea and the pure, radiant sky of the Faroe Islands, while the old färöerischen blue and red colours are reminiscent of other Scandinavian and Nordic flags; representing the Faroe Islands' bonds with other Nordic countries.
and others while they were studying in Copenhagen
. The first time the Merkið 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. 25 April is still celebrated as Flaggdagur and it is a national holiday. With the Home Rule Act of 23 March 1948, the flag was finally recognized by the Danish Government
as the national flag of the Faroes. The original copy of the flag is displayed in the church of Fámjin
in Suðuroy
.
for singer Björk
's song Declare Independence
, the flag of the Faroe Islands (as well as that of Greenland
) are featured on the uniforms of those who appear in the video. Björk, who is from the former Danish possession of Iceland
, has utilized her song as a wake-up call for colonized peoples to break their ties with their colonizers.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
is an offset cross, which represents Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, following as with other Nordic flags the tradition set by Dannebrog
Flag of Denmark
The national flag of Denmark, Dannebrog is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side...
. The flag is called Merkið which means "the banner" or "the mark". It resembles the flags of neighbouring Norway
Flag of Norway
The flag of Norway is red with an indigo blue Scandinavian cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog, the flag of Denmark.- History :...
and Iceland
Flag of Iceland
The flag of Iceland was officially described in Law No. 34, set out on 17 June 1944, the day Iceland became a republic. The law is entitled "The Law of the National Flag of Icelanders and the State Arms" and describes the Icelandic flag as follows:...
.
Description and symbolism
The design of the flag incorporates a red Nordic cross, which is offset to the left. The red cross is surrounded by an azure-blue border and is set on a white field. The flag design closely resembles that of the Norwegian flagFlag of Norway
The flag of Norway is red with an indigo blue Scandinavian cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog, the flag of Denmark.- History :...
, with the fimbriated cross. The flag ratio is usually 16:22 or 8:11.
White symbolises the creators of the flag, the foam of the sea and the pure, radiant sky of the Faroe Islands, while the old färöerischen blue and red colours are reminiscent of other Scandinavian and Nordic flags; representing the Faroe Islands' bonds with other Nordic countries.
History
The modern Faroese flag was devised in 1919 by Jens Oliver LisbergJens Oliver Lisberg
Jens Oliver Lisberg is one of the inventors of the Merkið, the flag of the Faroe Islands....
and others while they were studying in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. The first time the Merkið was raised in the Faroe Islands was on 22 June that year in Famjin
Fámjin
Fámjin is a village, located in the middle of the coastline on the western side of Suðuroy, the southernmost island in Faroe Islands. It has a population of around 100....
on the occasion of a wedding. On 25 April 1940 the British occupation government
British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II
The British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II, also known as "Operation Valentine," was implemented immediately following the German invasion of Denmark and Norway....
approved the flag for use by Faroese vessels. 25 April is still celebrated as Flaggdagur and it is a national holiday. With the Home Rule Act of 23 March 1948, the flag was finally recognized by the Danish Government
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
as the national flag of the Faroes. The original copy of the flag is displayed in the church of Fámjin
Fámjin
Fámjin is a village, located in the middle of the coastline on the western side of Suðuroy, the southernmost island in Faroe Islands. It has a population of around 100....
in Suðuroy
Suðuroy
Suðuroy is the southernmost of the Faroe Islands. The island covers 163.7 km². In 2010 there were 4763 inhabitants, but there has been a gradual decline in the population numbers ever since the 1950s....
.
Popular culture
In the music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for singer Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's song Declare Independence
Declare Independence
"Declare Independence" is an industrial-nu metal song written and recorded by Icelandic singer Björk. The track was released as the third single from her sixth full-length studio album, Volta. The single was released on January 1, 2008...
, the flag of the Faroe Islands (as well as that of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
) are featured on the uniforms of those who appear in the video. Björk, who is from the former Danish possession of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, has utilized her song as a wake-up call for colonized peoples to break their ties with their colonizers.