Flag of the Faroe Islands
The flag of the Faroe Islands, on Faroese Merkið ( in German: sign or banner ), was officially introduced in its present form on July 5, 1959. In a 2004 survey reported 17% of the Faroese households to owning both the flag and a flagpole, so that they can publicly flags.
Description and significance
The flag of the Faroe Islands is a white Scandinavian cross flag with azure - gerändertem fiery red cross. The structure is taken from the flag of Norway.
The Faroese flag law of 17 July 1959 sets out:
Translation:
Accordingly, the flag has in a division of 16 x 22 with a red cross in width 2 with azure blue edges in the width 1, and towards the pole 6 units in white, the flight part 12 units in white.
White should, according to the creators of the flag, remember the foam of the sea and the pure, radiant sky of the Faroe Islands, while the old färöerischen blue and red colors reminiscent of a cross on the bonds with the other Nordic nations.
History
The ram has always been the heraldic animal of the " Sheep Islands ". As with the national revival movement in the 19th century, the first unofficial flags were used, they took a white Aries on a blue background with a wide red border. Later, the Faroese national bird, the oystercatcher ( Tjaldur ) was used instead of the ram. Then its own cross flag was developed in Iceland in 1915 ( after there stockfish and later the falcon were used ) on the Scandinavian pattern. Probably was under this influence of the neighboring country of desire as well to use a cross flag to emphasize the Nordic membership of the nation.
The Faroese Cross flag was designed in June 1919 in Copenhagen from the Faroese students Jens Olivur Lisberg from Fámjin, Janus Øssursson from Tórshavn and Pauli Dahl Vágur, sewn by Ninna Jacobsen ( older sister of Liffa Gregoriussen ) and the first on 22 June of the same year in the Faroes - in Lisbergs birthplace Fámjin - hoisted. This historic copy hangs in the church to Fámjin since 1955.
To Ólavsøka 1930 it came to a head, as sought before Løgtingsgebäude, right during the ceremony for the opening of Parliament, the Dannebrog and the Merkið was hoisted. From 1931, the use of the islands was common, but was recognized only by the local Parliament, not by the Danish authorities.
During the British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II, the flag was officially adopted on 25 April 1940 after it was already applied on April 11, 1940 to distinguish it from occupied Denmark. This was important for the British, therefore, to distinguish the Faroese vessels from those of the occupied Denmark can. On land but the Dannebrog was still being used. April 25 has since Flaggtag as a non-working holiday in the Faroe Islands.
Since the Autonomy Law of 23 March 1948 she has been finally recognized as the Faroese flag nation. Leading on land and at sea was permitted. On June 5, 1959, to date darker Navy has been transformed into a large shade. On 29 December 1998, the colors using the Pantone Matching System were well defined.
Formal rules
The flag of the Faroe Islands may be conducted in the Faroe Islands and Denmark by anyone. In the Nordic Council, the flag of the Faroe Islands has equal status with those of the other Nordic countries. Flag Day is 25 April since 1940.
Flaggtage
At the Flaggtagen the flag of the Faroe Islands is to be set by public authorities of the islands. They have been recently defined in the Regulation of the Government of the Faroe Islands on 23 April 2003.
No Flaggtage, but public holidays are on the Faroe Islands Holy Thursday ( Skírisdagur ) and Repentance ( DYri biðidagur - on the 4th Friday after Easter). Christmas Eve ( Jólakvøld ), the Second Christmas Day, Easter Monday and Whit Monday are also no Flaggtage but non-working days with the corresponding Flaggtag before / after.
One of the " seven wonders Faroese "
To Ólavsøka 2007 the Faroese television Sjónvarp Føroya organized a national competition over the "seven Faroese miracle," in which the audience could make any suggestions about specific buildings and other objects. A ranking of the eight winners (due to a tie, in one case) has not been announced, but the first flag of the Faroe Islands in the Church of Fámjin one of them. The others are the pews of Kirkjubøur, the Magnus Cathedral, the Christianskirkjan in Klaksvík house of the north, Tinganes, the Norðoyatunnilin and the seat of Reichsombudsschaft in the Faroe Islands ( a tie, with the flag in Fámjin ).