Flag of the Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands
Merkið
UseNational flag and civil ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole 90°
Proportion8:11
Adopted25 April 1940; 83 years ago (1940-04-25)
DesignA blue-fimbriated red Nordic cross on a white field
Designed byJens Oliver Lisberg
Swallowtailed version of the flag, unofficial, but popular on the Islands
The original flag now hangs in the church of Fámjin

The flag of the Faroe Islands (in Faroese: Merkið) 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.

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.

White symbolises the creators of the flag, 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.

Merkið at Funningur, Eysturoy

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-01-09 06:09 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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