Flag of the Faroe Islands

The flag of the Faroe Islands is an offset cross, following as with other Nordic flags the tradition set by the Dannebrog.

The flag of the Faroes was first made by Faroese students in Copenhagen and later brought to the Faroes where it was first hoisted 22 June 1919. Three students, Jens Olivur Lisberg from Fámjin, Thomas Pauli Dahl from Vágur, and Janus Øssurson from Tórshavn created the first faroese flag. This first flag is still hanging in the church of Fámjin.

About a decade later, in 1931, it had come into common but unofficial use. When Denmark was occupied by German forces in April 1940, British troops took the islands and a need to distinguish the ships of the Faroes from those of occupied Denmark occurred. On 25 April 1940 British authorities approved the flag as the ensign of the Faroes. With the Home Rule Act of 23 March 1948 the flag was finally recognized by danish authorities as the national flag of the Faroes. 25 April has been made Flag Day. The flag carries the name Merkið, meaning the sign or banner. The dominant white colour is said to represent the pure sky as well as the foam of the waves breaking against the coasts of the islands, red and blue are both colours found in traditional Faroese headdress. At the same time the colours and proportions are those of the flags of Norway and of Iceland.

References

• Main copy taken from FOTW Flags Of The World website article [1]; segment written by Jan Oskar Engene and reproduced here in accordance with the site's copyright statement.