Flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns

The flag of the Swedish-speaking Finns is an unofficial red flag with a yellow cross used in the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland to represent the Swedish-speaking Finns. [cite journal | year = 2006 | month = December | title = Hur ser Svenskfinland ut om 100 år? | journal = Medborgarbladet | volume = 61 | issue = 4 | pages = 20 | publisher = Svenska folkpartiet RP | location = Helsinki | url = http://www.sfp.fi/files/Medborgarblad/MED%204_06.pdf | language = Swedish | accessdate = 2008-06-06] [cite web|url= http://www.fotw.net/flags/xn_fi-se.html|title= Swedish speaking population in Finland|accessdate= 6 June |accessyear= 2008|author= Engene, Jan Oskar |date= 10 March 1996|publisher= Flags of the World] It may be flown in addition to the Finnish blue and white flag. This flag is unfamiliar to many Swedish-speaking Finns and possibly not very often used, [cite web|url= http://www.fotw.net/flags/xn_fi-se.html|title= Swedish speaking population in Finland|accessdate= 6 June |accessyear= 2008|author= Engene, Jan Oskar |date= 20 August 2002|publisher= Flags of the World] but what is known as "husband pennants" (fi. "isännänviirit", sv. "husbondsvimplar") with the same colours and demonstrating one's identity as Swedish-speaking, are more commoncite web|url= http://www.kuriren.net/flagga.htm|title= I min iver...|accessdate= 6 June |accessyear= 2008|author= Weegar, Rune |publisher= Kuriren|language= Swedish] and can be seen on many flagpoles in areas where there live many Swedish-speaking Finns, especially in countryside.

The flag may have been used in the 16th century, but it is more likely to have been introduced in the 1920s or 1930s. [cite web|url= http://www.fotw.net/flags/xn_fi-se.html|title= Swedish speaking population in Finland|accessdate= 6 June |accessyear= 2008|author= "SJ"|date= 9 November 2004|publisher= Flags of the World] As such, the flag is based on a proposal to civil ensign put forward by the Senate flag committee in 1917. This proposal included nine white roses in the upper left corner. [cite web |url= http://www.uta.fi/suomi80/art4.htm |title= Suomen lipun historia |accessdate= 6 June |accessyear= 2008|author= Savolainen, Paula |publisher= Suomi 80 |language= Finnish] It also contains the same colours as one of the candidates for the Finnish flag on independence in 1917 and may even have been a proposal for the state flag itself. [cite web|url= http://www.fotw.net/flags/xn_fi-se.html|title= Swedish speaking population in Finland|accessdate= 6 June |accessyear= 2008|author= "SJ"|date= 11 November 2004|publisher= Flags of the World] The current blue and white state flag became official on the 28th May 1918.

The colours are traditional and based on the red and yellow of the Finnish coat of arms (and can, for example, also be seen in the weapon of Southwest Finland). [cite web|url= http://www.fotw.net/flags/xn_fi-se.html|title= Swedish speaking population in Finland|accessdate= 6 June |accessyear= 2008|author= Engene, Jan Oskar |date= 10 March 1996|publisher= Flags of the World] The design symbolizes the unity with the other Nordic countries. There are probably no official decision on the cross width but a width of not less than that of the Swedish flag, (ie 5:2:9 horizontally and vertically 4:2:4) and not more than that of Finland (ie, 5:3:11 horizontally and 4:3:4 vertically) should apply. It has rectangular boxes rather than squares in the internal corners of the hoist. The flag is similar to that of Scania, but it is oblonger and has a broder and less centered cross. It is however identical to a flag that the Quisling government of Norway, under the German occupation, used. [cite web|url= http://www.fotw.net/flags/xn_fi-se.html|title= Swedish speaking population in Finland|accessdate= 6 June|accessyear= 2008|author= Elfverson, J. Christer|date= 17 August 2002|publisher= Flags of the World]

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