In our country, the Norwegians are known as a family people. This is true: family values prevail, in Norway even parental leave is common for both mom and dad, and in the first months of the baby’s life, the parents ’attention and their care are divided equally. But the inhabitants of this northern country include not only immediate household members in their family circle. The whole country is a common and friendly house for them, and therefore they relate with warmth and love to what is officially and primly called “state symbols” in our country.
Historical background
It’s probably worth starting with the fact that Norway has repeated the path of many not too large European states. She recently received what is now proudly called autonomy. Accordingly, the state symbols, including the flag of Norway, are not many years old. For four centuries, this country was in union, but rather, under the protectorate of Denmark. Then, Sweden replaced Sweden for a century in this post. So for a long period, Norway’s own flag could only dream of. However, unlike many other states, Norway is not ashamed of its history and does not try to forget it. Despite not so long ago gained independence, and this happened in 1905, this Scandinavian country does not want to ignore its long cooperation with Denmark.
Touching legend
They say that the flag of Norway originated in its current form almost a century before the formation of an independent state. Allegedly, during the "transition under the arm of Sweden" the question arose about their own banner. And the little boy Gerhard Meltzer during the game outlined the white background of the cross of the flag of Denmark with blue lines. Although the idea came in handy only in the 20th century, it was liked even then. The father of the young artist proposed a general plan for the Norwegian banner back in 1821, when Norway remained almost 80 years old until independence. And since 1844, this flag also marks the equality of all countries of the then EU, which consisted only of Sweden and Norway.
The formation of the current type of banner
The young state needed the Norwegian flag only in the fifth year of the twentieth century. The Norwegian parliament at that time invited Prince Charles from Denmark “to the kingdom” (by the way, in Norwegian he became known as Haakon). Norwegian citizens definitely wanted their flag, but at the same time it should have emphasized the country's proximity to Denmark. It is not known whether anyone remembered the games of the youngster Gerhard Meltzer, or if a similar idea came to one another, but the flag of Norway received the national flag of Denmark as a basis. The blue cross has become a symbol of Sweden's new ally, and the entire flag has already completely belonged to Norway.
Paradoxes of the Norwegian flag
It is difficult to say whether this is a joke, or just a white-red-blue combination is the most popular and attractive for symbols of different states, but some observant personalities (although, perhaps, jokers) see banners of several other states on the banner . If you carefully examine the flag of Norway, the photo can really show the national symbols of Indonesia, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Thailand and France - of course, not all the cloth in its entirety, but its individual fragments. It’s up to the observer to decide whether the Norwegian flag is so universal, or to consider these conclusions as a figment of someone’s imagination.
The value of the details
As already mentioned, the main colors in which the flag of Norway is painted symbolize its shared past with two other Scandinavian countries. But this is not all the meaning invested by the creators in the main symbol of the state. The combination of these colors carries the same meaning as the coloring of the French flag, that is, it denotes the freedom of the country and person.
By the way, the difference between the flag of the sample of the nineteenth century from its modern appearance is the absence on it of the coat of arms of the Swedish-Norwegian union, which was highly despised by the Norwegians for their variegation and tastelessness. They even called the emblem a herring salad. So now the Norwegian flag has acquired a more noble and austere appearance than in earlier times.
Both the flag and the coat of arms of Norway are highly respected by the inhabitants of the kingdom. The coat of arms, by the way, is not burdened with romantic stories related to children's creativity. It came from the ancient coat of arms of the Norwegian kings, which depicted the lion of St. Olav. When the royal ambitions reigned in the kings, a battle varangian ax was added to the front legs of the beast, and its head was crowned with a crown; the heraldic shield, on which a lion is depicted, has also acquired a crown, moreover, this crown is with precious stones. The entire coat of arms also has an ermine mantle cape held by the crown on the shield, and the shield itself should be bordered by the heraldic chain of the order of the same St. Olaf.
It can be said that the flag and coat of arms of Norway differ from each other in the degree of simplicity: how democratic the banner is, the coat of arms is ancient and ambiguous.
And the Norwegians are still proud of their country: almost every house has a flagpole with a banner; hats, jackets and cars are decorated with a national banner; and even the little one, barely able to speak, eagerly sings the anthem of his country.