Flag of Iceland

of 25:18.]] \nThe first article in law nr. 34 set on June 17, 1944 which is the day Iceland became a republic is entitled "Law of the national flag of Icelanders and the state seal" desribes the Flag of Iceland in the following way: The civil national flag of Icelanders is blue as the sky with a snow-white cross, and a fiery-red cross inside the white cross. The arms of the cross extend to the edge of the flag, and their combined width is 2/9, but the red cross 1/9 of the combined width of the flag. The blue areas are right angled squares, the rectilinear surfaces are parallel and the outer rectilinear surfaces as wide as them, but twice the length. The dimensions between the width and length are 18:25. \n

Table of contents

1 History 2 Laws regarding the flag 3 Official flag days 4 Colours of the flag 5 See also 6 External links 7 References

History

\nThe civil flag of Iceland was used as an unofficial symbol since 1913,\nofficially adopted on June 19, 1915 to represent Iceland as a territory of Denmark, and has been in use at sea since December 1, 1918. On June 17, 1944 it was instated as the emblem of the then independent republic of Iceland. Like other Scandinavian crosses, it is based on the Dannebrog. \n

Laws regarding the flag

\nOn June 17, 1944, the day Iceland became a republic a law was issued that dealt with the National Flag and the Coat of Arms. To date this is the only major law about the flag and Coat of Arms. The only others that have been issued are two laws in 1991 that describe official flag days as well as the time of day the flag can be drawn and another minor law that describes specifically what colours the Icelandic flag is composed of; until then the colouring had been done by convention, but that law set the common custom in stone. The law describes the dimensions of both the common flag and special governmental flags used by embassies and the ministry of foreign affairs. It also goes into specific usage such as how the flag should be attached in different situations such as on a flagpole, a house and on different kinds of ships. According to the law using the flag is a privilege and not a right, the owner must follow instructions on its usage and make sure that his flag is in mint condition regarding colouring, wear and tear. It also states that none shall disrespect the flag in act or words, else he will face a fine or imprisonment up to one year. It is interesting that this law states in the 7th article that another law shall be set regarding official flag days and the time of day the flag may be drawn, however such a law was not put in effect until almost 50 years later with the law on official flag days and draw times in 1991 but that law states that the flag shall not be drawn until 7 o'clock in the morning, it should preferably not be drawn longer than until sunset but must not be drawn longer than midnight. However if the flag is raised at an outdoor assembly, an official gathering, funeral or a memorial the flag may be drawn longer then until sunset or as long as the event lasts, though never longer than midnight.

Official flag days

\nAccording to law number 5 January 23, 1991 the following are nationally sanctioned flag days. On these days the flag shall be raised at Federal and State buildings, and those under the supervision of officials and special represtentetives of the state, any additions to the list below can be decided each year by the Prime Minister's Office. On these days the flag shall be fully drawn, except on Good Friday where it shall be drawn at half-mast.

• The birthday of the President of Iceland\n*New Year's Day\n*Good Friday\n*Easter\n*The First Day of Summer\n*May 1\n*Pentecost\n*Sailors Day\n*June 17\n*December 1\n*Christmas day

Colours of the flag

\nOfficially the colours of the Icelandic flag follow a law set in 1991 which states that the colour of the flag shall follow the Standard Colour of Textile (Dictionaire Internationale de la Couleur) in the following:

• Sky-blue colour: SCOTDIC number 693009.\n*Snow-white colour: SCOTDIC number 95.\n*Fire-red colour: SCOTDIC ICELAND FLAG RED.

However in more recent years the government of Iceland has considered issuing colour specifications in the more well known Pantone Matching System and in the CMYK system. However, no official action was taken, and the PMS and CMYK specifications remain unofficial proposals. Pantone Matching System proposal:\n*Blue: PMS 287\n*Red: PMS 1795 CMYK proposal:\n*Blue: CMYK 100-69-0-11.5\n*Red: CMYK 0-94-100-0

See also

\n*Flag\n*National flag\n*National emblem\n*List of flags\n*List of national flags\n*Gallery of flags\n*List of flags with blue, red, white in them and flags with three colours.

External links

• Prime Minister's Office page about the icelandic flag (Icelandic)\n*History of The Coat of Arms (Icelandic)\n*History of the Icelandic flag (English)

References

\n\n*Lög um þjóðfána Íslendinga og ríkisskjaldarmerkið. ( 1944 nr. 34 17. júní ).\n:Retrieved May 14, 2004 from http://www.althingi.is/lagas/130a/1944034.html\n*Forsetaúrskurður um fánadaga og fánatíma. ( 1991 nr. 5 23. janúar ).\n:Retrieved May 14, 2004 from http://www.althingi.is/lagas/125b/1991005.html\n*Auglýsing um liti íslenska fánans. ( 1991 nr. 6 23. janúar ).\n:Retrieved May 14, 2004 from http://www.althingi.is/lagas/125b/1991006.html\n*Lög um breyting á lögum nr. 34 17. júní 1944, um þjóðfána Íslendinga.\n:Retrieved May 14, 2004 from http://www.althingi.is/altext/stjt/1998.067.html \n\nI