Flag of Norway

The flag of Norway is red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog, the flag of Denmark. The proportions of the elements of the national flag are a width of 6-1-2-1-12 and a height of 6-1-2-1-6.\nThe proportions of the state flag is 6-1-2-1-6-11 horizontally and 6-1-2-1-6 vertically. {| align=center\n|-\n| align=center valign=bottom|\n
\nNational flag
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\nState flag
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History

From the 16th century onward and until 1814 Norway used the same flag as Denmark, as it was in union with that country. In 1814 independent Norway adopted the Danish flag with the Norwegian lion in the hoist. This flag was in use until 1821. Later in 1814 Norway was united with Sweden, and in 1815 a common flag for both states was introduced, the Swedish flag with a white cross on a red background in the top left corner (or canton) of the flag. This design was used for government flags and for merchant ships beyond Cape Finisterre. A distinctive Norwegian flag was designed in 1821 by Fredrik Meltzer, a member of the parliament (Storting). At first the design was only used in Northern waters, as Norway had no treaty with the pirates of North Africa. In 1844 a union badge combining Norwegian and Swedish colors was placed at the hoist of both countries' flags. The badge was popularly called Sildesalaten from its resemblance to a herring salad. As the union with Sweden became increasingly less popular, the Norwegian parliament abolished the union badge from the national and merchant flags in 1898. At the dissolution of the union in 1905, the badge was removed from the state and war flag as well. Sweden kept it until 1906.

Symbolism

Fredrik Meltzer felt that the flag should have a Christian cross in it, similar to those of other Nordic countries (Sweden and Denmark). Many free countries used the colors red, white and blue, and therefore these were used in the flag. Meltzer built his design on the Danish flag, which had also been Norway's until 1814. The blue cross was a reference to the blue of the Swedish flag. \n\n\n\n\n\n