lion flag – Svinhuvfud

The lion flag – The red lion flag, which had become a symbol of Finland during the Russification period, was independent Finland’s first flag.

The debate on the state flag was triggered in the 1860s when the situation in Finland improved and social reforms got under way. The lion flag based on Finland’s coat of arms was one of the candidates proposed. Fredrik Nylander, the Medical Officer of the City of Oulu, proposed in 1862 that the Finnish flag […]

The official symbols of Finland – flag, coat of arms and national anthem

Finland did not have an official flag when the country became independent. The “Blue Cross Flag” was adopted as the official flag of Finland on 28 May 1918 by decision of the Finnish parliament. It replaced the temporary state flag with the heraldic lion on red background. The Act on the Finnish Flag, endorsed by […]