Last modified: 2026-09-26 by tomislav todorovic
Keywords: finnskogen | norway | sweden | finland | scandinavia | cross | cross: scandinavian | scandinavian cross |
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image by Tomislav Todorovic, 22 December 2024
Finnskogen ("Forest of the Finns") is the area at the Norwegian-Swedish border which comprises parts of the counties of Innlandet (originally Hedmark), Norway and Värmland, Sweden [1]. It was named after the people from Finland who immigrated there in the 17th century and whose descendants are still known as the Forest Finns [1].
A flag for Finnskogen exists, which combines the elements of designs of the flags of Finland, Norway and Sweden. In the center, there is a white square field charged with a dark blue Greek cross, which spreads close to the field edges without reaching them, standing for Finland. At the hoist, there is a red vertical panel charged with a dark blue horizontal stripe with white borders, which stands for Norway. At the fly, there is a lighter blue vertical panel charged with a yellow horizontal stripe, which stands for Sweden. The flag ratio is about 2:3. There seems to be no difference in the shade of dark blue used for the charges representing Finland and Norway.
This flag seems to be very rarely used: only four photos have been found online, three of them taken in 2018 [2, 3, 4] and one in 2024 [5]. The comment for one of the photos [3] describes it as "the new flag for Finnskogen", while those for other two [4, 5] declare the location as Mattila, off Östmark, in Torsby municipality, Sweden.
Sources:
[1] Finnskogen at Wikipedia
[2] Flag of Finnskogen at Facebook - Photo taken on 2018-06-22
[3] Flag of Finnskogen at Facebook - Photo taken on 2018-06-26
[4] Flag of Finnskogen at Facebook - Photo taken on 2018-06-26
[5] Flag of Finnskogen at Facebook - Photo taken on 2024-01-02 (image)
Tomislav Todorovic, 22/25 December 2024
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 1 June 2024; derived from the SVG image of the flag from
Wikimedia Commons
There was also another flag to represent [the Forest Finns] which is an off-centered cross [with] green background and black cross (source). Image caption reads:
The flag is used as the supposed national flag of the "Republic of Finnskogen" (Republikken Finnskogen), a pseudo state which comprises the area known as Finnskogen in Solør, Norway and Värmland, Sweden. The Republic is established annually for 3 days in Svullrya, Norway in commemoration of Skogfinndagene (Forest Finn Days) cultural event. The flag first appeared at the cultural event in 1978 as part of a livery on a rally car driven by rally driver Per Engseth. (source)
Esteban Rivera, 11 May 2023
The design which would become the flag of the Republic of Finnskogen was originally painted on the door of Per Engseth's car during the preparations for his visit to the Republic; the colors chosen were simply those which had been available in the workshop which was decorating the car [1]. This decoration inspired the government of the Republic to adopt a flag with this design, complete with the colors and the unusual orientation of the Nordic Cross, with vertical arms set closer to the fly instead of the usual hoist [1, 2]. However, the unusually oblong shape of the flag did not originate from the car decoration: it was decided to use the whole length of the green fabric that was found in the fabric roll, which was narrower than typically used for the flags [1]. The resulting flag is used on the second weekend in July every year, during the yearly existence of the Republic of Finnskogen; it is raised on Friday at 18:00 and lowered on Sunday at 18:00 [1].
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 1 June 2024Another variant of this flag exists, which seems to be used in less formal circumstances; its ratio seems to be that of the flag of Norway, or very close, and the position of vertical arms of the cross, which results in square portions of the field at the fly, seems to be based on the Norwegian flag as well [3, 4].
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 1 June 2024Lastly, the pennant with this design also exists, which also seems to be used in less formal circumstances. Its shape is trapezoidal, with the fly edge a bit wider than the black cross with its white borders. Its currently available photo [3] reveals that its height is actually approximately the same as that of the ordinary flag.
Sources:
[1] Finnskogen Days website - Facts
[2] Ruijan Kaiku newspaper website - Article published on 2017-06-26
[3] Finnskogen Inn and Motel at Facebook - Photo posted on 2020-09-08
[4] Solør-Värmland Finnish Cultural association at Facebook - Photo
posted on 2021-04-30
Tomislav Todorovic, 1 June 2024
