Flags, Symbols & Currency of Finland
The National Flag of Finland was officially adopted on May 29, 1918. It is also referred to as Siniristilippu (âBlue Cross Flagâ)
The National Flag of Finland features a white background with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag. The vertical part of the blue Nordic cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag). The blue color represents the blue skies and the thousands of lakes which are scattered across the country. The white color symbolizes the snow that covers the land during winter. The Scandinavian cross represents the religion of Christianity. The flag has a width-to-length proportion ratio of 11:18.
History of the Flag of Finland
The modern blue-crossed flag was first used in 1861 by a yacht club in Helsinki called Nylandska Jaktklubben. From 1899-1917, Finland was occupied by Russia. During this time, a Russian flag was added to the Finnish flag. This flag was referred as the âslaveâs flagâ and was refused to be used by most of the citizens. After the independence of Finland in 1917, a competition was organized for designing of the flag. The Finnish âblue-crossed flagâ was officially adopted on May 29, 1918.
Historical Flags of Finland
State Flag of Finland
Symbols of Finland
The National Coat of Arms of Finland
The original design of the coat of arms first appeared in the 1580's on the monument of Gustav Vasa in Uppsala Cathedral. It was later adopted by the newly independent Finland as its national arms in 1917. It features a crowned lion placed on a red background. The lion is found holding a raised sword in an armoured hand, that has replaced the animal's right front leg. The lion is also trampling a sabre with its hind legs. The lion, the crown, the hilts and the joints of the armour are in gold, while the blades of the weapons, and the armour are in silver. Nine silver rosettes are found scattered on the background.
National Motto
"Vart Land" "Our Land"
National Anthem
- Anthem Title: "Maamee" (Finnish) or VĂ„rt land (Swedish)
- Composer: Fredrik Pacius
- Lyricist: Johan Ludvig Runeberg
- Date of First Performance: May 13th, 1848
- Date of Adoption: Unspecified
"Maamee" ("Our Land") is the national anthem of Finland. The music of the anthem have been composed by Fredrik Pacius. The lyrics of the anthem have been authored by Johan Ludvig Runeberg. The anthem has never been officially legislated as the Finnish anthem. The anthem has full 11 -verses; only the first and last verses (marked in bold) are usually sung.Â
VĂ„rt land (Swedish)
1.
VÄrt land, vÄrt land, vÄrt fosterland,
Ljud högt, o dyra ord!
? Ej lyfts en höjd mot himlens rand,
Ej sÀnks en dal, ej sköljs en strand,
Mer Àlskad Àn vÄr bygd i nord,
Ăn vĂ„ra fĂ€ders jord. ?
2.
VÄrt land Àr fattigt, skall sÄ bli
För den, som guld begÀr.
En frÀmling far oss stolt förbi:
Men detta landet Àlska vi,
För oss med moar, fjÀll och skÀr
Ett guldland dock det Àr.
3.
Vi Àlska vÄra strömmars brus
Och vÄra bÀckars sprÄng.
Den mörka skogens dystra sus,
VÄr stjÀrnenatt, vÄrt sommarljus.
Allt, allt, vad hÀr som syn, som sÄng
VÄrt hjÀrta rört en gÄng.
4.
HÀr striddes vÄra fÀders strid
Med tanke, svÀrd och plog.
HÀr, hÀr, i klar som mulen tid.
Med lycka hÄrd, med lycka blid.
Det finska folkets hjÀrta slog.
HÀr bars vad det fördrog.
5.
Vem tÀljde vÀl de striders tal.
Som detta folk bestod.
DÄ kriget röt frÄn dal till dal.
DĂ„ frosten kom med hungers kval.
Vem mÀtte allt dess spillda blod
Och allt dess tÄlamod?
6.
Och det var hÀr det blodet flöt,
Ja, hÀr för oss det var,
Och det var hÀr sin fröjd det njöt,
Och det var hÀr sin suck det göt.
Det folk som vÄra bördor bar
LÄngt före vÄra dar.
7.
HÀr Àr oss ljuvt, hÀr Àr oss gott,
HÀr Àr oss allt beskÀrt;
Hur ödet kastar Àn vÄr lott.
Ett land, ett fosterland vi fÄtt,
Vad finns pÄ jorden mera vÀrt
Att hÄllas dyrt och kÀrt?
8.
Och hÀr och hÀr Àr detta land.
VÄrt öga ser det hÀr,
Vi kunna strÀcka ut vÄr hand
Och visa glatt pÄ sjö och strand
Och sÀga: se det landet dÀr.
VÄrt fosterland det Àr.
9.
Och fördes vi att bo i glans
Bland guldmoln i det blÄ,
Och blev vÄrt liv en stjÀrnedans.
DÀr tÄr ej göts, dÀr suck ej fanns.
Till detta arma land ÀndÄ
VÄr lÀngtan skulle stÄ.
10.
O land, du tusen sjöars land,
DÀr sÄng och trohet byggt,
DĂ€r livets hav oss gett en strand,
VÄr forntids land, vÄr framtids land.
Var för din fattigdom ej skyggt.
Var fritt, var glatt, var tryggt.
11.
Din blomning, sluten Àn i knopp,
Skall mogna ur sitt tvÄng;
Se, ur vÄr kÀrlek skall gÄ opp
Ditt ljus, din glans, din fröjd, ditt hopp.
Och högre klinga skall en gÄng
VÄr fosterlÀndska sÄng.
"Our Land"
1.
Our land, our land, our Fatherland!
Ring out, dear word, oh sound!
? No rising hill, or mountain grand,
No sloping dale, no northern strand,
There is, more loved, to be found,
Than this â our fathersâ ground. ?
2.
Our land is poor, and so shall be
To him who gold will crave.
The strangers proudly pass, but we
Shall ever love this land, we see,
In moor, and fell, and isle and wave,
A golden land, so brave.
3.
We love our rippling brooks, so bright,
Our gushing streams, so strong,
The whisper of dark woods, at night,
Our starry skies, our summer light,
All, all that we, in sight and song,
Have felt and lived among.
4.
Here fought our fathers, without fear,
With sword, and plough, and thought.
And here, in clouded times, and clear,
With fortune in their front or rear,
Their Finnish hearts have beat, and wrought
And borne what bear they ought.
5.
Who tells, of all the fights, the tale,
In which this folk withstood,
When war did rage from dale to dale,
When frost set in, with hungerâs wail?
Who measured all their pouring blood,
And all their patience good?
6.
And it was here their blood was shed,
For us, here, on this shore;
And it was here their joys were bred,
Here, that their sighs were heaved and fled,
That peopleâs who our burdens bore
Before us, long before.
7.
Here it is sweet and good, we wot,
All, too, is givân us here;
However fate may cast our lot,
A land, a fatherland, weâve got.
Will there a thing on earth appear
More worthy, to hold dear?
8.
And hereâs, and hereâs this fatherland,
Here every eye it sees;
And we can stretch a pointing hand,
To show, with joy, its sea and strand,
And say, âBehold this country, this,
Our Fatherland it is.â
9.
And if we once were made to rise
To gold clouds, from below,
And if we moved in starry skies,
Where no one weeps, where no one sighs,
To this poor lonely country, though,
Our longing hearts would go.
10.
Oh land, the thousand lakesâ own land,
Of faith, and lay, and glee,
Where lifeâs main sea gave us a strand,
Our fore-timeâs land, our futureâs land,
Shy of thy poorness, never be,
Be calm, be glad, be free!
11.
Thy blossom, hidden now from sight,
Shall burst its bud ere long.
Lo! from our love, shall rise aright,
Thy sun, thy hope, thy joy, thy light,
And higher, once, more full and strong,
Shall ring Our Countryâs song.
The Currency of Finland is the Euro
The current official currency in Finland is the euro.
Coins
The Finnish euro coins have three designs, the Heikki Haivaoja design adopted by the one cent and 50 cent coins, the Ramao Heino designed two euro coin, and the Perti Makinen designed 1 euro coin. The Goldenberry of northern Finland is printed on a two euro coin.
Bank Notes
The first Finnish markka notes were designed and issued in 1980 and 1986 respectively. A 20 markka note had an image of Vainio Lina fraudulently; the bank had not received the copyrights from the owners. The fraud was discovered later after several million notes were in circulation. The second series of markka notes came into use in 1955 and were revised in 1965. Unlike euro coins, euro notes have the same design across the euro zone. Its denominations are in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500. They are made of pure cotton fiber to increase its durability and to give the note a distinct texture.
Euro Banknote
Euro Coin
Historical Currencies of Finland
The National Bank of Finland introduced the Finnish markka in 1860 which brought about the replacement of the first Russian ruble at a rate of one ruble per four Finnish markka. In 1865, the Finnish markka was tied to silver and separated from the Russian ruble. The Latin Monetary Union Gold Standard valuation system was adopted by the Finnish government in 1878-1915 and during Âé¶čAV War I the markka fluctuated unevenly. After the country gained its independence in 1917, the gold standard system was reinstated in the nation. After undergoing a transition period from 1999 to 2002, the euro became the official legal tender in 2002. The double legal tender system of the markka and the euro ended on February 28, 2002.
Finnish markka Banknotes
