File talk:Norge-Sverige-Sildesalaten.svg

The union flags

Cut and paste from no:Talk:Flag of Norway

The "Swedish" blue colour of the current image is taken from modern Swedish flags as per the flag law of 1906. However, this colour did not appear in the prior union flags. Swedish flags through the 19th century had a darker blue colour than today. It was not prescribed by law or regulations and could vary to some degree. Often it was as dark as the blue colour of the Norwegian flag.

Interestingly, the Norwegian union flag always had the "Norwegian" blue colour also in the Swedish parts of the union badge. The Norwegian version of the union flag therefore had only 4 colours; red, white, dark blue, and yellow. Union flags of that time having two different blue colours are yet to be seen.

Swedish union flags also seem to have had only 4 colours, although the blue colour was often lighter than in Norwegian flags. In the Swedish version, the Norwegian parts of the union badge had the same blue colour as in the Swedish flag. Swedish union flags had therefore, as the Norwegian ones, only 4 colours: yellow, blue, red, and white. The blue colour was the same in both countries' parts of the union badge.

In connection with the 100th anniversary of the union dissolution in 2005 there was great demand for historical union flags with the "herring salad" in both countries, but the supply was short. Many new flags were sown on both sides of the border. The manufacturers tried to make everything correct by using the current official colour definitions. Alas, it became hypercorrect and unhistorical with two different blue colours – the light Swedish and the dark Norwegian – in the same flag.

The image creators are hereby asked to harmonise the blue colours within each flag (Image:Norge-Sverige-Sildesalaten.svg, Image:Norge-Unionsflagg-1844.svg, Image:Swedish norwegian union flag.svg) to make them historically correct. In the Norwegian version of the union flag and in the union badge, the blue colour should be the dark Norwegian one. The Swedish version may well use the same dark blue colour, but it may equally well have a slightly lighter tone, as long as it is not as light and green as in modern Swedish flags.

Roede 3 Feb 2006, 19:40 (UTC) / Eddi 02:11, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

End of cut and paste from no:Talk:Flag of Norway

The changes in the Norwegian version and the union badge look all right. Perhaps the Swedish version must be discussed at en: or sv:. --Eddi 21:57, 4 February 2006 (UTC)