Writer: Helena Bergström
Today the Swedish and Ukrainian national football teams meet in Kiev, and Peter is glued to the match. "I'm not interested in football, but the sea of blue and yellow in the stands is a bit fascinating. I became curious about the flags and did some reading.
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ShareThe Swedish flag
According to one legend, he saw Erik the Saint the yellow cross in the blue sky when he landed in Finland during the first Swedish crusade in 1157. But there is no evidence to support this legend...
The Swedish flag has been known since the 1550s, and it is believed that the Danish red and white cross was a model for it. However, the blue and yellow colours were used much earlier, including in the Three Crowns coat of arms and the coat of arms of the Folkung dynasty, which became Magnus Ladulås's royal coat of arms in 1275.
The Ukrainian flag
The Ukrainian flag was created when Ukraine became independent at the end of the First World War. However, blue and yellow were used as the colours of the Kiev Empire long before Christianisation, and appear in church ornaments and city coats of arms from the 13th century.
English (UK) 
Svenska
Inga Magnusson says:
Apparently you didn't miss much! I didn't see either but heard that the old man switched off at 1-2 and went to bed.
Funny comment you made about us capitalising Du and Er while the English write I in capital letters!
12 June 2012 - 3:50
Johanna says:
Hey, hey, hey, hey,
If you became interested in the flag, the Nordic Museum's Flags exhibition might be of interest? Shows many aspects of our flag.
12 June 2012 - 7:49
admin says:
Inga Magnusson, always more fun to win, of course...
😉
Johanna, thanks for the tips!
12 June 2012 - 8:20
Jonas says:
Does the tradition of carrying a pennant also exist in Ukraine? Then it will be the same as the Swedish pennant.
19 June 2023 - 14:09