Household pennants of Finland
Encyclopedia
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
is quite common. A pennant can be flown whenever there is no flag day
Flag days in Finland
By law, the Finnish flag must be flown from public buildings on the following days:*February 28, day of Kalevala; the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish culture*May 1, Vappu, the Day of Finnish Labour*Second Sunday in May, Mother's Day...
and it is usually a means of telling that the "master of the house" is at home. These pennant
Pennon
A pennon was one of the principal three varieties of flags carried during the Middle Ages . Pennoncells and streamers or pendants are considered as minor varieties of this style of flag. The pennon is a flag resembling the guidon in shape, but only half the size...
s - commonly called Isännänviiri in Finnish or Husbondsvimpel in Swedish - have a long, narrow, triangular shape, usually half the length of the flag pole. The triangle has a base of roughly 1/10 of the length and it is connected to the pole via a single lanyard
Lanyard
A lanyard is a rope or cord exclusively worn around the neck or wrist to carry something. Usually it is used where there is a risk of losing the object or to ensure it is visible at all times. Aboard a ship, it may refer to a piece of rigging used to secure objects...
, giving the pennant the ability to rotate while flying.
The different regions of Finland have been connected with some traditional colors (often from the regional coats of arms), and these are often reflected in the household pennant. The pennants sometimes also incorporate the regional arm into the design (as seen in this example).
The shapes, designs and uses of the pennants are however not regulated by law, as long as it doesn't interfere with uses of the regular flag, which is regulated. It is also allowed to fly a pennant over night.
Besides from the general pennant (which is based on the flag of Finland
Flag of Finland
The flag of Finland , also called Siniristilippu , dates from the beginning of the 20th century. On a white background, it features a blue Nordic cross, which represents Christianity. The state flag has a coat of arms in the centre, but is otherwise identical to the civil flag. The swallow-tailed...
) and the regional variants, there are also family, city and municipality variants. One can choose to fly any of these. It is up to the household to decide which one they want to fly. A common practice is to either fly the pennant of the region of residence or the pennant from which the family members come.
Finnish regional household pennants
As the Finnish household pennant is connected to the pole with a single lanyard, the pennant has the ability to revolve around its horizontal axis. Thus, an actual pennant does not have a "top" side.| General pennant of Finland |  |
| Pennant of Åland Åland Islands The Åland Islands form an archipelago in the Baltic Sea. They are situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia and form an autonomous, demilitarised, monolingually Swedish-speaking region of Finland... |
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| Pennant of South Karelia South Karelia South Karelia is a region of Finland. It borders to the regions of Kymenlaakso, Southern Savonia, North Karelia and to Russia. The term "South Karelia" might also be used to refer to the southern parts of the entire Karelia — the Region of South Karelia is termed "South" because it is the... |
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| Pennant of Southern Ostrobothnia Southern Ostrobothnia Southern Ostrobothnia is one of the 20 regions of Finland.Seinäjoki is the regional centre and by far the largest city in the area.- Historical provinces :For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia- Municipalities :... |
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| Pennant of Tavastia Tavastia Tavastia may refer to:* Tavastia , a historical province of the kingdom of Sweden, located in modern-day Finland* Tavastia Proper, a modern region of Finland* Päijänne Tavastia, another region of Finland... |
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| Pennant of Kainuu Kainuu Kainuu is a region of Finland. It borders the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and Northern Savonia. In the east it also borders Russia. Kainuu is known in the ancient Norse sagas as Kvenland.... |
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| Pennant of Karelia Karelia Karelia , the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Finland, Russia, and Sweden... |
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| Pennant of Central Ostrobothnia Central Ostrobothnia Central Ostrobothnia is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Southern Ostrobothnia.- Historical provinces :For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia- Municipalities :... |
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| Pennant of Central Finland Central Finland Central Finland is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Päijänne Tavastia, Pirkanmaa, Southern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Northern Savonia and Southern Savonia.... |
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| Pennant of Kymenlaakso Kymenlaakso Kymenlaakso is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Uusimaa, Päijänne Tavastia, Southern Savonia, and South Karelia.- Historical provinces :For history, geography and culture see: Uusimaa , Karelia- Municipalities :... |
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| Pennant of Lapland |  |
| Pennant of Northern Ostrobothnia Northern Ostrobothnia Northern Ostrobothnia is a region of Finland. It borders to the regions Lapland, Kainuu, Northern Savonia, Central Finland and Central Ostrobothnia.- Municipalities :Main article: Municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia... |
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| Pennant of Swedish-speaking Ostrobothnia Ostrobothnia (region) Ostrobothnia is a region of Finland. It is located in Western Finland. It borders the regions Central Ostrobothnia, Southern Ostrobothnia, and Satakunta and is one of the four regions making up the historical province of Ostrobothnia.... |
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| Pennant of Swedish-speaking Uusimaa Uusimaa Uusimaa, or Nyland in Swedish, is a region in Finland. It borders the regions Finland Proper, Tavastia Proper, Päijänne Tavastia and Kymenlaakso... /Nyland |
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| Pennant of Swedish-speaking Finland Proper Finland Proper Finland Proper or Southwest Finland , is a region in south-western Finland. It borders the regions of Satakunta, Tavastia Proper, Ahvenanmaa and Uusimaa.- Municipalities :... |
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| Pennant of Satakunta |  |
| Pennant of Savonia Savonia (historical province) Savonia is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders to Uusimaa, Tavastia, Ostrobothnia, and Karelia. Largest cities in Savo by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.-Administration:... |
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| Pennant of Uusimaa Uusimaa Uusimaa, or Nyland in Swedish, is a region in Finland. It borders the regions Finland Proper, Tavastia Proper, Päijänne Tavastia and Kymenlaakso... |
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| Pennant of Finland Proper Finland Proper Finland Proper or Southwest Finland , is a region in south-western Finland. It borders the regions of Satakunta, Tavastia Proper, Ahvenanmaa and Uusimaa.- Municipalities :... |
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