Flag rules in Finland

The Finnish flag is governed by an Act and a decree, and alongside them the Ministry of the Interior and Suomalaisuuden Liitto describe established flag etiquette. This guide covers the flying times, raising and lowering the flag, and what the law says about respect for the flag. Rules that bind only state authorities and institutions are pointed out separately.

Who may fly the flag?

Under section 4 of the Act on the Flag of Finland, everyone has the right to fly the national flag. No permit is needed, and flag flying is not limited to flag days. Suomalaisuuden Liitto stresses that this is a right, not a duty. Under the decree, the duty to fly the flag on official flag days applies only to state authorities and institutions and to public buildings of the Åland region.

The state flag, which carries the coat of arms of Finland at the centre of the cross, is reserved for the authorities listed in the Act. According to the Ministry of the Interior, a private person cannot be given permission to use the state flag. The flag types are described in the guide to flag types.

Flying times

Under section 4 of the decree, the flying times are:

Under the decree, the head of an authority or institution can decide otherwise because of local conditions. By established practice, the Ministry of the Interior has recommended flying the flag from 8.00 to 16.00 in winter in the areas of polar night (kaamos).

Midsummer is the only flag day on which the flag stays up through the night. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the ban on flying the flag at night is otherwise absolute.

Flexibility about the flying times

According to the Ministry of the Interior’s frequently asked questions, a private individual can be flexible about the flying times when needed, for example if working hours make it impossible to raise the flag at 8.00 or lower it at sunset, as long as the flag is treated with the respect it deserves. According to Suomalaisuuden Liitto, flying the flag with some flexibility is better than not flying it at all. The main thing is that the flag is not left up overnight. The Ministry considers that businesses, housing companies and other organisations should follow the flying times as closely as possible.

If a celebration continues past the normal lowering time, the Ministry says the flag may exceptionally stay up until the end of the event if the flagpole is in a lit area. The flag is lowered as soon as the event is over. The practice is described in the guide to flag lighting.

Raising and lowering the flag

Suomalaisuuden Liitto describes the established custom as follows:

• The flag never touches the ground.
• The flag is raised with calm pulls all the way to the top, and the halyard is wound a few times around the pole and tied firmly to the cleat (knaappi).
• The flag is lowered with the same dignity as it is raised.
• After lowering, the flag is folded so that the blue is on top and the snap hooks and halyard are left free. A damp flag is dried indoors before folding.

When flying the flag at half-mast, the flag is first raised to the top and then lowered to half-mast. The practice is described in the guide to half-mast.

Condition of the flag and the weather

According to Suomalaisuuden Liitto, a flag raised on the pole is best kept clean, intact and tidy, and a dirty or tattered flag is not raised. Nor, according to the Association, should the flag tear on the pole, so it does not recommend raising the flag in strong wind or a storm. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the flag can be washed and repaired as long as the repair is not visible when the flag is flying. Care of the flag is described in the guide to flagpole maintenance.

What the law says about respect for the flag

Under section 6 of the Act on the Flag of Finland, no additional patterns may be placed on the flag except in the cases provided for in the Act. Under section 8, a fine may be imposed on anyone who

• publicly desecrates the Finnish flag or uses it disrespectfully
• without permission removes a Finnish flag put on public display
• uses the state flag or the flag of the President of the Republic without the right to do so
• offers for sale as a Finnish flag a flag whose colours or proportions clearly differ from those laid down.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the flag law defines the flag in the abstract, so a printed sticker that meets the provisions on proportions and colours is also a Finnish flag.

Several flags at the same time

Under section 5 of the decree, in public flag flying the Finnish flag is placed in the position of highest honour when it is used together with other flags, standards or pennants. According to Suomalaisuuden Liitto, two flags are not raised on the same pole. The order of flags is described in the guides to foreign flags in Finland and flag protocol at ceremonies.