Flag rules in Sweden

Many people believe that a law governs when the flag is raised and lowered in Sweden, but that is not the case. The Act on the Flag of Sweden describes what the flag looks like, and the ordinance on general flag days states which days are flag days. The times and most of the flag etiquette are instead recommendations. Riksarkivet (the Swedish National Archives), the state authority for state symbols, refers to the recommendations published by the Swedish National Day Foundation. They are based on the regulations of the Swedish Armed Forces, long tradition and international flag customs.

Flying times

The times apply on all days, both general flag days and other days. A floodlit flag may stay up after sunset, which is common at public buildings and on evenings with festivities. More in the guide to flag lighting.

North of the Arctic Circle the sun does not rise for a period around the winter solstice. The Swedish Armed Forces have special times for the dark period, when the flag only flies for a few hours in the middle of the day.

Who the rules apply to

The times are written for public authorities and the Swedish Armed Forces, and they are followed there. For private individuals, associations and businesses there is, according to the Swedish National Day Foundation, a certain freedom. It is not illegal to raise the flag later than 08:00 or to leave it up on a light summer evening after 21:00, but the times above are what counts as established Swedish practice.

Riksarkivet sums it up like this: formality should not go so far that the flag is not flown at all, and it is better to fly the flag than to refrain for fear of doing it wrong.

Flag etiquette according to the recommendations

• At the top: the flag is raised properly all the way up to the finial, with the halyard taut. It is worth bearing in mind that a flag hanging some way down the pole can be mistaken for mourning.
• One flag per pole: only one flag is raised on each pole, so flying both the Swedish flag and, for example, an association’s flag is done on two poles.
• Whole and clean: the flag is whole and clean and has kept its colours. A worn, torn or faded flag is not recommended.
• Respect: the flag is treated with respect, and many therefore avoid letting it touch the ground.
• The pennant: the pennant adorns the pole when the flag is not flying and is taken down when the flag is raised.

How a flag is flown at half-mast is described in the guide to half-mast.

The pennant

The Swedish pennant is a long, tapering streamer, split lengthwise into blue and yellow. It does not replace the flag but adorns the flagpole when the flag is not flying, and according to the recommendations it may therefore fly around the clock. The blue field is at the top. Riksarkivet advises against so-called cross pennants with a yellow cross, because they have the flag’s colours but not the proportions the law prescribes. More in the guide to flag types.

Marks and symbols on the flag

Under section 4 of the Act on the Flag of Sweden, the flag may not bear marks, letters or other symbols beyond those the Act itself specifies for the Royal House and the Swedish Armed Forces. A flag with printed text or a logo is therefore not a correct Swedish flag. According to Riksarkivet, the flag may not be used in trade marks without special permission either, and such matters are examined by the Swedish Intellectual Property Office (Patent- och registreringsverket).

Worn-out flags

According to Riksarkivet, a worn-out flag is also treated with respect and not used for anything else. There are no rules on how it is destroyed, but the Swedish National Day Foundation recommends cutting the flag into pieces of only blue and only yellow fabric that no longer form a flag, and then throwing the pieces away. The foundation advises against burning the flag, because most flags today are made of polyester, which melts and gives off toxic smoke.

Flying the flag from a boat

According to the Swedish National Day Foundation, leisure boats may fly the Swedish flag at all hours when under way. For boats that are moored or at anchor, the same flying times apply as on land.