Half-mast in Sweden – rules and tradition

A flag at half-mast is a widely understood way of showing grief. Sweden has an established practice for how it is done, and it differs from some other countries, above all in the height: the flag is not lowered to the middle of the pole but to two thirds of the pole’s height. This guide describes the practice. When it is common to fly the flag at half-mast is described in the guide to flags in mourning.

The height at half-mast

According to Riksarkivet’s recommendations, the flag is lowered so that the middle of the flag’s short side reaches two thirds of the pole’s height. The short side is the side of the flag that sits against the pole. It is thus the flag’s midpoint along the pole that counts, not the top edge of the flag.

On a wall-mounted pole, a short pole that projects at an angle from a house wall or balcony, the flag is lowered to the middle of the pole according to the recommendations.

Many people mark the height on the halyard, for example with a small knot or a piece of tape near the cleat, so as to find the same position every time.

How it is done according to tradition

According to Swedish custom, the flag is:

1. first raised all the way to the top
2. then lowered to two thirds of the pole’s height
3. raised to the top again before it is lowered.

The same times apply as for other flag flying: the flag is raised at 08:00 or 09:00 depending on the season and lowered at sunset, no later than 21:00. On the day of a funeral the flag is traditionally raised to the top when the funeral is over, see flags in mourning.

The Swedish flag

According to Riksarkivet, only the Swedish flag is used at half-mast. This means that

• the pennant is not flown at half-mast
• international flags, such as the EU or UN flag, are not flown at half-mast
• company and association flags are not flown at half-mast either.

It is worth bearing in mind that anyone who has the pennant up can swap it for the flag when news of a death arrives. According to Riksarkivet, foreign private individuals in Sweden may fly their own national flags.

Flag days and national mourning

According to Riksarkivet, flying the flag at half-mast takes precedence if it coincides with a general flag day. This applies both to private bereavements and to national events.

At the funeral of a member of the royal family, flags fly at half-mast all day. At a state funeral, special regulations are issued for flag flying. During national mourning it is possible to fly flags at half-mast on several flagpoles where there are several, otherwise on the main flagpole.

Common misunderstandings

• The middle of the pole: in many other countries the flag is lowered to the middle, but the Swedish recommendation is two thirds on a free-standing pole.
• Straight to half-mast: by custom the flag first goes to the top.
• The pennant at half-mast: according to Riksarkivet, the pennant is not flown at half-mast.
• The size of the flag: it is worth bearing in mind that a very large flag reaches far down the pole, which makes half-mast less distinct. Riksarkivet’s rule of thumb is a flag length of about one quarter of the pole’s height, see flag sizes.