800 years and still going strong
According to the legend the Danish flag ”Dannebrog” fell from the sky on June 15 in 1219. The Danes fought against Estonia at the battle of Lyndanise and was about to get beaten but then God threw a red flag with a white cross from the sky which gave new courage to the Danish soldiers and Denmark won the battle.
Did you know…
… That “Dannebrog” perhaps is the oldest national flag in the world?
…That the Danes are pretty eager to use the flag at birthdays, football matches etc.?
…That there are different versions of ”Dannebrog” – each member of the Royal Danish family has their own individual flag and there is a swallow-tailed flag as well?
…That the Ministry of Justice has a webpage dedicated to the flags and when it is used?
…That there are plenty of rules when it comes to raise Dannebrog. You cannot fly the flag after sunset. If you do it is said that you fly the flag for the devil!?
The cloth of the Danes
The word “Dannebrog” means “the cloth of the Danes”.
It was in the 18th century the flag became not only something for the royal family and the army.
After the first Schleswig War in 1848-50 where the Danes thougt themself being victorious. Dannebrog became the flag of the people. This where the tradition of using the flag at birthdays and in the gardens and the allotment is from. In 1920, when Southern Jutland voted itself back to Denmark after being annexed by Germany since 1864, the popularity of the Danish flag increased and it was very popular to decorate the Christmastree with Dannebrog.