Flagday

Flag rules · SE

Flag rules in Sweden

The law governs the flag's design and certain uses. The ordinance lists general flag days but creates no general duty to fly the flag; binding flag-flying rules exist mainly within the Armed Forces. For a private flagpole, the times, half-mast procedure and other etiquette are recommendations and established custom.

08:00hoist Mar–Oct
09:00hoist Nov–Feb
21:00lower latest

Fly the flag whenever you wish

  • As a private individual, you may fly the flag every day if you wish — not only on general flag days.
  • You can also have your own flag days for birthdays, weddings and anything else you want to mark.
  • The flag-flying times are recommendations for private individuals. It is better to fly the flag than not to if you cannot follow them fully.

Official source

Hoisting and lowering

  • The flag is hoisted at 08:00 during March–October and at 09:00 during November–February.
  • It is lowered at sunset, but no later than 21:00.
  • A flag should not fly after dark without illumination.
  • Hoist briskly; lower slowly and with dignity.
  • Hoist the flag fully to the top and keep the halyard taut.
  • Hoist only one flag on each flagpole.

Half-mast

  • For half-mast flagging, first hoist the flag to the top, then lower it until the midpoint of its short side reaches two thirds of the pole's height.
  • On a facade pole, lower to the middle.
  • When taking the flag down, first hoist it to the top, then lower it fully.
  • On the day of a funeral the flag flies at half-mast until the burial is over — then it is hoisted to the top.
  • Pennants, international flags, company flags and association flags are not flown at half-mast.

Pennant

  • The pennant in Swedish colours may fly around the clock and is used when the flag is not hoisted.
  • Hoist the pennant with the blue field uppermost.
  • The pennant should be between one third and one half of the flagpole's height.
  • On general flag days, the pennant should be replaced by the Swedish flag.
  • The National Archives of Sweden recommends avoiding the cross pennant because it has no historical basis.
  • A pennant is never flown at half-mast.

Condition and size

  • On a freestanding pole the flag's length should be about a quarter of the pole's height.
  • The flag must be whole and clean and must not touch the ground.
  • There are no binding rules for how a worn-out flag must be destroyed.
  • You can cut it into blue and yellow pieces of cloth so that it no longer forms a flag, then dispose of the fabric appropriately.
  • Burning is not recommended because flags are often made of polyester.

Folding the flag

  • Fold or roll the flag so it does not crease, and store it dry and ventilated.
  • A damp flag must dry before being put away, or the colours may bleed and the cloth mildew.

Funerals and deaths

  • Half-mast flagging takes place on the day of death or the day after, and on the day of the funeral.
  • Mourning takes precedence over a general flag day.
  • After the burial the flag is hoisted to the top and may then be lowered immediately or at the ordinary time.

On a facade or balcony

  • A smaller facade or balcony flag also represents Sweden.
  • Keep the flag intact and clean.
  • When flying at half-mast, lower it to the middle of the facade pole.
  • There are no official provisions for the flagpole itself.

Official source

Flagging on recreational boats

  • Legal basis: A vessel has a nationality and may fly the national flag it is entitled to. The Swedish Maritime Code determines when a vessel is Swedish and entitled to fly the Swedish flag. On the high seas, UNCLOS requires ships to sail under the flag of one State only as their national flag.
  • A courtesy flag in foreign waters is a gesture of respect to the country being visited. It does not change the vessel's nationality or replace its own national flag.
  • The Swedish Cruising Association recommends that the courtesy flag should be flown alone below the starboard spreader. If there is no spreader, it should be hoisted at the starboard shroud; on a motorboat it should be flown from the jackstaff.
  • The national flag may fly around the clock while a recreational boat is underway. The Swedish Cruising Association recommends that it should be flown when other boats are in sight and always in foreign waters; this is the boating organisation's recommendation and description of custom, not a general rule of Swedish law. When a crewed boat is anchored or moored, the flag should be flown from sunrise, no earlier than 08:00, until sunset or no later than 21:00.
  • The positions and times in the Swedish Cruising Association's flag etiquette are recommendations and custom for Swedish boating, not rules of Swedish law. Other countries may have binding rules; always check the rules of the country you are visiting.

Official source

Multiple flags

  • For private flagging on land, use one national flag per flagpole.
  • If several nations are to be represented, each national flag should be flown on a separate pole.
  • A foreign national living in Sweden may fly their own country's flag, including on Swedish flag days.
  • The guidance here on the number and placement of flags is recommended etiquette for private flagging, not a general legal requirement.
  • For formal international flagging in Sweden, the Swedish flag occupies the position of honour and the other national flags are arranged outward in alphabetical order by their Swedish country names; with two poles, the Swedish flag uses the pole of honour and the visiting nation's flag the other.

Official source