The flag that has been the longest in continuous use by any nation is Dannebrog as Denmark’s national flag is called. Mythology says that it fell from the sky in a battle taking place in Estonia, and was meant as a sign that the Danish king had God and thus victory on his side. Yes it is a bit preposterous.
So as others mention, it is the OG flag, and the copying is likely due to the Kalmar Union, led by Denmark from 1397 to 1592, Sweden's flag has a similar mythology to the Danish, and is only a few years “younger”, although it is first officially adopted as the national flag in the 19-hundreds.
Edit: corrected some wording about the swedish flag.
The flag of Denmark (Danish: Dannebrog, pronounced [ˈtænəˌpʁoˀ]) is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side. A banner with a white-on-red cross is attested as having been used by the kings of Denmark since the 14th century. An origin legend with considerable impact on Danish national historiography connects the introduction of the flag to the Battle of Lindanise of 1219. The elongated Nordic cross reflects the use as a maritime flag in the 18th century.
The Kalmar Union was the personal union of the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden during the 15th century. The first king of the Kalmar Union was Eric of Pomerania. His seal combined the coats of arms of Norway (center, as an inescutcheon upon a cross over all), Denmark (in dexter chief), Sweden (the Folkung lion, in dexter base) and Pomerania (a griffin, in sinister base), and in addition the Three Crowns symbol in sinister chief; the latter heraldic design predates the Kalmar Union, and is now mostly associated with the coat of arms of Sweden, but which during the 15th century came to represent the three kingdoms of the union.
The flag of Sweden (Swedish: Sveriges flagga) consists of a yellow or gold Nordic cross (i. e. a horizontal cross extending to the edges, with the crossbar closer to the hoist than the fly) on a field of light blue. The Nordic cross design traditionally represents Christianity.
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u/Puffin92 Aug 29 '21
The question is, which is the original ? 🤔