Last modified: 2023-10-21 by 
zachary harden
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(7:11)
image by António Martins, 22 April 1999
Official Name: Republic of Estonia (Eesti
Vabariik)
Capital: Tallinn
Location: Baltic Eastern Europe
Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Flag adopted:
7 August 1990 (first adopted 21 November 1918)
Coat of arms adopted: 16 October 1990
ISO Code: EE
See also:
Regional Flags:
Other sites:
The Estonian national flag is a tri-color, with three equal
horizontal bands. The upper one is blue, the middle one black and
the lower white. The width to length ratio is 7:11, and the exact
standard dimensions are 1000 by 1650 millimeters.
The Law regarding the confirmation of the graphic specifications
for the national flag and coat of arms was passed on July 7,
1992. The Law was confirmed with definitions of the images
appearing on the small and large national coats of arms in
conformance with the international color palette PANTONE 1.
The blue tone on the coat of arms is 285C. Colors of the triad:
C91% CYAN (blue), M 43% MAGENTA, Y 0% YELLOW, B 0% BLACK.
The colors of the national flag are representative of Estonian
history and folk costumes, as well as occurring in nature. The
significance of the individual colors has been explained in
various histories: blue is referred to as the color of faith,
loyalty and devotion; it also reflects the qualities of the sky,
sea, and lakes. Black is said to be symbolic of the dark past of
suffering of the Estonian people; the traditionally black jacket
of the Estonian peasant during past times. White represents the
striving towards enlightenment and virtue. White is also the
color of birch bark and snow, and summer nights illuminated by
the midnight sun.
The days for raising the official flag are: January 1 - New
Year's Day; February 24 - Independence Day; May 1 - May Day;
second Sunday in May -Mother's Day; June 14 - Remembrance Day
(anniversary of forceful deportation); June 23 - Victory Day;
June 24 - Midsummer's; November 16 - Rebirth Day.
The flag atop Pikk Hermann Tower on Toompea hill in Tallinn is
raised every morning at dawn, but not before seven o'clock; it is
lowered at sunset, but not later than ten o'clock. The flags on
other buildings are scheduled by local government codes.
Toomas Molder
From <ew80.www.ee>:
"The state flag, which is also the national flag, is
rectangular in shape, divided into three horizontal bands of
equal size. The upper band is blue, the middle one is black and
the lowest band is white. The proportions of the flag are 11:7
and its normal size is 165x105 cm. The blue-black-white flag was
re-adopted as the state flag on the 7th of August,
1990 and the Law on State Flag was passed on the 6th
of April, 1993."
Jorge Candieas, 26 October 1998
I have had a long discussion with the department of Estonia
national symbols. They couldn't explain to me how it was possible
this blue tone is so dark as at <www.rk.ee>. Nobady use
that color, BUT the law say so since 1992- "the blue tone on
the coat of arms is 285C; colors of the triad: C91% CYAN (blue),
M 43% MAGENTA (??), Y 0% YELLOW, B 0% BLACK".
This was a chaotic time, I think that the error with the blue
tone was made by some unknown person..
I am an historian, and I know exactly - before World War II (the
first Republic) the blue tone of Estonian flag was
"sky-blue". That means strictly opponent to the dark!
(It must be a clearly optical difference between blue and
black!). I have found a link in your page to an Estonian Flag
with the right blue color (historical true, since 1884 as a flag
of Estonian student corporation, until 1940 as a national flag)
blue color. That is <www.customs.ee>.
Indrek Kiverik, 11 January 2001
According to the French Navy Album, issue 2000 [pay00] - National Flag CS-/C--
(7:11) - Blue-black-white tricolour, unusual ratio - anyone knows
reason for it?
It seems that no flag is designated --W/--- (nor ---/-S- but that
is less odd).
Željko Heimer, 24 August 2001
These flags and ensigns are more or less identical to those
used by the Republic of Estonia before Soviet invasion, which are
showed in Flaggenbuch ('Estland'). 7:11 ratio is already
mentioned in Flaggenbuch. I seem to remember that 7:11 ratio is
also widespread among Estonian local flags.
Ivan Sache, 25 August 2001
See also: Estonia - History of the Flag
The protocol manual for the
London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual
London 2012 [loc12]) provides recommendations
for national flag designs. Each
NOC was sent an image of the flag,
including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced
a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may
not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what
the NOC believed the flag to be.
For Estonia: PMS 285 blue and black. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal
version turned 90 degrees anti-clockwise.
Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012
From <web-static.vm.ee>:
"Segments from the Estonian Flag Act
On 1 January 2006, the new State Flag Act enters into force in
Estonia. The most important change introduced by the new law is
that all individuals have the right to use the state flag as a
national flag whenever they feel it fit to do so, but the use of
the flag must be appropriate and respectful of time-honoured
traditions. State flags are permanently flown over state
institutions, local and city governments, and also at border
crossing points.The new law reduces the number of official flag
days from present fifteen to thirteen, including 9 May and Europe
Day. Election days and referendum days are also flag days.
However, flags must be hoisted on all buildings on only three of
these days.Another major change compared to the past situation is
the hoisting of state flags on school and university buildings on
allschooldays. This regulation entered into force on the 1
September 2005.
The goal of this Act is to set out the shape and description of
the Estonian flag along with the conditions and regulations for
its use on the basis of the new principles. The Act establishes
utilization regulations for state and local government
institutions, and provides citizens with freedom to use the flag.
#1 The Estonian Flag
(1) The Estonian Flag is Blue-Black-White.
(2) The Estonian Flag is used as the national and state flag.
#2 Description of the Estonian Flag
(1) The Estonian national flag is a tri-colour, with three equal
horizontal bands. The upper one is blue, the middle one black and
the lower white. The width to length ratio is 7:11
#4 Display and use of the Estonian Flag
(1) Everyone has the right to display and use the Estonian flag
as long as it is in accordance with the act and follows honoured
traditions.(
(2) The Estonian flag is displayed on buildings and stationary
flag staffs on Independence Day, Victory Day and the Restoration
of Independence Day.
#5 Daily display of the Estonian Flag
(1) The Estonian Flag is not lowered from the buildings of the
Riigikogu, the Estonian Government, the Supreme Court, other
courthouses, the State Audit, the Chancellor of Justice,
Ministries, the Bank of Estonia, local and city governments, and
border crossing points.
(2) The Estonian Flag is displayed at Estonian foreign
representations according to the laws and norms of the host
nation.
(3) The Estonian Flag is to be displayed on elementary and high
schools, vocational schools, institutions of professional higher
education and universities on school days.
(5) Flags that are continuously displayed must be illuminated
during hours of darkness.
#6 Flag Days
3 January - Day of Commemoration to the War of Independence
fighters (Vabadussõjas võidelnute mälestuspäev)
2 February - Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty (Tartu
rahulepingu aastapäev)
4 February - Independence Day, Anniversary of the Republic of
Estonia (Eesti iseseisvuspäev)
14 March - Native Language Day (Emakeele päev)
every second Sunday in May - Mothers Day (Emadepäev)
9 May - Europe Day (Euroopa Päev)
4 June - National Flag Day (Lipupäev)
14 June - Day of Mourning and Commemoration (Leinapäev). Flags
are flown as mourning flags
23 June - Victory Day (Võidupüha)
24 June - St John's Day or Midsummer's Day (Jaanipäev)
20 August - Restoration of Independence Day
(Taasiseseisvumispäev)
1 September - Day of Knowledge (Teadmiste päev)
every second Sunday in November - Fathers Day (Isadepäev)
(3) On Flag Days, government institutions, local and county
governments and public legal entities,display the flag.
(4) The Estonian Government can make one-time decisions regarding
the display of the Estonian Flag by government institutions,
local and county governments and public legal entities, and on
other days to mark events of importance for the Estonian state
and its people.
#7 Hoisting and lowering the flag
(1) The Estonian Flag is hoisted at sunrise, no later than 8.00
and is lowered at sunset, no later than 22.00.
(4) The Estonian Flag is not lowered on St. John's Day,
(Midsummer's Day) June 24.
#9 Requirements for displaying the flag
(2) The minimum size of a flag displayed on a building or on flag
staffs on the roof of the building must be105X165 centimetres.
(3) When the flag is displayed vertically the blue band should be
on the observers left.
#10 Displaying the Estonian Flag with other flags
(1) If the Estonian Flag is raised with other flags, the Estonian
flag must be at a position of superior prominence or honour.
(3) The flags of other nations are placed after the Estonian Flag
alphabetically according to their French name.Only the flags of
European Union countries are placed alphabetically according to
their name in their ownlanguage.
(4) If the Estonian Flag is displayed with flags of other
countries or international organisations and with Estonian
county, city, parish or other Estonian flags, the Estonian
county, city, parish or other Estonian flag must be placed to
left of the international organisation's flag when looking at the
line flags from behind.
(5) Depending on the location of the line of flags or on the
number of flags, points 3-4 can be changed taking into
consideration that the Estonia Flag must be at a position of
superior prominence or honour.
#11 Displaying the Estonian Flag with European Union Flag
(1) The European Union Flag is displayed along with Estonian Flag
on buildings of the Riigikogu, the Estonian Government, the
Supreme Court, other courthouses, the State Audit, the Chancellor
of Justice, Ministries,the Bank of Estonia, the General Staff of
the Defence Forces, local and city governments on Europe Day and
on the day of European Parliamentary elections.
(2) The Estonian Government determines the border crossing points
where the European Union Flag is to be continuously displayed
with the Estonian Flag.
(3) The Foreign Minister regulates the displaying of European
Union flags at Foreign Representations. The European Union flag
is displayed with the Estonian State Flag.
#12 Displaying the flag during a period of mourning
(1) During a period of national mourning, the Estonian Flag is
displayed as a flag of mourning.
(2) When the Estonian Flag is displayed during a period of
mourning, a black ribbon is attached to the top of the flagstaff
or the flag is flown at half-mast.Use of the Estonian Flag as a
flag of mourning is not restricted to national days of mourning.
If required,anyone can use the Estonian Flag as a flag of
mourning.
#15 Use of the Estonian Flag and its colour combination
(3) Anyone can use a pennant with the Estonian Flags colour
combination. The pennant does not replace the Estonian Flag.
(4) The image of the Estonian Flag cannot be used in a
trademark."
Zachary Harden, 21 November 2005
image by Zachary Harden, 21 November 2005
This is a vertical banner that is hung on a wall according to
drawing at "Segments from the Estonian Flag
Act".
Zachary Harden, 21 November 2005
image by Zachary Harden, 21 November 2005
This is a table flag according to drawing at "Segments from the Estonian Flag Act". The
flag is shallow-tailed twice on contrary to the vertical
banner.
Zachary Harden, 21 November 2005
image by Zachary Harden, 31 October 2009
This is a pennant (mastivimpel) according to drawing at "Segments
from the Estonian Flag Act". This is like the "husband pennants" that is present in
Finland.
Zachary Harden, 21 November 2005
