Greenland Flag

Greenland’s flag consists of two colors, red and white. There are two equal sized horizontal stripes, white on top red on bottom. On the left side of Greenland flag is a circle divided into two equal parts. The top half of the circle is red, and the bottom half of the circle is white. The meaning of the Greenland flag is simple. The large white horizontal stripe represents the ice cap, and the red half circle represents the fjords. The large red horizontal stripe represents the ocean, and the white half circle represents the ice bergs and ice pack, which cover eighty percent of the island. Another meaning behind the design of Greenland Flag is a partially set sun being reflected back on to the water.

The flag of Greenland was voted in on June 21, 1985. The process started back in 1973 when several individuals proposed a flag colored in green, white, and blue. This suggestion fueled other designs to be proposed, and a newspaper in 1974 published eleven designs. Ten of the eleven designs featured a Scandinavian cross on them. The newspaper had the people vote for their favorite design. The popular vote at the time was for the Danish flag, so the government did nothing at the time. In 1980, the government held another design contest and 555 flag designs were sent in, 293 by Greenlanders. The government still could not decide, so more artists were invited to create more designs. Finally the current flag of Greenland did win in a consensus by a vote of fourteen to eleven. Several individuals were unhappy with the fact that this flag did not have a Scandinavian cross on it. Greenland’s waving flag was designed by Thue Christiansen.

Today two different flags of Greenland are flown. The traditional flag described above, and the flag of Denmark. Denmark’s flag is flown because up until 1978 Greenland was ruled by Denmark. In 1978, Denmark granted Greenland home rule. Greenland flags have special names in Greenland language. One name, Erfalasorput, means “our flag”. The other name, Aappalaartoq, means “the red”. This name can also refer to the Danish flag the Dannebrog.

In honor of the Greenland flag’s tenth anniversary, the national post office issued commemorative stamps and a leaflet by its creator.