Today the Swedish and Ukrainian national football teams meet in Kiev, and Peter is glued to the match. "I'm not interested in football, but the sea of blue and yellow in the stands is a bit fascinating. I became curious about the flags and did some reading.
The Swedish flag
According to one legend, he saw Erik the Saint the yellow cross in the blue sky when he landed in Finland during the First Swedish Crusade in 1157. But the legend is unproven... The flag has been known since the 1550s and it is believed that the Danish red and white cross was a model. However, the blue-yellow colours were used much earlier, for example in the three-crowned coat of arms and the coat of arms of the People's Court that became Magnus Ladulås royal coat of arms in 1275.
The Ukrainian flag
The Ukrainian flag was created when Ukraine became independent at the end of the First World War. However, blue and yellow were used as the colours of the Kiev Empire long before Christianisation, and appear in church ornaments and city coats of arms from the 13th century.
Restaurant Tsarskoe Selo in Kiev - an experience.
The Tsarskoe Selo theme restaurant in Kiev offers lively performances by Ukrainian musicians in traditional dress. Here...
Ukrainian fast food - a visit to Puzata Hata
We've become completely enamoured with Ukrainian fast food! In Ukraine, there is a domestic fast food chain called...
Restaurant Pervak in Kiev - with a cool interior design
Now we have tried the Pervak restaurant in Kiev. The second evening in Kiev we could finally go...
What is happening in Crimea?
What is happening in Crimea? Do you find it hard to keep up? Political crises are...
Sun holidays on the Crimean peninsula in 2008 - before the Crimean crisis
The Crimean peninsula in Ukraine. We tell you about the wonderful holiday in Yalta, Ukraine in 2008 before the Crimean crisis in 2014....
Hotel Ukraine in Kiev - and the Arena Citi nightclub
Yesterday we moved to Hotel Ukraina here in Kiev. Nice to have a change of scenery! A little walk...
New Year's Eve in Kiev - celebrating New Year in Ukraine
So it was time to celebrate New Year in Ukraine! We started our New Year's Eve in Kiev...
Avalon nightclub in Kiev
We visited the Avalon nightclub in Kiev on New Year's Eve. Here is the ultimate party palace in Kiev...
Impressions from the trip to Kiev
Now we are home from Kiev and back at work... We can definitely recommend Kiev...
Lavra cave monastery in Kiev
Overlooking the Dnieper River, the Kiev Cave Monastery is one of Kiev's main attractions....
Travelling in Ukraine - our top tips
We have just returned from our third trip to Ukraine. We have been both in...
Kiev in Ukraine - travel guide to Kiev's gems
We've visited the capital city of Kiev in Ukraine twice, and this city is actually one of the...
Tense situation in Ukraine
First the whole world followed the unrest in Kiev. Now the eyes of the world are on the Crimean peninsula and the city of Sevastopol....
Shopping in Ukraine - bargains in Kiev
Oh, it's so much fun to go shopping in Ukraine! There is no...
Winter in Kiev - a snowy Ukraine
It's winter in Kiev after a few days of higher temperatures. Today we show some pictures that...
War in Ukraine - reading the news with trepidation
Every morning we open our mobile phones with trepidation and wonder, what has happened now? Maybe it's...
Odessa, Ukraine - sun holiday 2008
Today we tell you about our 2008 trip to Odessa, Ukraine, which we did together with...
Inga Magnusson says:
Apparently you didn't miss much! I didn't see either but heard that the old man switched off at 1-2 and went to bed.
Funny comment you made about us capitalising Du and Er while the English write I in capital letters!
12 June 2012 - 3:50
Joanna says:
Hey, hey, hey, hey,
If you became interested in the flag, the Nordic Museum's Flags exhibition might be of interest? Shows many aspects of our flag.
12 June 2012 - 7:49
admin says:
Inga Magnusson, always more fun to win, of course...
😉
Johanna, thanks for the tips!
12 June 2012 - 8:20
Mr Jonas says:
Does the tradition of carrying a pennant also exist in Ukraine? Then it will be the same as the Swedish pennant.
19 June 2023 - 14:09