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Sweden and Ukraine - almost the same flag

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.

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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.

All our top tips on Ukraine. Click on the image!

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