Flag flying days in Norway
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Dates when the Norwegian state flag is flown by all branches of government and state agencies are listed in Article 4 of the regulations concerning the use of the state flag and the merchant flag, as modified by Royal Resolution of 3 December 2004.[1] Civilians are also encouraged to display the national flag on these flag-flying days. The flag is flown on the birthday of a member of the Norwegian Royal House, on some Christian holidays and on the dates of significant events of Norwegian history.
On the Day of the Sami people, both state institutions and civilians are encouraged, but not required, to fly the Sami flag in addition to the Norwegian flag.[2]
Full staff
The Norwegian flag is flown at full staff on the following days:
| Date | English name | Local name[3] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day (since 2005)[4] | Nyttårsdag |
| 21 January | Birthday of Ingrid Alexandra (since 2004)[4] | H.K.H. prinsesse Ingrid Alexandras fødselsdag |
| 6 February | Day of the Sami people (since 2004)[4] |
Samefolkets dag |
| 21 February | Birthday of King Harald V (since 1937)[4] | H.M. kong Harald Vs fødselsdag |
| 1 May | Labour Day (since 1935)[4] | Offentlig høytidsdag |
| 8 May | Liberation Day (liberation from the German occupation of Norway, 1945) (since 1962)[4] | Frigjøringsdagen 1945 |
| 17 May | Constitution Day (1814) National Day of Norway (since 1947)[4] | Grunnlovsdagen |
| 7 June | Union Dissolution Day (end of the Swedish-Norwegian Union, 1905)[4] | Unionsoppløsningen 1905 |
| 4 July | Birthday of Queen Sonja (since 1968)[4] | H.M. dronning Sonjas fødselsdag |
| 20 July | Birthday of Crown Prince Haakon Magnus (since 1973)[4] | H.K.H. kronprins Haakon Magnus' fødselsdag |
| 29 July | Olsok (Day of Saint Olaf, king and patron saint of Norway) (since 1928)[4] | Olsokdagen |
| 19 August | Birthday of Crown Princess Mette-Marit (since 2001)[4] | H.K.H. kronprinsesse Mette-Marits fødselsdag |
| 25 December | Christmas (since 2005)[4] | Juledag |
| Movable | Easter (since 2005)[4] | Påskedag |
| Movable | Pentecost Day (since 2005)[4] | Pinsedag |
| Movable | Parliamentary election day (since 1936)[4] | Dagen for stortingsvalg |
Half-staff
On days designated as official days of mourning the state flag is to be flown at half-staff by state and government agencies. There are no permanent days of mourning, and this provision only comes into use upon the death of a member of the Royal House or as designated by the government. Upon the death of a member of the Royal House the flag is to be displayed at half-staff each day from the announcement of death until the end of the burial service. If the burial service of a non-royal person connected to an individual public institution occurs on a flag flying day, the flag flown by that institution is lowered to half-staff until the burial service is over.[5] One such example of a designated official day of mourning was during the immediate aftermath of the 2011 Norway attacks, on which flags throughout Norway were flown at half-staff as a symbol of mourning for the victims.[6]
Former flag days
The flag is flown only for living members of the Royal House. When a member of the Royal family dies or leaves the Royal House, their birthday ceases to be a flag flying day. The Royal House is defined as consisting of the Monarch, those directly in line of succession and their spouses. The three living princesses have left the Royal House as a result of their marriages.[7]
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| 2 July | Birthday of King Olav V from 1905 to 1991[8] |
| 3 August | Birthday of King Haakon VII from 1905 to 1957[8] |
| 26 November | Birthday of Queen Maud from 1905 to 1938[8] |
| 28 March | Birthday of Crown Princess Märtha from 1929 to 1954[9] |
| 9 June | Birthday of Princess Ragnhild from 1931 to 1953[10][11] |
| 12 February | Birthday of Princess Astrid from 1932 to 1961[12][13] |
| 22 September | Birthday of Princess Märtha Louise from 1971 to 2004[14] |