Frisian Flag The Frisian flag is the official flag of the Dutch province of Friesland. It consists of four blue and three white diagonal stripes; in the white stripes are a total of seven red pompeblêden, leaves of yellow water-lily, that may remind of hearts, but according the official instructions should not be heart shaped. The current design was officially approved in 1897 and was first used by the provincial government in 1927. The seven red pompeblêden are a reference to the Frisian sea countries in the Middle Ages: independent regions along the coast from Alkmaar to the Weser who were allied against the Vikings. There were never precisely seven distinct regions, but the number seven probably has the connotation many. Some sources hold, however, that there have been seven Frisian lands: West Friesland, Westergoa, Eastergoa, Hunsingo, Fivelingo, Emsingo, and Jeverland. The first reference that was found is from the the hand of one Peter Suffridus in relation to the legend of the three expelled brothers Friso, Saxo and Bruno (probably from Scandinavia). Friso settled in Friesland. This legend mentions the coat of arms of King Friso: a blue shield with three silver oblique courses from upper right to lower left, and between these courses are seven red sheets of pompeblêdden . In the 13th century a flag with pompeblêdden is described in an epic poem. Evidence for this lies within verses of the Gudrunlied. Round 1200 Scandinavian coats of arms reveal many traces of water-lilies and hearts, found often in combination with images of lions. 15th century books on heraldry show that two armorial bearings were derived from the early ones: a coat of arms showing lions and seven pompeblêdden (water lillies) transformed into billets, the other being the arms with the seven now known lilies on stripes. The Frisians feel, more than residents of any other Dutch province, themselves as an own nation. That is seen at the use of the flag: while residents of other provinces often dont even know how the their flag looks like, you see the Frisian flag waving everywhere ! Ofcouse they are proud.. they are Frisians !
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:56:24 +0000
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