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Estonia - History of the Flag

Last modified: 2005-02-19 by dov gutterman
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History of the Flag

From: http://ew80.www.ee/eng/index.html

The blue-black-white flag was first consecrated at Otep?? on the 4th of June, 1884, as the flag of the Estonian University Student Association. During the following years the blue-black-white flag became a national symbol.
The Provisional Government of Estonia adopted a resolution on the 21st of November, 1918, proclaiming the blue-black-white flag the state flag. The Law on State Flag was adopted by the Parliament (Riigikogu) on the 27th of June, 1922.After the forcible annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in June, 1940, this flag was banned.
In 1987/88, during the days of the "singing revolution", or the process of regaining independence, the blue-black-white flag was used openly as a national symbol. On the 24th of February, 1989, the blue-black-white national flag of Estonia was flown from the tower of Pikk Hermann.
Jorge Candeias, 26 October 1999

From: http://www.teleport.ee/~lipuvabrik/ajaloosti.html

The national colours of Estonia came to use in 1881, when blue, black and white were taken as the colours of the Society of the Estonian Students. In 1884 the flag of the Society was consecrated in a church at Otep??. On June 27, 1922 the blue-black-and-white national flag was officially declared as the state flag of Estonia. According to the state flag law the ratio between the width and length of the Estonian flag is 7:11 and the standard size is 105 x 165 cm.
Dov Gutterman, 23 January 1999

As you are well aware, all three Baltic States use "heraldry" in their national flags dating back to the days of the crusades. For example, the Estonian coat-of-arms, three leopards on a shield, was first introduced by the Danes in approximately 1220. The Danish flag, the "Dannebrog" (white field, red cross), was said to have fallen from heaven on to the Danish forces who at that very moment were moments away from being defeated by and Estonian siege army. The "heavenly sent" sign rallied the Danes and they went on to defeat the Estonians. To this day, the Danish flag has remained a white field with a red cross (it is thus the worlds longest used state flag in continuous use - over 700 years. The Estonian coat-of-arms has remained virtually unchanged since the early Danish period.
Arvo L. Vercamer, 29 January 1999

The late 1860's is known as the "awakening" period in Estonian history. It was a time when Estonian culture was beginning to assert itself after centuries of German and Russian domination. In addition to a growth of Estonian arts and sciences, many Estonian fraternities and student societies can also trace their origins to this period.
One of the older fraternities was named "Vironia". "Vironia" is a Latinized form of the word Estonian word "Virumaa" which means "the province of Viru". "The word "Viru" in both Finnish and old Estonian refers to Estonia. "Vironia" was founded in 1870 in Tartu, Estonia'