The flag of the Republic of Jamtland was created in 1983 by activists Kent Backman and Bo Oscarsson[1] as a horizontal tricolor of blue, white and green, symbolising the sky, snow-clad mountains and woodland.[1] (The three bands also symbolise the provinces of the Republic of Jamtland: Jamtland, Härjedalen and Ragunda.)[1]
On the white band is an old seal granted to Jamtland by king Magnus Lagabøte of Norway in the 13th century.[2][3] The seal reads SIGILLUM:COMMUNITATIS:DE:IEMThALANDIA, "seal of the community of Jamtland", and depicts two women holding a shield (uncrowned) with the Norwegian state lion and two hunters with bows hunting squirrels in trees. (Winter fur from squirrels (vair) was an important merchandise in medieval times.) The seal was in official use up to 1570.[2]
The flag has no legal/official status but has become popular in Jamtland and among the Jamtlandic diaspora in Sweden. Republic statues designate 12 March, 16 June, 23 July and 23 December as flag days:[1] 23 July commemorates the first official 1983 flying of the flag, 12 March is the National Day, 16 June commemorates the national assembly day abolished by Swedish occupation in the 17th century, and 23 December is Sjursmäss ("Sigurd's mass"), a local holiday originally celebrating a saint now forgotten.[4]
- ^ a b c d Oscarsson, Bo. "Jamtlands Flagga", Jamtamot. Originally Published in Jamtlands Tidning 1983:2 (Uppsala). Retrieved on 27 October 2005.
- ^ a b Oscarsson, Bo. "The 13th century seal of Jamtland". Retrieved on 27 October 2005.
- ^ Blaeu, Joan. ”Second Volume de la Geographie Blaviane, Contenant le III. IV. V. VI. & VII. Livre de l’Europe”. Amsterdam, 1667. ”Suede, qvi est Le III. Livre de l’Europe”: ”Des Provinces Nordlandiennes”: "De la Iempte".
- ^ Faxén, Lars. "Den 23 december – sjulsmässdag". Nordisk tidskrift 1970:200.