Scandinavium #2: Lowering the flag
{450 words, 5 figures, 4 minutes}
"Scandinavium" is a regular column where I write about the elements of daily life in Norway and broader Scandinavia.
At a department-wide summer party, I saw first-hand the strong respect that Norwegians have for their flag. I knew about this from my prior research. It is common for Norwegians to fly flags on their property, possess hand-sized flags for waving, and/or hang flags in their home. From an American perspective, it isn't that different. American flags are relatively common in neighborhoods, although they tend to be mounted in flag bracket, not on flag poles as is more common on Norwegian properties. Americans are also less likely to display national flags in their home or at the dinner table, while flags of sports teams and colleges/universities are in my experience more common in the American household (perhaps even more common than the national flag itself).
There are many rules governing the display and usage of national flags in every country. For example, flags should never touch the ground and should be folded by a certain procedure. Flags should be flown at half staff when officially decreed by the government, for example, in honor of certain national events or in memoriam of important public figures. One rule is that the flag must generally be lowered at 9 PM or sunset. In its place, a pennant may be raised.
What I found curious is that two young women (both graduate students working at the Institute) jumped up to help the host (also a woman) lower the flag, raise a pennant as the substitute, and fold the national flag properly. One of my male co-workers commented that the ritual had become more lax and that the proper procedure is for everyone with line of sight to the flag to stand and salute during the entire process. In fact, he joked about how, as a young man at camp, he and his fellow campers would run around the corner of a building to avoid having to stand and salute.
It brought to me a reminder of a conversation I had earlier with my office mate. As he was older, he grew up during a time when military training service was mandatory for all males from ages of 18 to 39. After the initial year of training, refresher training is mandated annually for either a week or a weekend. Presently, military service is no longer mandatory and women are also allowed to volunteer for service. Nevertheless, I thought it was interesting that all three Norwegian women, older and younger, knew precisely how handle the flag and pennant. In America, I suspect that only those with Boy Scout training or something similar would have the experience and knowledge to raise, lower, and fold a flag with its due respect.
