The Symbol Of A Nation

In Denmark we have the oldest state flag of the world. This flag is called DANNEBROG and it ss red with a white Scandinavian cross that goes from side to side. As other Scandinavian countries have designed their flags on ours they must have found it as pretty as we do.

Now this flag was in the medias of all the world a couple of years ago when it was torn, ripped to pieces or cut to shreds and eventually burnt by enraged Muslims, protesting their dismay and rage at the twelve cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that had been published by a Danish newspaper. According to our standards the drawings were neither extremely humourous nor especially obnoxious. We have seen worse, e.g. about our Royal Family, and nobody has thought much about that, presumably not even the Royals.

However, the flag of our country is special as it has an age old history. According to legend it was given to us by God himself. Dannebrog has a personality of its own and it means a lot to many elderly people who were taught in school that on 15 June 1219 it fell from the skies as God's gift to the Danish Crusader King Valdemar II (1202-41). This king had a penchant for christening the Estonians who at that time were heathens. Now and again he raided their country, Estonia, to make them Christians by his sword. Today one may wonder at this idea, but at least it gave us a beautiful legend about our flag even though this story may not have any basis in reality.

Most probably the very first Dannebrog came to Denmark with another king, namely King Erich (VII) of Pommern (1412-39). When he was deposed he may have taken it with him as no flag of the description of the first Dannebrog has been found. The first watertight proof that this flag existed came with the Dutch armorial from 1340-1370, "Gelre Armorial" which is in colour. On page 55 of this armorial we find Dannebrog in all its red-white splendour.

Monks and scribes also have descriptions of its ascent and history as well as its looks so it's a well known fact that Dannebrog belongs to Denmark and that it had this legendary past. In modern times people don't believe in flags falling from the skies as gifts from God, but still, we have a tender spot for this age old symbol of our country, our history and of us as a people. That's why we felt strongly about seeing the enraged Muslims sort of "execute" our defenceless Dannebrog.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

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