Launched in 1919 by Faroese students in Copenhagen, the flag of the Faroe Islands (Føroyar) is called Merkið (‘the mark’). During WW2, when the Faroe Islands were occupied by Great Britain in 1940, the British demanded that Faroese ships should not sail under the Danish flag and thus, Merkið was put into use. But it was only in 1948 that the flag became official. Its white base symbolizes clear skies and waves breaking against the shore. The red and blue can be found in the traditional Faroese scarf, and allude to the connection with Iceland and Norway.
