Flags

Our friends Sharon and Bennett are visiting us until next Friday when they then travel down to Venice, Italy.

Their flight from Philadelphia was an hour and a half late this morning. The airport in Zurich is a little confusing now with new elevators, etc. Even Michael and I were not familiar with all the changes when we flew in last month.

Michael had them take the train from the Flughafen (airport) to Spiez where I met them. We then transferred to the smaller regional train to Interlaten West.

We stayed around the area since they had a long tiring flight from Phoenix to Philadelphia to Zürich.

From left to right: Flag of Switzerland - Flag of the Canton of Bern - Municipal flag of Unterseen

The national flag of Switzerland displays a white Greek cross in the center of a red field. The white cross is known as the Swiss cross or the federal cross. Its arms are rectangular, with a ratio of height to width of 7:6 for the vertical arms and 6:7 for the horizontal arms. The size of the cross in relation to the field was set in 2017 as 5:8.The Swiss flag is square, instead of the rectangular shape typical for national flags.

"The white cross has been used as the field sign (attached to the clothing of combatants and to the cantonal war flags in the form of strips of linen) of the Old Swiss Confederacy since its formation in the late 13th or early 14th century. Its symbolism was described by the Swiss Federal Council in 1889 as representing "at the same the Christian cross symbol and the field sign of the Old Confederacy".

As a national ensign, it was first used during the Napoleonic Wars by general Niklaus Franz von Bachmann, and as regimental flag of all cantonal troops from 1841. The federal coat of arms (eidgenössisches Wappen) was defined in 1815 for the Restored Confederacy as the white-on-red Swiss cross in a heraldic shield. The current design was used together with a cross composed of five squares until 1889, when its dimensions were officially set.^"

"The civil and state ensign of Switzerland, used by Swiss ships, boats and non-governmental bodies, is rectangular in shape and has the more common proportions of 2:3, Swiss law also specifies 2:3 proportions for flags displayed on Swiss registered aircraft."

"While the proportions of the cross have been fixed since 1889, the size of the cross relative to the flag (the width of the margin separating the cross couped from the edge of the flag) had not been officially fixed prior to 2017."

"The annex to the flag law provides an image specifying that the margin is to be of the same width as the cross arms, so that the total height of the cross is fixed at 20:32 = 5:8 of the height of the flag (in other words, the width of the margin is 6:32 = 3:16). This ratio is also given as a "vexillological recommendation" in the flag regulation used by the Swiss Armed Forces. Flags with a cross of larger relative widths than the prescribed 20:32 = 62.5% remain in wide use; common ratios include 20:26 ≈ 76.9% and 20:28 ≈ 71.4"

For the ensign, the ratio of the size of the cross to the height is likewise 5:8, so that the ratio of cross to flag width is 5:12.

"The shade of red used in the flag was not defined by law prior to 2017.  Since then, the color of the flag is defined as pure red."

"The Swiss constitution of 1848 did not name a national flag, but it prescribes the federal flag for all federal troops. The last flammé flags still used by Landwehr units were replaced by the modern design in 1865. In November 1889, the Federal Council published a "communication regarding the federal coat of arms", detailing the history of the use of the Swiss cross since the 15th century.

Seals produced from 1815 onward, and cantonal coins minted from 1826 showed the arms of the cross in the 7:6 length to width ratio. Later in the 19th century, there was a trend of depicting the cross as composed of five equal squares. The two competing designs were controversially discussed in the late 19th century, especially after the introduction of the new design for the five franks coin, which showed the Swiss coat of arms in a Baroque-style heraldic shield. The Federal Council in 1889 introduced the 7:6 ratio as official. The associated communication explains that "our heraldic cross is not a mathematical figure, but at the same the Christian cross symbol and the field sign of the Old Confederacy". The 1889 law explicitly avoids specification of the shape of the shield, which was to be left to the "tastes of the current time and practical necessity". The proposed legislation defining the Swiss federal coat of arms was passed on 12 December 1889 (SR 111). The rectangular variant of the flag is used as a naval ensign only, officially introduced with a federal law passed September 23, 1953"

"The flag is flown around the year from private and commercial buildings as a display of patriotism, particularly in rural areas and often together with the cantonal and municipal flag. On Swiss National Day, August 1st, the streets and buildings are traditionally festooned in celebration with Swiss flags and banners."

"Prominent display of the Swiss flag on clothing and apparel has become more frequent with the "Swissness" fashion trend in the first decade of the 21st century, while such use of the flag had previously been largely limited to conservative and right-wing circles. The flag and coat of arms are also often used (frequently in contravention of federal law) as design elements on merchandise, particularly on high-quality goods or on merchandise aimed at tourists; for example, the emblem of Victorinox, manufacturer of Swiss Army knives and the sole purveyor of these knives to the Swiss army, is based on the Swiss coat of arms."

"The display of the flag on federal, cantonal and municipal public buildings follows no uniform pattern or regulation. Many public buildings are equipped with flag posts (most often one each for the federal, cantonal and municipal flag), but the flag(s) may only be flown during part of the year or only on National Day. In Bern, the flag is flown on the cupola of the Federal Palace while the Federal Assembly is in session."

"Destruction, removal or desecration of a Swiss, cantonal or municipal flag or coat of arms that has been installed by a public authority is punishable by a monetary penalty or imprisonment of up to three years according to the federal penal code.^"

"The commercial use of the Swiss cross, Swiss flag or Swiss coat of arms was technically prohibited by the 1931 Federal Act for the protection of public coats of arms and other public insignia, but that prohibition was not enforced. Increasing commercial use of the Swiss coat of arms prompted a number of federal regulations, dubbed "Swissness regulation" (Swissness-Verordnung), in force since 2017. The "Coat of Arms Protection Act" of 2017 (Wappenschutzgesetz, Loi sur la protection des armoiries, SR 232.21) now prohibits the commercial use of the Swiss coat of arms (defined as "a Swiss cross in a triangular shield"). Use of the Swiss flag is generally permitted with the provision that such use "is neither misleading nor contrary to public policy, morality or applicable law". Provisions are made for a "right to continued use" for trademarks registered before 2010.^"

We had a "linner" at Manor Farm with Sharon and Bennett. It was a late lunch/early dinner as they were getting tired from their long trip.

While waiting for the bus, we went down to the lake. The Blümlisalp paddle steamer was cruising by before it began its zig zag crossings on Lake Thun.

"This venerable lady built in 1906 is a nostalgic two-deck saloon steamer from the Belle Epoque. Since major renovations on its 100th birthday, this proud Lake Thun steamer is a blend of state of the art technology, stylish ambience and on board comfort. The ambitious on-board kitchen spoils guests both at lunch and in the evening. The steamboat and the scenery through which you glide is equally impressive, crowned by the celebrated mountain trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The "Blümlisalp" is particularly atmospheric during evening trips, when the surrounding mountains are touched by the last rays of the setting sun.

The emblem of the Red Cross is the Swiss flag with switched colors.

"The Red Cross symbol used by the International Committee of the Red Cross, a red cross on white background, was the original protection symbol declared at the first Geneva Convention, the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field of 1864. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross the design was based on the Swiss flag by reversing of the colors of that flag, in order to honor Switzerland, where the first Geneva Convention was held, and its inventor and co-founder, the Swiss Henry Dunant.^"

"The modern banner of the Pontifical Swiss Guard was designed in 1912–14 by commander Jules Repond. The design has a Swiss cross design based on the 18th-century regimental flags of the Swiss Guards, with the papal coat of arms of the reigning pope in the upper hoist and the Della Rovere coat of arms of Julius II in the lower fly, and a vignette with the commander's coat of arms in the center.^"

The flag of the Canton of Bern is a square red field featuring a yellow diagonal band running from the top corner (hoist) down, charged with a walking black bear

The canton of Bern or Berne is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. Its capital city, Bern, is also the de facto capital of Switzerland. The bear is the heraldic symbol of the canton, displayed on a red-yellow background.

• Shape: Like all Swiss cantonal flags, the flag of Bern is a perfect square (1:1 ratio). 

• Colors: Red, yellow (gold), and black, with red accents on the bear. 

• The Bear: The black bear is shown walking upwards toward the hoist (the side attached to the flagpole). By official heraldic rules and law, the bear's tongue, claws, and sexual organs are colored red. 

• Meaning: The bear is a historic totem and the symbol of the city and Canton of Bern, connected to the legend of its founding by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, who allegedly named the city after the first animal he hunted in the area. The red and yellow background colors derive from historical banners of the Holy Roman Empire.

The municipal flag of the historic town of Unterseen features a prominent half-black ibex on a gold background. 

Like nearly all Swiss municipal flags, it is a perfect square (1:1 ratio) and is a direct "banner of arms" reflecting the official local coat of arms.

The Background (Field): A bright yellow or gold (Or) backdrop.

The Ibex (Steinbock): A black (Sable) half-ibex (or semi-ibex) rising or leaping upright

The Accent: In alignment with traditional Swiss heraldic standards, the ibex features a red (Gules) tongue. 

The ibex is a deeply historic symbol across alpine Switzerland, typically representing strength, agility, and the rugged mountain heritage of the Bernese Oberland region. 

The name Unterseen literally translates to "Between the Lakes".

It comes from the Middle High German word unter (meaning "between") and seen (meaning "lakes").

The town was officially founded on July 13, 1279 when King Rudolf I von Habsburg permitted Baron Berchtold III of Eschenbach-Oberhofen to build a fortress on the flat alluvial plain (the Bödeli) exactly between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. 

Flag Comparison: Unterseen vs. Interlaken

The relationship between Unterseen and its famous neighbor Interlaken (historically named Aarmühle) is a classic case of Swiss sibling rivalry. Interlaken is a Latin-derived translation of the exact same geographical concept (inter lacus - between lakes). 

Because they share a tight geography and history, their flags are nearly identical mirrors of each other, utilizing the exact same historic ibex (Steinbock).

Feature: Unterseen Flag Interlaken Flag

Main Motif. A rising black half-ibex (Sable). A rising black half-ibex (Sable).

Background Color. Bright Gold/Yellow (Or). Stark White/Silver (Argent).

Accent Detail. Red tongue. Red tongue.

Ibex Direction. Facing left (towards the hoist). Facing left (towards the hoist).

"In Swiss heraldry, the gold background of Unterseen represents its history as an independent, fortified imperial town built by secular nobles to rival the wealthy Interlaken Monastery. Conversely, Interlaken's white background directly stems from the traditional colors associated with that old Augustinian monastery. 

Interlaken

Unterseen