Blue is said to represent the country's thousands of lakes and the sky and white the snow that covers the land in winter.

The colour combination has also been used over the centuries in various Finnish provincial, military and town flags.

Its motif was the coat of arms of Finland surrounded by laurel leaves on a white flag.

The current blue-crossed design was first used in Finland by Nyländska Jaktklubben, a yacht club founded in Helsinki in 1861.

The design can be traced to the Russian Navy's ensign, which has a blue cross saltire on a white background.

However, it was met with resistance and was derided as the "slave's flag" (orjalippu), and most Finns refused to fly it.

Shortly after Finland declared its full independence in 1917, a competition was held for the design of the Finnish flag.

[6] The Finnish state flag was further modified in 1922, when the coronet was removed, and again in 1978, when the shield-shaped coat of arms was changed into a rectangular shape.

The cusp width of the blue cross is three units of measure, giving a ratio set of 4:3:4 (vertical) and 5:3:10 (horizontal).

When flown from a flagpole, the flag is recommended to have a width equalling one-sixth of the height of the pole.

The swallow-tailed national flag, which is also the naval ensign, is flown by the Finnish Defence Forces.

On the occasion of great national tragedies, the Ministry of The Interior may recommend flying the flag at half-mast throughout the country.

One may not sell a flag that has different colours or geometry from those defined by the law, which considered to be a violation of the regulations and may lead to a fine.

Flags are also to be flown at half-mast by government agencies and embassies across the world on the days of national mourning, and "the entire nation is asked to join in" Such days are the deaths of a former or current Finnish president, as well as significant catastrophic events such as the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2011 Norway attacks and significant national events such as the 2004 Konginkangas bus disaster and school shootings of Jokela and Kauhajoki.

Historically, flags were flown at half-mast on the Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers which takes place on the third Sunday of May.

Most yachting clubs distribute those ensigns to their members, and they are much used, but their use is not recommended outside Finnish waters to avoid confusion.