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The Faroe Islands were one of the last territories on the planet to be discovered and populated. The first settlers are said to have been Irish monks who arrived in the year 700 and something, there are no signs of people having lived here before that so the birds had it to themselves. Norsemen arrived in the early 800's. For the first 200 years or so Faroes was a free country but it then came under foreign power - first Norway and then Denmark.
During the Second World War, when the Germans occupied Denmark, Faroes helped feed Britain by sailing there with fish; they sailed under the new Faroese flag called Merkiš, which the British officially recognised.
There had been a strong movement for independence for many years and in 1946 a referendum was held and the majority chose independence. This caused concern in Denmark and the Danish government dissolved the Parliament. A new Parliament was elected in which there was not a majority for independence. In 1948 the Danish Parliament passed the Home Rule Act making Faroes a self-governing state inside the Danish Kingdom. The Act recognised the Faroese flag and the Faroese language.
In recent times, the number of people wanting independence for their nation has increased considerably and in 1998 the Parliamentary elections resulted in a coalition taking power whose main promise was to set in motion a process towards full sovereignty. That process is now underway despite changes in the parliament.
Flag Day
25 April is a half-day annual public holiday in the Faroes called Flag Day. It was during the Second World War on 25 April 1940 that there was an announcement on the BBC calling on all Faroese ships to fly the Faroese national flag instead of the Danish flag.
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The photos at the top of this page: 1. National dress is worn by many at festivals and special occassions.2. Tinganes - Faroese parliament buildings, some with grass roofs. 3. Faroese flag. |
 Copyright © 1997 - 2007 Framtak, FO-650 Toftir, Faroe Islands |
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Iceland: 450 km
Shetland: 322 km
