Unofficial Flag Day Celebrated in Greenland

JANUARY 26, 2025 — On Friday, January 24, Greenlanders across the country rallied together in support of an unofficial flag day, following a call by Prime Minister Múte B. Egede to display Erfalasorput, the national flag, in a show of unity, the Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation reports.

While there is no official flag day on the calendar, the encouragement by Egede has led to Erfalasorput flying from flagpoles across Greenland.

“We are in a time when it is more important than ever to stand together. To show our solidarity, the Naalakkersuisut calls for the hoisting of Erfalasorput on Friday, January 24, 2025. Let us stand together for our country,” said Egede in his statement.

This call to action has been embraced by businesses and organizations throughout the country. Jacob Nitter, CEO of Air Greenland, expressed the company’s support for the initiative. At KNI, another government-owned company, Erfalasorput was also displayed at the headquarters in Sisimiut.

Even Greenland’s police force, which is not a government-owned entity, showed their support for the flag initiative.

Bjørn Tegner Bay, director of the Greenlandic Police, explained the reasoning behind the decision.

“We too support a message of unity, which is so important,” he said. “In the past few weeks, I’ve personally experienced a growing polarization in society, particularly through social media discussions and some incidents in town. While these incidents may not be criminal, both citizens and the police have sensed an increasing divide. That’s why, when the Naalakkersuisut calls for unity, we support it.”

Tusass, the national telecommunications company, also joined the initiative, with flags displayed at their headquarters and across their branches. In the capital city, public buses were adorned with flags, further contributing to the widespread show of solidarity across Greenland.

Image: Ray Swi-hymn, CC BY-SA 2.0