On Sunday, December 15, 2024, a Seraphim Toll was held at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm to honor Her Royal Highness Princess Birgitta, who passed away on December 4, 2024, at the age of 87.
The Order of the Seraphim is conferred upon members of the Swedish Royal House and, by recommendation of the government, upon heads of state or individuals of equivalent status in connection with state visits.
Princess Birgitta was appointed as a Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim on March 22, 1952. As part of the tradition of the Order, when a Knight or Member is conferred the honor, a heraldic coat of arms – a seraphim shield – is proposed and subsequently painted by the Chapter of the Orders.
Since the beginning of the 19th century, Riddarholmen Church has been the designated church of the Order of the Seraphim. The seraphim shields of deceased knights and members are displayed in the church, while shields of living knights and members are kept at the Royal Palace.
On the day of the funeral, the coat of arms of the deceased is solemnly transferred from the Royal Palace to Riddarholmen Church. The Seraphim Toll (Swedish: Serafimerringning), as this tradition is known, takes place between noon and 1 p.m., during which the great bell of the church tolls continuously for one hour, in reverence of the life and service of the departed.
The success of private members’ clubs in London during the eighteenth century led Nordic socialites seeking similar facilities closer to home. While the tradition of clubs may not be as deeply rooted in the Nordics as it is in countries like Great Britain, there are still a number of such exclusive establishments in the region.Here is a list of private members’ clubs in the Nordics – Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Royal Bachelors’ Club (1769)
Photo: Raphael Saulus, Wikimedia Commons.
The Royal Bachelors’ Club is the oldest active English-style gentlemen’s club in Sweden, located in Gothenburg. Founded in 1769, it ranks as the fourth-oldest club of its kind in the world. The club’s headquarters are situated in the Broström Villa at Skyttegatan 1, in the Lorensberg district of Gothenburg.
The club was established by a group with strong British and Scottish backgrounds. The first meeting took place on November 25, 1769. Among the founding members was William Chalmers, founder of Chalmers University of Technology. In 1787, the club was granted a royal privilege by King Gustav III, mediated by the royal secretary Claes Gartz, who became an honorary member.
The club has moved several times over its long history. Initially, it met at the Wilsonska House near Gustaf Adolf’s Square but moved in 1932 to Kungsportsavenyn 8. In 1969, it settled in its current location, the Broström Villa, which was designed by architect Arvid Bjerke.
At the time of writing this, the Royal Bachelors’ Club has 1159 members of which 253 are senior members
Founded in Copenhagen in 1772, Norske Selskab began as a gathering place for Norwegians living in the Danish-Norwegian capital. Its members were primarily students, young academics, and officers. The club’s shared interest in theater and literature united them, and within two years, it formally became Det Norske Literaire Selskab. The poets of the club, particularly Johan Herman Wessel, left lasting marks on both Norwegian and Danish literary history with their works blending both humor and seriousness.
Members regularly gathered for meals and cheerful socializing around a punch bowl, singing drinking songs about love, friendship, and their shared homeland, Norway. However, the club was also a venue for serious discussions on contemporary issues, serving as a vital meeting point for Norwegians in a foreign city.
The original club in Copenhagen remained active until 1813, when it gradually included both Norwegian and Danish members. With the establishment of a university in Norway, the club was dissolved, as there would no longer be new students from Norway coming to Copenhagen, eliminating the club’s core purpose.
In 1818, Norske Selskab was re-established in Christiania (now Oslo) by former members from Copenhagen who sought to revive the traditions in Norway’s capital. The new club differed significantly from its predecessor. Former students and lieutenants were now statesmen, judges, and generals.
After several relocations, the club found a permanent home in 1873 on the third floor of Akersgaten 18.
Since 1853, the structure of the club has remained largely unchanged. Membership is reserved for men. During the German occupation in World War II, the club’s activities were dramatically halted when the occupiers dissolved the society and confiscated its building.
Today, Norske Selskab continues to honor its 1772 origins, remaining free of political and economic interests. The club’s primary focus is to foster friendship and the joys that come with it.
Sällskapet – literally “The Society” in Swedish – was founded on December 1, 1800. It was established as a result of the fact that, in addition to various private homes, there was a lack of premises where like-minded gentlemen could meet, socialize and make new acquaintances in an environment well suited to its purpose. The club’s first premises were rented in the Kirsteinska House in the old town of Stockholm. After almost 50 years in 1849 the club moved to the Bergstrahlska house also in the old town. In 1857 the Club rented rooms in the newly built Hotel Rydberg at Gustaf Adolfs Torg, opposite the Royal castle. The club had the entire second floor at its disposal. Since 1870, the club has had its premises in the current, purposely built clubhouse at Arsenalsgatan 7. It was designed by the famous architect Johan Fredrik Åbom, whose portrait hangs in the clubhouse below the grand staircase. The then undeveloped property, on an almost deserted Blasieholmen, was purchased and built by the prominent builder Johan Andersson, later purchased by Sällskapet. He is also represented by the original deed of transfer of the property, which hangs in the library. Over the years, several books in Swedish about Sällskapet’s history and clubhouse have been published.
Since its founding, Sällskapet has been owned and managed by its members. The purpose remains unchanged to offer the opportunity for socializing in a friendly, dignified and warm home-like environment for the members and where applicable, with invited guests. The club owns one of Sweden’s largest private libraries, where books and journals are regularly acquired and updated. In addition to their own socializing and access to lunch and dinner, there is an extensive programme of activities for special interest groups, where lecturers are invited to a combination of meal and lectures in widely different areas. Each year, about a hundred activities are carried out, which range from a handful, to just over a hundred people. The club is open to both women and men, but since its founding with only male members, reflecting both the Club’s traditions and respect for them. Sällskapet’s dress-code is classic well-dressed in accordance with the style the members of the club wish to keep in their own clubhouse.
The purpose of the club from December 1, 1800 is unchanged. Sällskapet remains a place where its members and guests socialise, enrich their knowledge and enjoy.
Founded in 1852, the Military Society of Stockholm was established to offer a welcoming space where military officers could gather, converse, and deepen their understanding of both military matters and the wider world. Over the years, the club has maintained its commitment to providing a home away from home for its members, including military personnel, royalty, and distinguished guests.
From its early days, the Military Society was an exclusive gathering spot for officers from the Army, Navy, and General Staff. Over time, it became a prominent social hub for military officers in Stockholm. Its longstanding connection to Swedish royalty, including King Oscar II and King Christian IX of Denmark, further elevated its prestige.
In 1908, Queen Victoria of Sweden took the initiative to address the growing need for accommodation among navy officers stationed in Stockholm. The Queen established a hotel known as “Queen Victoria’s Naval Home” — a refuge offering affordable lodging. Located just across the water from the Royal Castle, this hotel continues to serve Military Society members today, providing them with high-quality accommodations at reasonable rates.
As the Royal Swedish Air Force was established in 1926, membership in the Military Society expanded to include officers from this new branch. In 1985, with the integration of female officers into the Swedish Armed Forces, the club opened its doors to female members, reflecting its progressive ethos. Today, membership is available to all Swedish military personnel of rank OF-1 or higher, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Swedish Defence Industry.
The club’s facilities, located near the Armed Forces Headquarters on Stockholm’s fashionable Valhallavägen boulevard, provide members with a refined space for socializing, dining, and conducting both personal and business meetings. Members can enjoy lunch in the elegant dining halls, unwind in the Ulinders Bar, or relax in the club’s library. Although the club does not offer dining service every evening, weekly evening events create an atmosphere of camaraderie and connection.
The Military Society of Stockholm is part of an extensive network of affiliated clubs, offering its members reciprocal benefits when traveling abroad. Whether in Stockholm or abroad, members can enjoy the same privileges and connections within the broader community of military and social clubs.
Nya Sällskapet was founded in Stockholm in 1874 with the purpose of “providing an opportunity for social interaction within a closed circle.” Initially, membership was capped at 100 members, excluding accredited foreign ministers. Since 1992, the membership limit has been set at 400 members. To join, an applicant requires a written proposal from two current members who must personally know the candidate and have been members for at least two years.
The club traces its origins back to 1850s Stockholm, when a small group of senior officials and notable individuals began meeting informally to discuss various topics, play cards, and engage in billiards. These gatherings were casual and, over time, the group diminished. Eventually, some members decided to collaborate with individuals in parliament to establish a smaller club, distinct from the well-established gentlemen’s club “Sällskapet,” which had been in operation since 1800.
In November 1873, the royal court marshal Baron Knut Åkerhielm, Major Count Axel von Rosen, Court of Appeal judge Otto Forssell, Chamberlain Baron Claës von Mecklenburg, and Chamberlain Count Nils Gyldenstolpe invited 42 gentlemen from Stockholm to join a new, smaller gentlemen’s club. Invitations were also sent to 31 gentlemen from other parts of Sweden, who were thought to be interested in joining the club. The club was then established on January 18, 1874, in a rented venue at Gustav Adolfs Torg 12. In the following years, it met at Hotel Rydberg and later moved to the Gustavian Opera House in the mid-1870s.
The idea of owning a property was soon proposed, and in 1882, a company was formed to fund the construction of a new building. Count Carl von Platen purchased a plot of land, and Robert Sager, chairman of the club’s building committee, oversaw the project. The architectural design was entrusted to brothers Axel and Hjalmar Kumlien. On October 1, 1883, the club moved into its new headquarters at Västra Trädgårdsgatan 6 in the Royal Garden block.
Nya Sällskapet does not have its own website.
Svenska Klubben i Helsingfors (1880)
Photo: Prince Michailoff, Wikimedia Commons.
The history of Svenska Klubben (Swedish: The Swedish Club) in Helsinki dates back to September 26, 1880, and its roots are in earlier club activities, such as Borgerliga Klubben (Swedish: The Bourgeois Club) and Konversationsklubben (Swedish: Thehe Conversation Club), which had been active for most of the century. The origins of organized club life in Helsinki are linked to the period around 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars when interest in news was at its peak.
The driving force behind the founding of the club was Professor Axel Olof Freudenthal, who had been a prominent advocate for Swedish Finland during the rise of the Fennoman movement in the late 1850s. Freudenthal initiated the founding of Svenska Klubben in Helsinki in 1880, drawing together like-minded individuals from the university. He became the first president of the club and a central figure in the Swedish nationalist movement in Finland.
The club’s activities revolved around promoting the Swedish language, intellectual discussion, social gatherings, and cultural events in a private environment. In the early years, the club’s members could enjoy a range of newspapers and engage in cultural and political debates, leading to significant initiatives such as the founding of Nya Pressen and the Swedish Literature Society.
The club’s life was enriched with events such as annual Runeberg and Gustav Adolf celebrations, discussions, and leisure activities like billiards, chess, and card games. Over the years, the club had several locations, eventually settling at its current address in Kronohagen.
By the early 20th century, the club had grown significantly in membership, with over 600 members by 1919. The club’s welcoming atmosphere, with affordable prices and social engagement, attracted members during times of crisis, such as during the World War II era.
In the 1930s, the club began forming connections with other Swedish clubs across Finland and internationally, including the Royal Bachelors’ Club in Gothenburg and the East India Club in London. Later, in the 21st century, the club formed partnerships with several Nordic clubs, strengthening its international network.
The club’s influence continued to grow, with the establishment of a research scholarship to support scientific work. It was first awarded in 1948 and contributed significantly to the academic community in Finland.
Today, the club continues to be a center for intellectual exchange, social activities, and cultural engagement, maintaining a rich tradition of fellowship and intellectual discourse.
Svenska Klubben in Åbo was founded in 1889 as a subsidiary of the Svenska Bildningens Vänner (S.B.V.) association. Initially, it had its own board, event committee, and bylaws, as well as a rented club space. In 1944, the name was changed from S.B.V.’s Club to Svenska Klubben in Turku, and the Foundation for Åbo Akademi was named as a beneficiary in the event of the club’s dissolution, replacing the S.B.V. association, which had previously held this role.
Among the club’s founding members were its first chairman, Ernst Rönnbäck, the head editor of Åbo Underrättelser; Dr. Georg von Essen, who became the club’s first honorary member; Alexander Kumlin, a court assessor; Viktor Svehla, a trade school director; and Gustaf Cygnaeus, a secondary school teacher.
The club’s early regulations did not specify a clear purpose, but by 1920, its official bylaws stated that the club’s activities were centered around “social interaction and cultural activities.” Membership was open to Swedish-minded individuals who were nominated by existing members. If the board did not reach a unanimous decision on a candidate, the matter was decided by a ballot committee, which included the board and five club members chosen at the annual meeting. The last ballot took place in 1955.
The club’s first few decades were marked by several moves within central Turku. It began in the Town Hall, originally the Society House, opened in 1812. The club then relocated to the Theatre House, followed by moves to Köpmansgatan 7 near the Market Square, Slottsgatan 16 in 1909, and Slottsgatan 13 in 1913.
In 1925, the club moved across the street to the Swedish House (Svenska Gården), occupying the third floor with an entrance on Slottsgatan 10. By this time, the club had become a shareholder in Svenska Gården, a company formed through a merger. The club continued to acquire shares and, by 1937, held a majority stake in the splendid Renaissance-style building at the corner of Aura and Slottsgatan. The club expanded to the fourth floor in 1928 and moved to the fifth floor (formerly the attic) in May 1983. In the fall of 2009, the club also began using spaces facing Slottsgatan.
The building was completed in 1898 and designed by architect Fritiof Strandell, who created many distinguished buildings still standing in Turku. The building originally housed shops, offices, and private apartments. For decades, only one residential apartment remained, with the rest used for businesses or club facilities.
Helsingfors Börsklubb (Helsinki Stock Exchange Club) was founded in February 1912, although its activities began in 1910. The club was established by the same parties responsible for founding the Helsinki Stock Exchange. It started operations in the Helsinki Stock Exchange building at Fabianinkatu 14, where it is still located today, on the fourth floor. The club follows the model of a traditional English-style social club, with its interior ordered from England. Its facilities include a lobby, large dining room, private rooms, a library, bar, billiard room, cigar lounge, and a balcony overlooking the courtyard. The club’s restaurant has received recognition from the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society based in Paris. The club also organizes various special interest groups, including those focused on billiards, wine, automobiles, bridge, hunting, golf, boating, and literature. The club values traditional etiquette and maintains a strong social culture. Membership is granted once a year, with new applicants requiring two sponsors who must have been members for at least two years. The candidate must be someone who would actively use the club’s services, and existing members should benefit from their presence. Since 2019, the club has accepted both men and women as members.
While celebrating Finland’s Independence Day on December 6, it’s a great time to reflect on the journey of Finland’s national identity, symbolized in part by its flag. The current Finnish flag, with its simple yet striking blue cross on a white background, has been a symbol of the nation’s sovereignty since its adoption. But the design we recognize today was not always so clear-cut. The evolution of Finland’s flag was marked by debates and proposals that spanned decades. Below, we explore some of the proposed flags of Finland.
Today’s flag of Finland features a simple design with a blue cross on a white background. The cross is slightly offset towards the hoist side, which is typical of a Nordic or Scandinavian flag design. While we today associate Finland with blue and white, the flag of Finland and its colors were debated for decades. In the spring of 1848, during a student celebration in Helsinki, the students’ flag was displayed, featuring Finland’s coat of arms from 1580 – a golden crowned lion, on a red field, with an armoured human arm brandishing a sword, trampling on a sabre with the hindpaws – on a white background. Following this event, discussions about Finland’s flag began, largely driven by the efforts of Zachris Topelius. Numerous proposals for the flag’s design emerged during this time. Zacharias Topelius had already in 1854 described the Finnish colors as blue and white in the story “Fästningen Finlands värn” (The Fortress of Finland’s Defense), which was published in the children’s magazine Eos. The story is about a snowball fight between young boys, where the boys’ general says: “I tell you that white and blue are the Finnish colors – white for the snow of our winters and blue for our blue lakes.” In 1863, Topelius had a poem about the significance of the colors, “Finland’s Flag,” published in Helsinki newspapers.
It was therefore hardly surprising that the colors blue and white gained prominence in discussions about Finland’s national colors. However, the flag proposal itself was never formally addressed in the Diet of Finland. Instead, debates about various flag designs were primarily conducted through the media of the era. By the late 1800s, several of these proposed flags began to be flown at private villas, and over time, the blue-and-white colors became increasingly established in flags and pennants, especially among sailing clubs. However, designs featuring the coat of arms’ gold and red colors were still also popular, especially among the Swedish speaking part of the population.
Below are some of the proposed flags of Finland, compiled by Finnish heraldist Olof Eriksson in 1972. Which one do you prefer?
On October 10, 2024, a new design for the UK coat of arms was unveiled, marking an important moment in the country’s heraldic tradition. This new design follows the accession of His Majesty The King, and like all changes to the coat of arms, reflects the commencement of a new reign.
The UK coat of arms is not merely a symbol of the government; it is a representation of the royal authority upon which the government acts. By using the coat of arms, the government conveys that it operates under the authority of the Crown, and it is often referred to as “His Majesty’s Government.” The updated design continues this tradition, but with a refreshed look to match the current reign.
Photo: The new coat of arms.
The changes to the previous coat of arms are subtle yet noticeable. They have gone back to a classic shape escutcheon rather than an oval shape (arms of women are generally depicted not on shields but on lozenges or ovals). Also, following King Charles III’s decision to incorporate the Tudor Crown into his royal cypher, the College of Arms anticipated a similar adjustment to the crown featured on the royal arms. The Tudor Crown, also referred to as the King’s Crown, was last used officially between 1902 and 1953, and now replaces St. Edward’s Crown, the heraldic symbol that was prominent throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Photo: The royal cypher of Charles III.
For practical purposes, the government uses a simplified version of the coat of arms known as the lesser arms. This version of the arms is now available in a variety of formats, including a streamlined silhouette for digital communication. The use of the lesser arms will be widespread, appearing on departmental logos, email signatures, and other official correspondence, ensuring consistency across government communications.
Photo: The old and new lesser arms.
As part of the transition, new departmental logos will be rolled out, with updates being made in a cost-efficient manner, beginning with digital platforms. This rollout is expected to be gradual, with updates to physical materials following later, as is customary in heraldic design changes.
The updated coat of arms marks a subtle yet significant evolution in a long tradition of state heraldry. It stands as both a symbol of continuity and an acknowledgment of the monarchy’s evolving role in the 21st century.
The Order of the Seraphim is Sweden’s foremost order of chivalry and is conferred upon members of the Swedish Royal House, foreign heads of state or individuals of equal merits. Each new knight is granted a unique coat of arms, which is traditionally painted on a copper plate. It is now just a matter of time before Finnish president Alexander Stubb will unveil his own coat of arms.
Queen Silvia in conversation with President Alexander Stubb, wearing the sash and star of the Order of the Seraphim. From the Swedish Royal Court.
On April 23–24, 2024, the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, paid a state visit to Sweden at the invitation of His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf. The President was accompanied by his wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, ministers from the Finnish government, and a business delegation. On the occasion of the state visit, His Majesty the King appointed President Alexander Stubb a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim. Mrs. Innes-Stubb was simultaneously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star.
In my bachelor thesis in art history, I explored both the Icelandic and Finnish presidents’ Order of the Seraphim coat of arms. In anticipation of Stubbs’ arms, here is a summary of all former Finnish presidents’ coat of arms (Svinhufvud and Mannerheim excluded, as they – as noblemen – use their own coat of arms, while presidents Ståhlberg and Ryti did not receive the Order of the Seraphim):
Lauri Kristian Relander
Lauri Kristian Relander was Finland’s second president, serving from 1925 to 1931. Relander was born on May 31, 1883, in Kronborg and died on February 9, 1942, in Helsinki. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on August 19, 1925. His motto is “Patriae servio” (English: I serve the homeland). The copper plate was painted in 1930 by David Friefeldt and the coat of arms was designed by Jorma Gallen-Kallela.
The arms consist of three golden ears of grain on a black background. More specifically, the grain depicted is rye, identifiable by its awns. The rye symbolize Relander’s agrarian background. Following in his father’s footsteps as an agronomist, Relander studied agronomy at the University of Helsinki and earned a doctorate in 1914 with a dissertation on seed germination. He was also a member of the Agrarian League, today known as the Centre Party of Finland.
But why rye? Rye is a highly significant grain for Finns, as reflected in its widespread popularity as an ingredient in Finnish cuisine. For example, rye bread was chosen as the national dish for Finland’s centenary. However, the specific choice of three ears is harder to interpret. The number three holds symbolic meaning in many cultures, often representing diversity or luck. From a heraldic perspective, it is important that the design fills the entire shield, which three ears effectively do.
In addition to rye’s importance for Finland, ears of grain are generally symbols of fertility, renewal of life, and resurrection – of a good harvest, prosperity, and happiness – fitting symbols for a young nation taking its first steps, and equally reflective of Relander’s own work and legacy. This symbolism is also found in his motto. Relander serves – symbolically harrowing, sowing, and plowing – the homeland. It is reminiscent of how Napoleon used ears of wheat – admittedly another grain – as a symbol, for example in a tiara for Empress Josephine, whose symbolic message has been interpreted as “an emblem of prosperity and generosity, evoking rebirth and peace.”
The color choices are likely aesthetic rather than symbolic. The golden color of the ears reflects the natural yellow of rye. Why black was chosen as the background is unclear; perhaps it represents light in darkness. The use of color symbolism is more evident in other parts of the coat of arms. The tinctures of the helmet mantling use the colors of the Finnish flag. In heraldry, it is customary to use the main tinctures of the shield in the mantling, but here Gallen-Kallela has instead used the flag’s colors. Interestingly, the torse reuses the shield’s tinctures instead. Finally, the crest features the presidential pennant of Finland, which combines the country’s and the president’s main symbols – the flag and the national coat of arms.
Kyösti Kallio
Kyösti Kallio was Finland’s fourth president, serving from 1937 to 1940. Kallio was born on April 10, 1873, in Ylivieska and died on December 19, 1940, in Helsinki. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on June 15, 1938. The copper plate was painted in 1939 by David Friefeldt.
Kallio’s coat of arms is a simple monogram, rendered in a modern typeface and using the colors of the Finnish flag. Kallio never had time to submit a proposal for a coat of arms. Instead, the Swedish artist Brita Grep—frequently commissioned by the State Herald of Sweden in Stockholm—chose the initials as the motif, as monograms had been permitted by the statutes of the Order of the Seraphim since 1902.
Nevertheless, the design is well-suited to its recipient. Kallio was a convinced republican, though moderate and inclined toward compromise. During the heated debate on introducing a monarchy in Finland, Kallio had opposed his own party and its pro-monarchist stance. This ultimately led to Kallio resigning from his post in the Senate in protest. Once he was elected president, Kallio could hardly refuse to accept a foreign royal order. Thus, the simple and unconventional motif may be seen as a subtle reference to his earlier protest. However, it should be emphasized that monograms, as previously noted, are not an anomaly among the coats of arms of the Order of the Seraphim. Nonetheless, strictly speaking, monograms are considered non-heraldic.
Juho Kusti Paasikivi
Juho Kusti Paasikivi was Finland’s seventh president, serving from 1946 to 1956. Paasikivi was born on November 27 in Koski and died on December 14, 1956, in Helsinki. He was appointed a Knight of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on June 10, 1947. His motto is “Isänmaan puolesta” (English: For the Fatherland). The copper plate was painted in 1952 by David Friefeldt and the coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers in 1950.
The shield uses the colors of the Finnish flag and consists of a single, general image: a medieval wall anchor. A wall anchor is a structural element that holds together different parts of a building. In German heraldic tradition, thewall anchor is a fairly common image. They are often used to symbolize cohesion – and that is precisely what the wall anchor in Paasikivi’s coat of arms is explicitly meant to represent.
Cohesion was a recurring challenge in the history of the young republic of Finland – not least the political division that led to the Civil War in 1918, but also the language question and – in Paasikivi’s case in particular – the debate over monarchy versus republic. However, Paasikivi’s legacy is characterized by unity and unification. Throughout his career, Paasikivi consistently sought to negotiate, mediate, and act diplomatically.
The simple motif of the coat of arms affirms Paasikivi’s legacy and political principles as a unifying force acting in the nation’s interest. The motto, which is also the motto of Finland’s Order of the Cross of Liberty, reinforces this further. The simplicity of the composition, and the object itself, also evoke antiquity. Paasikivi was a conservative, and an wall anchor can symbolize this as well – not only as a historical object, but also through its function: to reinforce, anchor, and preserve – concepts that are strongly aligned with conservatism as an ideology.
Paasikivi is, together with his predecessor Kallio (who must nevertheless be considered in a class of his own), the only Finnish head of state to feature a man-made object in his coat of arms. Others in some way refer to nature in their heraldry.
Urho Kekkonen
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen was Finland’s eighth president, serving from 1956 to 1982. Kekkonen was born on September 3, 1900, in Pielavesi and died on August 31, 1986, in Helsinki. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on October 2, 1956. His motto is “Sitä kuusta kuuleminen” (English: Listen to the sound of that fir tree). The copper plate was painted in 1957 by David Friefeldt and the coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers in 1956.
Kekkonen’s coat of arms consists solely of ordinary charges, with a golden fir-twigged fess on a green background. Kekkonen is also unique among Finnish presidents in that neither the colors of Finland’s flag nor the national coat of arms are used. While Finland’s army colors are indeed green and gold, this is probably purely a coincidence.
The archaically simple – and thus striking – motif is unmistakably Finnish. However, knowledge of the context is required to understand its particular significance for Finland. The specific fir-twig line in Kekkonen’s coat of arms is actually a Finnish heraldic innovation, dating back to 1918. The fir-twig, in independent Finland, acquired a patriotic symbolism. During the Civil War, when the White Army was advancing on Tampere, a symbol was needed to distinguish friends from enemies in the heat of battle. The White troops then placed a fir-twig in their hats, much like the Swedish troops at the Battle of Lund in 1676 used a straw wreath in their hats. After the war, the fir-twig appeared as a motif in various military insignia. In the 1950s, the fir-twig line was introduced into Finnish heraldry by the same Gustaf von Numers mentioned above. The fir-twig in Kekkonen’s coat of arms also represents the motto, which comes from a Finnish proverb: “Listen to the sound of that fir tree, at whose root your home is fastened.” The proverb is found in Zacharias Topelius’s work The Book about Our Land, a book that had a profound influence on Finland’s intellectual history. With this work, Topelius aimed to create a clear Finnish national identity. The proverb appears in the introduction to the book when Topelius describes what the fatherland and the home of the Finnish people are.
For Finns, the sound of the fir tree is a part of the national soul – it represents home and security. In its simplicity, Kekkonen’s coat of arms is a patriotic confession of his love for the fatherland. Kekkonen, in other contexts, tried to shape the image of himself as coming from the deep roots of the people. For example, before his first presidential candidacy in 1949, Kekkonen had the chimney removed from a photograph of his birthplace, the Lepikko cottage, to appear more folk-like. His father was originally a forest worker but had worked his way up to the middle class as a supervisor and timber agent. Kekkonen’s mother was the daughter of a landowner. Thus, it was not strictly speaking a working-class cottage background, even though Kekkonen liked to emphasize his identity as such.
The choice of the fir-twig, the green color of the forest, and the yellow of the grain fields reflects Kekkonen’s own wish for a coat of arms that would connect to Finnish agriculture and forestry. The tinctures are also found in the coat of arms of Kainuu, the region where Kekkonen grew up. Kekkonen’s arms is similar to Kainuu’s, and at least a clear allusion to the president’s arms can be seen, but Kainuu’s regional coat of arms is younger.
Mauno Koivisto
Mauno Koivisto was Finland’s ninth president from 1982 to 1994. Koivisto was born on November 25, 1923, in Turku, and passed away on May 12, 2017, in Helsinki. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on April 16, 1982. His motto is “Valtakunnan parhaaksi”(English: For the good of the country). The copper plate was painted in 1991 by Bengt Olof Kälde. Heralds had submitted proposals to Koivisto before the president himself had decided on the question of a coat of arms. Koivisto then based his choice on the proposals submitted by his former teacher, Professor Knut Pipping, in 1982.
The coat of arms is a canting arms, representing the bearer’s name in a visual pun or rebus, and follows the colors of the Finnish flag. Two birch leaves in contrasting tinctures “shoot out” from a wavy line, called an “ess curve.” In Finnish, koivu means birch, and the suffix -sto indicates a place. Thus, Koivisto can be translated as birch grove. The ess curve forms an S, which, according to correspondence between Pipping and the painter of the Danish Order of the Elephant’s arms (which has the same tradition of coat of arms as the Order of the Seraphim), stands for “Suomi” (Finnish for Finland). However, a deeper meaning can be generated, given the intertextuality of the motif. Just like the similar symbol taijitu in Chinese philosophy, which represents opposites—yin and yang—in harmony, Koivisto’s coat of arms seems to evoke similar connotations. Koivisto’s actions were marked by his ability to unite opposites or extremes. For example, in foreign policy, Koivisto, thanks to his contacts with both the USA and the Soviet Union, was able to play a mediating role during the tension between the two superpowers. This is further reinforced by the motto.
The birch also carries its own significance. It is a symbol of fertility and light, and in Nordic culture, it has been sacred to Thor and Frigg. The birch is also Finland’s most common deciduous tree and the national tree of Finland. Therefore, the birch is an important symbol of Finnish identity and culture. It is a natural part of decorations at parties in Finland during spring and summer, such as May and midsummer poles, and birch twigs are often used in Finnish saunas. Zacharias Topelius’s story The Birch and the Star is well known among Finns. In the tale, the birch, together with the star shining through its leaves, forms a landmark that helps the main characters, two children who were taken to Russia during the Great Northern War, find their way home again.
Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Ahtisaari was Finland’s tenth president from 1994 to 2000. Ahtisaari was born on June 23, 1937, in Vyborg and passed away on October 16, 2023, in Helsinki. He was appointed a Knight of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on April 12, 1994. His motto is “Se pystyy ken uskaltaa” (English: He who dares, succeeds). The copper plate was painted in 1996 by Bengt Olof Kälde and the arms was designed by Harri Rantanen in 1995.
Ahtisaari’s coat of arms had a somewhat different process than those of previous presidents. The President’s office tasked the National Archives and the State Heraldry Board with providing an opinion on the matter and suggestions for a heraldically correct coat of arms. 57 proposals were received, some of which came from artists on their own initiative. As an advisory body, the board pointed out to the President’s office that the coats of arms of previous presidents not only served as a symbol of the office of president but also represented the personal arms of the president—that is, the coat of arms does not necessarily have to be linked to the office, but should primarily be personal. The decision was then made by the president’s wife, and it was based on Harri Rantanen’s proposal.
The heraldic rose is a common image in heraldry. The rose is always depicted in a highly stylized form, as a wild rose with five petals. The rose is also one of our most beloved flowers and has appeared in many cultures as a symbol of life, beauty, memory, and—above all—love. However, considering the context, it is clear where the motif originates. The roses—along with the tinctures in the shield—refer to the office of the president. The roses and tinctures are found in Finland’s national coat of arms. Finland’s national coat of arms was created during the reign of Swedish king Gustav Vasa, and the significance of the roses is not known.
The coat of arms of Finland. From Wikimedia Commons.
One theory is that the roses represent the historical provinces of Finland, of which there were nine. However, Ahtisaari’s coat of arms is adorned with eleven roses. What the number is intended to represent is not obvious. Heraldic artist Rantanen affirmed in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat that the motif does not carry any particular symbolism, other than referring to the office of the president.
Tarja Halonen
Tarja Halonen was Finland’s eleventh president from 2000 to 2012. Halonen was born on December 24, 1943, in Helsinki. She was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on April 10, 2000. Her motto is “Yhteisen kansan puolesta” (English: For a united people). The copper plate was originally painted in 2003 by Bengt-Olof Kälde and later repainted in 2021 by Leif Ericsson. The coat of arms was designed by Harri Rantanen in 2002.
Halonen’s coat of arms also features the colors of the Finnish national coat of arms. The charge that divides the shield is a so-called lilyous partition. The coat of arms can somewhat be considered a canting coat of arms, as the lilies divide – in Finnish, halkoinen – the shield.
The lily is a symbol of power and refers to the president’s leading position and strength. When the coat of arms was presented, it received criticism from the heraldic expert Leif Tengström, who questioned the choice of the lily as a symbol, reasoning that it would be a reference to the Virgin Mary. However, many people throughout history, both men and women, have used lilies in their coats of arms. For example, Sweden’s Queen Silvia has a lily divided in red and gold in her seraphim coat of arms. The heraldic lily, also known as the fleur-de-lis, is, alongside the rose, the most common flower in heraldry.
Since antiquity, the lily has been a symbol of purity and was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. In addition to the Christian interpretation, the lily is most known as a symbol of power, primarily for the sovereignty of the French monarchy. Legend has it that an angel gave King Clovis of the Franks (466–511) a lily during his baptism as a sign of his purification. When Pope Leo III crowned King Charlemagne of the Franks as emperor in 800, the pope is said to have given the emperor a blue banner adorned with golden lilies, which became the origin of the French national flag.
In Halonen’s context, the association is not with the Virgin Mary, but rather with power. The motif also carries a unifying symbolism. The dividing charge does not split, but unites and intertwines a pair of opposites in the form of the shield’s two divided parts. This significance and symbolism have been noted in previous coats of arms, including Koivisto’s, and as heraldic expert Rantanen has confirmed in a previous interview, the lily represents the president’s power.
Solidarity and tolerance, integration and equality were some of Halonen’s key political issues, all of which are about uniting the people. This significance is reinforced by Halonen’s motto, which she also used in a modified form as a slogan during her second presidential election campaign: “The President of All the People”.
Sauli Niinistö
Sauli Niinistö was Finland’s twelfth president from 2012 to 2024. Niinistö was born on August 24, 1948, in Salo. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim at Stockholm Palace on April 17, 2012. His motto is “Juurista voimaa”(Swedish: Kraft ur rötterna – Strength from the roots). The copper plate was painted by Leif Ericsson in 2016 and the coat of arms was designed by Antti Matikkala and Ronny Andersen in 2012.
Niinistö’s coat of arms is a canting arms in the colors of Finland’s flag. The Finnish word niini is a short form of niinipuu, which means linden tree. Niinistö can thus be roughly translated to linden grove. The Niinistö family name was, before fennicisation, Lindström. Lindens and linden leaves are often found in heraldry, particularly in the German tradition, which is closely related to the Nordic tradition.
The symbolic value of the linden is generally significant and carries positive connotations in several cultures. In the Nordic countries, the linden has been associated with the fertility goddess Freja. In European culture, particularly in the Germanic tradition, the linden has played a more prominent role. Before the Christian era, the linden was regarded as a sacred tree and symbolized marital love. It was customary for two lovers to swear eternal love under a linden tree, as it was believed that under the linden, one always spoke the truth. Linden also frequently appears in Germanic literary traditions. The poem Under the Linden by the German poet Walther von der Vogelweide is an example of this. The linden, more specifically a linden leaf, also plays a significant role in the German epic Nibelungenlied.
The linden also symbolized justice. People would gather under a linden tree to dispense justice and make peace. The linden continued to be associated with justice even after the arrival of Christianity, and in some places, judgments were made under a linden tree until the Enlightenment period. Aside from its symbolic significance for Niinistö, the linden is also a fitting symbol to represent the president’s former career as a lawyer. The motto also functions as a wordplay since juurista – meaning from the roots in Finnish – is very similar to juristi, which means lawyer. The five linden leaves in the coat of arms are arranged in a way that references the heraldic rose, and thus, also symbolizes the Order of the White Rose of Finland and its star.
