Editing Flag of Finland (section)

==Other rules==
Under Finnish law, it is forbidden to deface the flag or to use it in a disrespectful way. It is also illegal to remove a flag from its pole without permission. Anyone who breaks these regulations may be fined for disgracing the flag.<ref name="lex">{{cite web |title=Laki Suomen lipusta |trans-title=Statute concerning the flag of Finland |url=https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/1978/380 |website=Finlex database of judicial information |publisher=Ministry of Justice (Finland) |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=fi}}</ref>

Finnish law also forbids the use of the presidential standard or state flag without permission, as well as the addition of any extra symbols to the flag. 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.<ref name="lex" />

There are also common rules on how to treat the flag respectfully. The flag must not be dirty or damaged. The flag must never touch the ground. When the flag is washed, it must be dried indoors. A worn-out flag must be disposed of by burning (though not with the intent to disgrace it) or alternatively by cutting it to pieces small enough not to be recognizable as parts of the flag. The flag must not be buried in the ground or the sea (including any disposal of the flag).

In Finland, the official term for flying a flag at half-mast is known as ''suruliputus'' (''mourning by flag(ging)''). It is performed by raising the flag briefly to the top of the mast and lowering it approximately one-third of the length of the flagpole, placing the lower hoist corner at half-mast. On wall-mounted and rooftop flagpoles, the middle of the flag should fly at the middle of the flagpole. When removing the flag from half-mast, it is briefly hoisted to the finial before lowering completely.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flying the flag at half-mast - Ministry of the Interior |url=https://intermin.fi/en/flag-and-arms/flying-the-flag-at-half-mast |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Sisäministeriö |language=en-US |archive-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227074558/https://intermin.fi/en/flag-and-arms/flying-the-flag-at-half-mast |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Traditionally, private residences and apartment houses fly the national flag at half-mast on the day of the death of a resident, when the flag is displayed at half-mast until sunset or 9:00 p.m., whichever comes first. Flags are also flown at half-mast on the day of the burial, with the exception that the flag is to be hoisted to the finial after the inhumation takes place.

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 [[President of Finland|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 school shooting|Jokela]] and [[Kauhajoki school shooting|Kauhajoki]].

Historically, flags were flown at half-mast on the [[Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers]] which takes place on the third Sunday of May. Originally, the flag was raised to the finial in the morning, displayed at half-mast from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and again raised to the finial for the rest of the day. In 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the tradition of flying the flag at half-mast was discontinued, and the flag has since been displayed at the finial in a usual manner.

[[File:Half raised flag.jpg|thumb|The Finnish flag flying at half-mast after the [[2011 Norway attacks]]]]
[[File:Flag of Finnish yacht clubs.svg|right|thumb|[[File:FIAV 000100.svg|23px]] The Finnish yacht club flag design; The circled X is replaced with the club emblem; Flag ratio: 11:18]]