North Bothnia, Sweden

Sparkling reindeer and a red giants with big clubs. That’s an interesting way to start a flag. This flag, from Sweden’s most Arctic province, really does take the cake for weirdest flag symbols in northern Europe. The reindeer represented on the flag are Blitzen and Prancer, who, using the stars as a guide, flew away from the harsh working conditions of the North Pole to the workers’ paradise of Sweden. They now help IKEA workers pack value-priced coffee tables into sleighs and Volvos. The wildmen are the symbol of the Lapp people, native to the region, and are decked out with lovely brich leaf skirts and fine golden clubs. They look a little hungry, so I’d watch out if I were Blitzen.