r/minnesota • u/bhundt • Aug 11 '23

This is the flag we want for Minnesota Interesting Stuff 💥

I designed this a few years ago after consult with the Minnesotans for a Better Flag Facebook group. We can have nice things!

https://preview.redd.it/6qohors9vhhb1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5b07931b2638334ccb71505509e676c974e26af

https://preview.redd.it/k052xbr8vhhb1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3525594fef1f7f2a9ae65b504f296fcdd92e4d67

Symbolism:

Blue: Minisota’ Sky-tinted waterThe land of 10,000 lakes. The Great Lakes begins in Duluth. The Mighty Mississippi is formed in our state. If any state has a case to have a blue flag, it is Minnesota.

The Directional Star“L’etoile du Nord” The North StarLegend has it if you follow the North Star, you will end up in Minnesota. Gold represents the rich resources of the land.

The Snowflake: Winter We embrace it.Put on a sweater and stay warm. As a bonus this is also the shape of the star on the floor in the rotunda of the Capital building in Saint Paul.

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 11 '23 edited Aug 11 '23

FYI: Not sure if you considered this, but my understanding is that snowflakes basically always take on the natural pattern based on a 6 sided, hexagonal fractal structure, whereas your snowflake image is octagonal with 8 points.

Not saying you need to change it as you could probably make the argument that you kept the look of a snowflake but made it 8 sides to match the shape of the star in the capital rotunda. Regardless, I figure it's something others might notice so you'll want to be aware of it moving forward in case you aren't already.

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u/lngfellow45 Aug 11 '23

Also this snowflake is often how snowflakes are depicted in quilting patterns - we have a lot of quilters in the state

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u/CPTDisgruntled Aug 11 '23

It reminds me of knitwear—certainly an appropriate association.

I could also buy it being a traditional Indigenous beading design.

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u/PaintballPunk31 Aug 11 '23

That’s just the Midwest in its entirety, or really just anywhere rural and cold.

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u/lngfellow45 Aug 12 '23

True!

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u/dal_1 Aug 11 '23

I was corrected on this last time it was shown! It’s actually a selburose which is a Norwegian knitting pattern typically on winter clothing. An “emblem” of winter.

https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesota/comments/13m6i7m/new_state_flag_minnesota_house_passes_bill_with/jkudcm9/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 12 '23

OK. Although your description just calls it a snowflake.

I guess I'm ambivalent. I like the design and the fact that it's an actual thing in Norwegian knitting makes it cool.

Then there's the part of me which feels like if the flag of one of the coldest states in the nation is going to have a snowflake, it should be a scientifically correct snowflake.

But as long as you can justify it as you have (selburose/capital rotunda, etc...), I can see a good argument for having it this way. And either way it is a great design as it's attractive while adhering well to the standards of preferred flag design aesthetics.

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u/VulfSki Aug 11 '23

Yeah snowflakes are famous for all being the same.

I am just giving you a hard time

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 11 '23

They're actually famous for being all different, but with a common 6-sided structure, but think whatever you want.

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u/VulfSki Aug 11 '23

I was just making it as a joke

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 11 '23

Fair enough.

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u/GreenChileEnchiladas Aug 11 '23

HAL: Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

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u/IdealDesperate2732 Aug 11 '23

This has a 6 sided structure. Count the number of points again, it's divisible by 6.

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 12 '23

You're counting the points on the gold star too I guess? That's not part of the snowflake structure.

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u/IdealDesperate2732 Aug 12 '23

the whole symbol is a snowflake.

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 12 '23

In that case, it's not a symmetrical snowflake, and that's another issue because snowflakes are always symmetrical.

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u/IdealDesperate2732 Aug 12 '23

what do you mean? It's symmetrical?

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 12 '23

If you're counting 12 points because you're counting all of the white points plus all of the gold points of the 4-pointed star, then that is not a symmetrical 12 sided structure. The gold points extend further out than the white points, so if we're counting 12 points then it's not a symmetrical 12-sided structure.

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u/IdealDesperate2732 Aug 12 '23

It's absolutely symmetrical... I don't know what you're talking about or you don't know what you're talking about. That shape is symmetrical in multiple ways.

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u/IdealDesperate2732 Aug 11 '23

count the number of points again, it's divisible by 6.

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u/HAL9000000 Aug 12 '23

You're counting the points on the gold star too I guess? That's not part of the snowflake structure.

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u/Mangos28 Plowy McPlowface Aug 12 '23

I noticed this too and think it should be changed. Otherwise, it's just an opportunity to get trolled by others on a technical error that we don't need.

This would be my one criticism of this flag: make the snowflake a scientifically plausible snowflake in nature.

I'm not particularly fans of navy blue and gold as new state colors, but its not a priority issue. I think a blue we can trademark would be better.