Last modified: 2007-02-10 by phil nelson
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by Jan Oskar Engene, 28
April 2002
Approved on 20 February 1976.
See also:
Vadsø municipality is situated in Finnmark county.
Vadsø's arms and flag were approved by Royal resolution on 20 February 1976
and shows the head of a reindeer stag in silver (arms) or white (flag) on a red
field. Vadsø is the seat of the Finnmark county administration, so the reindeer
head was chosen because it was though representative for the county. Reindeer
keeping is especially important among the Saami population. In addition, the
coat of arms made for the town in 1893 also contained a reindeer head, among
other elements. According to [cjo87], the
reindeer also symbolizes freedom, strength and endurance.
Jan Oskar Engene, 28 April 2002
[cjo87] is somewhat short of flag
information, but from what I understand, there was, probably, no flag in use by
Vadsø before 1976. It is also not clear weather the 1893 coat of arms were in
any way official, even if it is clear that it was used by the municipality in
official circumstances (e.g. on heading of the official writing paper).
That would mean, I guess, it was not approved by the king.
Željko Heimer, 1 May 2002
You are right. Vadsø's 1893 arms were a local creation that did not receive
Royal approval. As far as I know, these arms were not related to a flag, so you
are also correct in saying Vadsø flew no flag before 1976.
Jan Oskar Engene, 2 May 2002
Official blazon in Norwegian: "På rød bunn et hvitt reinbukkhode."
Blazoned in English: "Gules a reindeer's head couped argent."
English blazon by Joe McMillan, 30 July 2002