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Skiptvet, Østfold (Norway)

image by Tomislav Šipek, 20 February 2017

The Flag
Coat of Arms

See also:

The Flag

Here is flag and coat of arms of Skiptvet. Administrative center is Meieribyen.
Source: https://lovdata.no/dokument/OV/forskrift/1981-11-27-3730?q=flagg
http://foto.digitalarkivet.no
Tomislav Šipek, 03 February 2016

Coat of Arms

image by Tomislav Šipek, 03 February 2016

Blazon: I rødt en opprett sølv lindorm. In English: Gules a lindworm erect argent.
Approved by the royal resolution of 27 November 1981 after a drawing by Truls Nygaard. [c2j87]
Lindworm represents the beast that was, according to an old fable, coiling up in the Skiptvet church tower each morning. In the evening the dragon would fly back to Korterudåsen, where he had his lair. It was not possible to serve mass in church while the beast was there. Eventually it was slain by an iron arrow and fell don a well near the church. So has the [c2j87]
The municipal web site has three different stories to tell. The first one is similar to the above (and said to be from the "previous century", possibly the 19th c. is meant), with minor details different (a poisoned arrow, fell in a dam instead of a well etc.) However, there is a well in the story affected by the dragon that fell down - known today as Dragehullet - Dragon's Hole. The legend is connected with the discovery of a large whale bone that once was kept in the church loft. It is believed to have served as a foot of the medieval baptismal font.
A similar story, almost entirely like that from [c2j87] is retold by the parish priest, just as the third story from another source.
Željko Heimer, 03 February 2016