Ratten (Steiermark)

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Austria - Österreichische Gemeindewappen

RATTEN

State : Steiermark
District : Weiz

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted on February 3, 1975.

The region around Ratten is rich in woods. In times past, this was a mining region (hence the miner's tools, Bergwerkszeichen). Today, the winter ski resort is more important. The three balls are an attribute of St. Nicolaus, to whom the church of Ratten is dedicated. According to his vita, Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor passed by a house, when he overheard that the three daughters of the house could not marry because of their poverty and so were forced to become prostitutes. The bishop came by again later, during the night, and flung three balls of gold through a window, so providing for the girls' dowry (and no doubt, doing some serious damage to anyone moving around in the general area).

Literature : Image provided by Karl Palfrader (k.palfrader@aon.at)