Sankt Margarethen bei Knittelfeld

SANKT MARGARETHEN BEI KNITTELFELD

State : Steiermark
District : Murtal (until 2015 Knittelfeld)
Additions : 2015 Rachau, Sankt Lorenzen bei Knittelfeld

Official blazon

In einem silbernen Schild wachsend pfahlweise zwei rote Ruder im Schildfuß zwischen drei roten langgestielten Hämmern; die aneinanderstoßenden Hämmer selbst reichen bis zur Schildmitte und bilden einen Balken, über dem ein herschauender grüner Drache durch ein schwarzes Halsband und eine schwarze Kette in der Mitte des oberen Schildrandes angekettet ist.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on February 11, 1980 and again on March 20, 2016.

The arms are composed of symbols for old ironworks (hammers) and rafting (oars). The dragon is an attribute of St. Margaret, patron saint of the local church.

To medieval Christians, the dragon and the devil were interchangeable. The dragon is chained, because of the old prayer: Margareth, bind den Drachen an, daß er uns nicht schaden kann (Margaret, chain the dragon so that no harm comes to us). As the Middle Ages were very dangerous and the devil never sleeps, St. Margaret was a very popular protector when Austria was cut out of wilderness.

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