Kristinestad

KRISTINESTAD - KRISTIINAKAUPUNKI

Region : Pohjanmaa
Former province : 1997-2009 Länsi-Suomi (until 1997 Vaasa)
Additions : 1973 Lappfjärd, Sideby, Tjöck

Official blazon

(fi) Aaltokoroisen hopea-sinihalkoisen kilven oikeassa kentässä yksitoista kentästä kasvavaa vihreää kuusta asetettuina 3 + 3 + 3 + 2.
(sv) Sköld kluven medelst en vågskura av silver och blått; i högra fältet elva ur fältet framväxande gröna granar ordnade 3 + 3 + 3 + 2.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on November 25, 1960.

The arms are based on the oldest town's seal and symbolise the fact that the town is bordering both the sea and the inland forests. It has been speculated that the trees are originally wheat-grains.

The seal from 1652

A later seal, from 1699 does no longer show the same design, but only a lion. In a seal from 1723 the lion is still used. This later seal was used by B. Kene in the middle of the 19th century to design new arms for the city. He used the lion (which he called tiger) and the provincial arms in the upper corner. Behind the shield he added some anchors. These were never adopted.