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Cerkno (Municipality, Slovenia)

Flag of Cerkno, horizontal and vertical versions - Images by Željko Heimer, 5 June 2010

Flag of Cerkno
Coat of arms of Cerkno
Proposed symbols, 2007
Proposed symbols, 2001

See also:

Flag of Cerkno

The flag and coat of arms of Cerkno are prescribed by Decision Odlok o grbu in zastavi Občine Cerkno (text and drawings), adopted on 16 July 2009 by the Municipal Council, and published on 24 July 2009 in the official Slovene gazette Uradni list Republike Slovenije, No. 57.
The amended Decision Odlok o spremembah in dopolnitvah Odloka o grbu in zastavi Občine Cerkno (text), adopted on 22 February 2012 by the Municipal Council, and published on 2 March 2012 in Uradni list Republike Slovenije, No. 16, does not change anything substantial regarding the flag and the arms; it changes the name of the Decision and adds a chapter regarding the Mayor's chain.

The symbols were designed by Valt Jurečič of Heraldika d.o.o. and Heraldica Slovenica, who kindly provided drawings from which the images shown on this page were made.

The flag is vertically divided green-white-green, the central stripe forming a square charged with the C-shaped ivy leaves' wreath from the municipal coat of arms.
The vertical flag is also prescribed, although not shown in the drawings in the official gazette.

Željko Heimer, 2 November 2012

Coat of arms of Cerkno

Coat of arms of Cerkno - Image by Željko Heimer, 5 June 2010

The coat of arms of Cerkno was adopted following a public contest announced on 8 August 2008 in the local newspaper ABC.
The coat of arms is "Argent a capercaillie proper statant on a wreath of ivy leaves vert forming a letter 'C'".
The western capercaillie, also known as wood grouse or heather cock and the biggest grouse species, represents the fauna while the ivy wreath stands for the flora of the Cerkno region. The C-shape of the wreath forms the initial of the municipality name.

Proposed municipal symbols, 2007

Proposal of municipal flag for Cerkno - Image by Željko Heimer, 31 December 2007

The Cerkno branch of the LDS party shows on its website the opinions of the party regarding symbols proposed for Cerkno, dated 23 October 2007.
The LDS proposes a flag horizontally divided green-blue-red.

Regarding the coat of arms, they propose that the previously proposed coat of arms is adopted with a single change - the wheel being replaced by a red "mathematical curve" in the blue field while white grain loaf would be in the green part. Unfortunately, the text does not include the drawing of the "curve", whose symbolism is explained as follows:

The proposed mathematical curve is of simple shape, and, as a more abstract symbol [than the wheel], it would symbolize both the presnet and the future. It symbolizes:
- the lightning filament of a bulb, standing for connection of the Cerklje region with electricity, from the relatively early electrification of the municipality to the education in the Electro-Economic School in Cerkno;
- the heating spiral in a heating plate [like on an electrical stove/oven], having been for half a century the main contribution of people of the municipality to the Cerkno industry, that meant at one moment the move from poverty to prosperity, development and higher quality of life;
- in a more abstract way, [it represents] a mill wheel, turbine and cog wheel, the imaginary track of particle parts movement, symbolizing the direction of Cerkno people towards industry and development;
- the mathematical curve itself symbolizes the immense mathematical (Dr. Močnik, Pagon, Raspet, Hvala [probably noted mathematicians from Cerkno]), technical and computing knowlege being studied and used by past and current generations of Cerkno intellectuals;
- finally, the curve in its playfulness also symbolizes also the character of the people of Cerkno.

Željko Heimer, 31 December 2007

Proposed municipal symbols, 2001

Proposal of municipal flag and coat of arms for Cerkno - Images by Željko Heimer, 29 December 2001

The symbols proposed for Cerkno were discussed by the Municipal Council in April 2001, but no decision was made. The LDS party decided to publish the proposals on its website (no longer available) as a means of gathering public opinions, and forwarded gathered results to the Municipal Council.

The proposed flag is vertical, divided by a wavy diagonal line in white and green with the proposed municipal coat of arms in canton.
The proposed coat of arms is divided per wavy bend sinister with a grain loft (in Slovenian, kozolec), a particular architectural element characteristic of Alpine regions, and with a mill wheel.

Stanič & Jakopič [j2s05] mention some other charges that have been proposed and considered for the symbols of Cerkno, but none has been adopted: pipe (flute) made of the bones of cave bear, ivy leaf and clasped hands symbolizing the partisans' hospital Franja.

Željko Heimer, 2 January 2006