Lithuanian Heraldry Commission Announces New Flags for Two Villages

FEBRUARY 1, 2025 — Two newly designed municipal coats of arms in Lithuania have introduced unique heraldic elements – animal footprints and a snowflake – according to announcements by the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission on Facebook yesterday.

The coats of arms, along with their respective flags and seals, were created for the villages of Žemalė and Šerkšnėnai.

The coat of arms of Žemalė features three black wolf footprints on a golden ribbon set against a black shield. This marks the first time animal tracks have appeared in Lithuanian heraldry. The imagery references the historical presence of wolves in the forests surrounding the Žemalė manor. According to historical accounts, wolves frequently attacked cattle and, at times, people. Local peasants, armed with iron daggers, defended the manor, and a new village was later established on the cleared land. The wolf footprints serve as a link between past and present, symbolizing the community’s unity against a common threat.

Šerkšnėnai’s coat of arms features a snowflake, also a first in Lithuanian heraldry, split into two halves—one silver on a blue field and the other blue on a silver field. The design references the name of the village, which derives from the Šerkšnė River, with “šerkšnas” meaning frost in Lithuanian. The inclusion of the snowflake also highlights an environmental aspect, as Šerkšnėnai is within the Šerkšnė Hydrographic Reserve.

Both coats of arms were designed by heraldic artist Arvydas Každailis and approved as official municipal symbols.

Image: Lithuanian Heraldry Commission