Seljord
Encyclopedia
Seljord is a municipality
in Telemark
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional region
of Vest-Telemark
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Seljord. The parish
of Siljord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
).
Seljord is famous for its sea serpent
, Selma
, who allegedly lives in Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet
).
The yearly Dyrsku'n market, held since 1866, attracts 60-80,000 visitors each year.
: Seljugerði), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case
of selja which means "sallow-tree" or "willow
" and the last element is gerði which means "field
". Prior to 1889, the name was written "Silgjord" or "Sillejord".
is from modern times. They were granted on 15 September 1989. The arms show the sea serpent
Selma
in a gold-color on a red background.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is part of the traditional region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Vest-Telemark
Vest-Telemark
The Vest-Telemark traditional district of Norway comprises the upper and western areas of the county of Telemark. The region consists of six municipalities: Fyresdal, Tokke, Vinje, Nissedal, Kviteseid and Seljord....
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Seljord. The parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Siljord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
).
Seljord is famous for its sea serpent
Sea serpent
A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine.Sightings of sea serpents have been reported for hundreds of years, and continue to be claimed today. Cryptozoologist Bruce Champagne identified more than 1,200 purported sea serpent sightings...
, Selma
Selma (sea serpent)
Selma is a sea serpent said to live in the lake Seljordsvatnet in Seljord, Norway. According to most who have seen the supposed creature, Selma resembles a giant eel. The first eyewitness accounts date back to the 18th century....
, who allegedly lives in Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet
Seljordsvatnet
Seljordsvatnet is a lake in the municipality Seljord in Telemark, Norway. The main influx river is Vallaråi, and the lake drains through Bøelva. The lake covers an area of 16.7 km2. According to local folklore a sea serpent lives in the lake.-References:...
).
The yearly Dyrsku'n market, held since 1866, attracts 60-80,000 visitors each year.
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Seljord farm (Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Seljugerði), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of selja which means "sallow-tree" or "willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
" and the last element is gerði which means "field
Field (agriculture)
In agriculture, the word field refers generally to an area of land enclosed or otherwise and used for agricultural purposes such as:* Cultivating crops* Usage as a paddock or, generally, an enclosure of livestock...
". Prior to 1889, the name was written "Silgjord" or "Sillejord".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 15 September 1989. The arms show the sea serpent
Sea serpent
A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine.Sightings of sea serpents have been reported for hundreds of years, and continue to be claimed today. Cryptozoologist Bruce Champagne identified more than 1,200 purported sea serpent sightings...
Selma
Selma (sea serpent)
Selma is a sea serpent said to live in the lake Seljordsvatnet in Seljord, Norway. According to most who have seen the supposed creature, Selma resembles a giant eel. The first eyewitness accounts date back to the 18th century....
in a gold-color on a red background.
Notable natives
- Kristin Skogheim - comedienne, actress, television presenter
- Hallvard FlatlandHallvard FlatlandHallvard Flatland , is a Norwegian television presenter. He is best known as a host on Norway's first commercial station, TVNorge, but has also worked for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, TV 2 and TV3....
- television presenter - Jørund TelnesJørund TelnesJørund Telnes was a Norwegian farmer, teacher, writer and politician, born in Seljord. He served as Mayor of Seljord from 1878 to 1884. Among his literary works is a book on the legendary strongman Sterke-Nils from 1877, the poetry collection Kvæe from 1878, and the song collection Guro Heddelid,...
- 19th century writer
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...