Cirith Ungol Day

🧩 Miscellaneous Cirith Ungol Day 🌎 Country (US)  • Published Mon 10 Oct 2016

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On 08 Oct 2016, Cirith Ungol officially returned to the stage by headlining the Frost and Fire II Festival at the Majestic Ventura Theater.

Two days later, fresh off their Frost and Fire triumph, the band were honored by the City of Ventura, which proclaimed 10 Oct 2016 at 6:00pm to be Cirith Ungol Day.

Cirith Ungol
Day

October 10
2016

City Of San Buenaventura
Founded 1782

Declared in 2016 and signed by the Mayor of Ventura, Cirith Ungol Day stands as one of the rarest honors a metal band can receive. Alongside global acts like Godsmack (Boston, MA, 06 Aug 2014) and Metallica (San Francisco, CA, 16 Dec 2021), Cirith Ungol is among the very few bands in history to be awarded their own official day by a U.S. city.

The “Cirith Ungol Day” pin is measure about 6 centimeters or about 2.3 inches. Cirith Ungol Day was proclaimed on 10 Oct 2016 — exactly six years after that unforgettable weekend in 10 Oct 2010.

Cirith Ungol day is here!

For anyone still in town, you are all welcome to attend the Ventura City Hall meeting tonight at 6:00pm where the mayor will be honoring Cirith Ungol with a proclamation for their contributions to the music scene.

Parking and entrance is located in the back of the building.

Address is
501 Poli St. Ventura, CA

2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020a 2020b, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Today marks the

• second annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2017).
• third annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2018).
• fourth annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2019).
• fifth annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2020).
• sixth annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2021).
• seventh annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2022).
• eighth annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2023).
• ninth annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2024).
• tenth annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2025).
• eleventh annual Cirith Ungol Day (10 Oct 2026).

Declared by the City of Ventura! We’re extremely honored to be recognized for our musical contribution to our hometown and metal community 🤘🎉

Was given out by the City of Ventura, California – commemorating Cirith Ungol’s contributions to the music scene.

See Ventura city with beaches and surfing Spanish Mission history Historic downtown and pier Its relaxed and artsy vibe.

I’d have to say receiving a proclamation from the Mayor of San Buenaventura, CA. on October 10, 2016. Congratulating and recognizing Cirith Ungol for our “Electrifying talent, Celebration of our reunion and best wishes in future endeavors”.

Jimmy Barraza

But in early October of 2016, the impossible became reality. With the banner of Ungol proudly unfurled; the original prophets of American Metal Magick took the stage at Ventura’s Majestic Theater, playing to a sold out crowd of 900. Their performance laid to waste any worries of atrophied skills, and it was apparent the group had more in mind than a one-off. The Monday after the fest, when Ventura picked up the smoldering pieces of itself, the Mayor officially named October 10th “Cirith Ungol Day.”

Mitch Gilliam, a fan

This was signed on the proclamation:

City Of San Buenaventura
Whereas, Cirith Ungol formed in 1971 in an American heavy metal band Ventura. They are noted for popularization heavy metal music around the world; and

Whereas, their albums “Frost and Fire”, “King of the Dead”, “One Foot in Hell”, and “Paradise Lost” recorded for Metal Blade Records, and acclaimed for innovation and hold high status in the realms of epic heavy metal. These album are also famously known as their brilliant cover artist, Michael Whelan; and

Whereas, Tim Baker, Robert Garven, Greg Lindstrom, Jim Barraza, Mike “Flint” Vujea, and Jerry Fogle (R.I.P) have built solid roors in Ventura. Drummer Robert Garven has also been a loyal employee to the City of Ventura for the past 38 years; and

Whereas, a music festival was created in Ventura to honor the band, named after their first album, “Frost and Fire”. Most of its attendees come from all over the globe to the seaside paradise we call home. All in honor of Cirith Ungol and heavy metal; and

Whereas, Metal Blade Records has been reissued the long out-of-print album, “Paradise Lost”, in a deluxe expanded edition, due to its popular demand from fans; and

Whereas, the band has recently received a large variety of international press, and been invited to plas some of the most prestigious festivals in Europe in 2017, including Keep it True in Germany, and Up the Hammers in Greece.

Now, Therefore, I. Erik Nasarenko, Mayor of the City Of San Buenaventura, and on behalf of the City Council, do hereby congratulate and recognize

 

Cirith Ungol

 

For their electrifying talent, celebrate their reunion and wish them the best in all their future endeavors.

E. Nasarenko
Erik Nasarenko, Mayor

October 10, 2016
Date

City Of San Ventura – City Counsil Minutes [1]

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Nasarenko presented a Proclamation to Cirith Ungol band members Tim Baker,
Robert Garven, Greg Lindstrom, Jim Barraza and Mike “Flint” Vujea in recognition of
reuniting after 25 years and performing their first reunion show at the Ventura Theatre.

City Of San Ventura – Administrative Report – City Counsil Agenda [2]

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Proclamation presented to Cirith Ungol

“Images from Ventura City Hall’s proclamation of Cirith Ungol Day” is included as bonus content in Official Night Demon Episode #27 – The Story of Cirith Ungol – Part 3.

🛡️ The Official Seal of the City of Ventura (San Buenaventura)

The official seal of Ventura (formally called San Buenaventura) includes four distinct drawings, each symbolizing important parts of the city’s identity — religious heritage, coastal geography, and agricultural roots.

Mission San Buenaventura is a Spanish mission founded by the Franciscans in present-day Ventura, California. It was the ninth Spanish mission established in California and the last to be established by the spainol Father Saint Junípero Serra Ferrar (24 Nov 1713 – 28 Aug 1784). The mission was named after Saint Bonaventure (1221 – 15 Jul 1274), a 13th century Franciscan saint and Doctor of the Church. The downer logo has the Mission San Buenaventura.

Ventura’s nickname is the “city of good fortune”. The name “Ventura” has origins in Latin and Spanish. It is derived from the Latin word “ventura,” meaning “the things that will come,” or “the future,” and also “good fortune or luck”. In Spanish, “ventura” is used as a first name, meaning “good luck” or “good fortune”.

The poinsettia is the city flower, the bear and star represents California and obviously the ladies arm is broken  – Rob, 12 Oct 2018.

🔸Top Tier (Uppermost section – above the shield):

Figure of Saint Bonaventure 🧙‍♂️

The city’s namesake, Italian Saint Bonaventure (Italian: Bonaventura da Bagnoregio, Latin: Bonaventura de Balneoregio), is shown above the shield. He is dressed in clerical robes, holding a cross, symbolizing the Catholic missionary heritage of the city.
His presence honors the Spanish origins of Mission San Buenaventura, founded in Sun 31 Mar 1782.

🔸 Middle Tier (Within the shield – two upper quadrants):

Left side – Flower 🌺 (Agricultural Symbol)

• This represents Ventura’s agricultural wealth, such as strawberries, citrus, and other crops.
• The red flower may also be a poinsettia or symbolic bloom, celebrating natural beauty and local farming.

Right side – Bear 🐻 and Star ⭐

• The California grizzly bear stands beneath a gold star.
• The bear is the official state animal of California, symbolizing strength, courage, and resistance. It was famously used in the Bear Flag Revolt (1846), during California’s brief declaration of independence.
• The star above the bear on Ventura’s seal reflects the star used in California’s original Bear Flag, a symbol of state pride and sovereignty. It is use in California symbolizes independence and identity specific to California.

🔸 Bottom Tier (Lower quadrant of the shield):

Mission San Buenaventura Church ⛪

• This iconic mission, founded in 1782, represents the historical and spiritual foundation of Ventura.
• It is one of the original California missions built during Spanish colonization, and still stands as a central landmark.

Summary: Saint Bonaventure 🧙‍♂️
→ (City of) San Buenaventura → (City of) Ventura 🏙️ (the proclamation day)
→ (County of) San Buenaventura → (County of) Ventura 🏞️
→ (State of) California → US-CA → CA 🏴󠁵󠁳󠁣󠁡󠁿

The Serra statue once stood in front of Ventura City Hall, the site where the proclamation of “Cirith Ungol Day” was held in 2016. However, the Serra statue was removed in 2020 following public controversy and complaints from atheist groups. See here for the previous used in California on their official site.

Picture with Serra statue from May 2016 and without from Apr 2025.

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Right side: New atheist seal?

There could also be complaints from atheist and secular groups against the Ventura City seal, due to some of its Christian symbols. Could Cirith Ungol Day be forced to change its symbol in the future if Ventura City alters its seal under pressure from such groups?

Both the city and county could even go so far as to abandon the name “Ventura” entirely — a name rooted in Catholicism and Spanish colonialism. The city was originally named by Father Junípero Serra, a Spanish-born Catholic missionary, and honors Saint Bonaventure, a Christian Italian theologian. In an effort to erase religious and colonial associations, future campaigns could demand renaming both the city and county.

If that were to happen, even events like Cirith Ungol Day could be affected — especially if they reference historical names, seals, or symbols tied to the former identity. In the drive to appear ideologically neutral or culturally sanitized, such commemorations might face pressure to change their name, date, or imagery — not because of the band itself, but as collateral damage in a broader ideological rewriting of civic identity.

CU@FB

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