The flag of Scotland is its national historical symbol and insignia. As everyone knows, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. In the past (until 1707) it was an independent kingdom, but today it is only an autonomous region. Having achieved independence in 1999, what did Scotland get? Coat of arms and flag, elected Parliament, a separate state church and its own legal system. This article will focus on the national

Flag of Scotland

This beautiful and unique flag has been seen by many. From this article you will learn everything about the flag of Scotland: photos, parameters, history, legends.

So, the national Scottish symbol is a rectangular blue canvas with an oblique white cross on it. Part of it is also used in the national, namely: the red cross of the English is superimposed on the Scottish flag.

The exact aspect ratio of the flag is not regulated anywhere. As a rule, panels with a ratio of 2:3 are used. Less often - 2:5. But the width of the stripes of the diagonal cross is determined with an accuracy of 1/5 of the entire width of the flag.

St. Andrew's flag

For the first time this symbol on a blue background) was used in 1286, it adorned the seals. The flag of Scotland itself appeared much later - in 1542. This symbol has another name - the flag of "Saint Andrew", and in Russia - "Andreevsky". Why does the Scottish national symbol bear someone's name?

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. He was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ and also preached Christianity. Why did the Romans crucify him? But St. Andrew considered himself unworthy to die like Christ, so he was crucified on two pillars that intersected diagonally. Hence the name - "St. Andrew's Cross".

Legend of King Angus

Around the historical banners has always been full of secrets, conjectures, tales and conjectures. And the national flag of Scotland also has its own legend.

So, it all started back in 832, during a great battle near the modern capital of Scotland - Edinburgh. Then the Scottish army was surrounded by a huge army of the Angles, and the chances of victory were minimal. On the night before the decisive battle, King Angus Mac Ferguson cried out to God. He asked for a victory over the Angles. That night, he made a vow before God that if the Scots were victorious, he would proclaim Saint Andrew the patron saint of a free Scottish kingdom.

And early in the morning, clouds in the form of a diagonal St. Andrew's cross suddenly appeared in the blue sky. The Scottish army rejoiced, and the Angles were frightened. As a result, the victory remained with King Angus, despite the superiority of the enemy. And the monarch fulfilled his vow given to God - Saint Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland, and his symbol adorns the national flag.

And although historians claim that the flag of Scotland appeared only many years later, in 1542, one would like to hope that in this case the legend is true.

Coat of arms of Scotland

The kings of Scotland also had their own official standard - a ferocious red lion, opening its mouth and releasing sharp claws against a golden background. This symbol was considered the unofficial flag of the kingdom and rose into the air above the castle only when the monarch was present. Later, this "fierce lion" became an obligatory link in every royal coat of arms of Scotland.

This symbol has not been approved by British law as the official flag of the country. However, it later became the national emblem of Scotland.

Anthem of Scotland

There is no official anthem in Scotland. However, there are several contenders for his title.

The work "The Flower of Scotland" by the Scottish group "The Corries" is rightfully considered the first. This is the song that plays when the Scottish rugby team enters the field.

The second contender is "Scotland the Brave" performed by Cliff Handley.

To date, none of these songs has been recognized as the official anthem. The fact is that the first song does not quite characterize Scotland today, and practically no one knows the text of the second. As a result, the autonomous region of Great Britain needs a new modern anthem.

Unofficial symbols

In addition to the official symbols in Scotland, there are so-called semi-official symbols. This is a white unicorn with a shield, a bagpipe is a national musical instrument, a tartan is a Scottish ornament and a thistle, which is depicted on banknotes.

Why thistle? There are plenty of them in Scotland. This nondescript flower, in addition to the image on money, is found in all souvenir shops, and, of course, grows in fields and meadows.

Nobody knows why the thistle is the symbol of the Scots. But there is a legend here too. According to legend, while the Scottish army slept, the enemy quietly crept towards them to cut them in their sleep. However, the enemy troops stepped on and howled in pain, thus waking up the Scots. The army mobilized after sleep and killed the enemy. In gratitude, the thistle was named the Guardian and became a symbol of Scotland, albeit unofficially.

Scotland, which regularly appears in official sources, in various information about this country: a blue background, a white cross - simple, beautiful, symbolic. However, few people know what the coat of arms of Scotland looks like, what its symbols mean and where they came from, but I must say this bright and interesting coat of arms is no less interesting, and quite well reflects the specifics of this country.

What does the Scottish coat of arms look like?

The Scottish coat of arms is a yellow field, which depicts a red heraldic lion turned to the left, standing on its hind legs, depicted at the time of the attack. The extended claws are painted blue, the tongue is also depicted in blue. The coat of arms of Scotland is bordered by a double border with a pattern of heraldic lines.

At the moment, as an official symbol, the Scottish coat of arms is practically not used anywhere and remains primarily an interesting heraldic element that tells about glorious moments in the history of Scotland.

How did the coat of arms of Scotland come about?

The central symbol of the Scottish coat of arms is the lion. By the way, it is worth noting that the lion is a very common coat of arms symbol for many northern territories; it is present on the coats of arms of all Scandinavian countries.

Historians suggest that for the first time the armorial symbol of a lion appeared on the royal Scottish coat of arms around the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th centuries, at a time when the Scottish dagger and sword were considered a natural decoration for a man.

Then the country was ruled by King Wilhelm, also known by the nickname "Lion". However, this symbol of royal power was officially approved later, during the reign of Alexander III in 1251.

For a long period, this coat of arms was the official royal symbol of Scotland: it was raised in the castle, if the king was present, they went with him to the battle for the honor of the country. For unauthorized, unauthorized use of this state symbol, the death penalty awaited. After the royal dynasty of Scotland, with the accession to the English throne of the Scottish monarch James I, ceased to exist, the coat of arms of Scotland became part of the Royal Arms of Great Britain, and at the moment it is located in the second quarter of the British coat of arms.

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The symbols of each country are considered, first of all, the attributes of power - the emblem, flag and anthem. In addition to them, each state has its own emblems in the form of plants, animals, household items or saints. For the Scots, the iconic are:

Thistle

The plant is considered one of the most recognizable symbols of the Scottish nation. On the banknotes of the country, the image of a thistle personifies purposefulness, perseverance, unpretentiousness and exactly corresponds to the characteristics inherent in the indigenous population of this extraordinary state. According to legend, more than 10 centuries ago, Scottish warriors won one of the important battles with the Vikings thanks to the thistle, which fell under the feet of their opponent and caused one of the Vikings such pain that he screamed, after which he was opened. Today in the country there is a knightly Order of the Thistle, which is awarded to the most courageous representatives of the nation.

Unicorn

The mythical animal is another famous emblem of Scotland. From time immemorial, the nobility and local aristocrats depicted a unicorn on their coats of arms, and under the monarch James II, a fictional creature was minted on gold unicorns. It is believed that this tradition dates back to the 15th century, when the unicorn first appeared on the state symbols of the country. Today, the unicorn adorns the Royal Arms of Great Britain, although earlier there was an imperious dragon, which was considered an Irish emblem before the reign of King James.

Righteous Apostle Andrew and St. Andrew's Cross

According to Christian legends, the relics of St. Andrew the Apostle were transferred to one of the small settlements in Scotland - the city of St. Andrews. Local residents are sure that the shrine is kept there to this day. Since the execution of the great martyr was carried out through crucifixion on an equiaxed cross, having the shape of the letter "X", from that time the figure began to bear the name of St. Andrew's and became a symbol of the true Christian faith. The St. Andrew's Cross is ubiquitous on the emblems of Scotland, including being the main image on the national flag.

Kilt

The subject of national pride is the kilt, which is a pleated piece of checkered fabric. The kilt is draped around the waist with the help of special devices and decorations - straps or buckles. A kilt is made from a special woolen fabric with an admixture of tartan; by the color of the cell, you can determine to which family or surname this or that Scot belongs. In everyday life, such clothes are not worn, but all official events cannot do without a kilt, especially traditional Scottish marriages. Separate units of the British army also wear a kilt. Modern Scottish fashion houses offer various types of skirts imitating a kilt.

Whiskey

Classic Scotch whiskey is called scotch all over the world. Interestingly, such a product name is enshrined at the legislative level and protected by copyright. The secret of cooking was known to the ancient Celts, who produced "fiery liquid" in large quantities. At the end of the 15th century, the process of distillation and distillation was improved and whiskey became famous in Europe as the "water of life". According to the official technology for the preparation of scotch, it is divided into five categories, each of which has its own specific features and can be blended, malt, single malt, grain.

Bagpipes

An original and easily recognizable musical instrument is made from various types of leather, including goat, calf or cowhide, and is a bag with several tubes inserted into it. Air is blown through one of them, polyphony is created through the others, special pipers play the bagpipes. The instrument is made in Scotland in the Mixodile way, in a special key - B-flat major. In the Middle Ages, good pipers were worth their weight in gold and formed peculiar clans that earned respect and reverence from the locals. The Scottish bagpipe cannot be confused with any other - the instrument sounds in a bourdon tone, booming, loud and captivates from the first note, therefore it is used during parades, processions, festivals, ceremonies.

Modern Scotland is inhabited by five million inhabitants. All of them honor the traditions of their ancestors. This is expressed in national clothes, cuisine, music and much more. For guests, the symbol of Scotland is most often associated with the kilt, bagpipes and whiskey. In fact, representatives of this country that has been fighting for independence for centuries see thistles, heather, a unicorn and the apostle Andrew as their symbols. This article will continue this list.

State symbols

The official symbol of Scotland is, first of all, the coat of arms. And, of course, it is also a flag. Its cloth is a blue background with a white St. Andrew's cross on it. The flag has been known since the 9th century and it belongs to one of the oldest national symbols in the world, which is still used today.

The coat of arms is presented in the form of a shield with a golden field. It has a red inner double border with sprouted lilies and a rebellious lion to match the border. The tongue and claws of the beast are colored blue. This national symbol of Scotland is also a sign of the monarchy. The motif of this coat of arms is used in many sports competitions, including for the Scotland national football team.

Symbolism in culture

The most revered person in the country (he is also a symbol of Scotland) remains Robert Burns. On his birthday, January 25, the whole country celebrates Burns Super, which takes place in the form of a gala dinner. Dishes sung by the national Scottish poet are brought to the table to the accompaniment of bagpipes. At the same time, his poems sound everywhere. The most revered food on this day is haggis, which will be described below.

Any celebration in Scotland is not complete without bagpipes. This national musical instrument, just like its sound, cannot be confused with anything else.

The day of the Apostle Andrew is celebrated annually on November 30th. In Scotland, this date is officially a bank holiday.

What symbol of Scotland is most often associated with independence? Few people know that this is a Skunk stone. It is a block of sandstone, which was used for the coronation ceremony of Scottish and English monarchs. Its weight is about 150 kilograms. Another name for the stone is Jacob's Pillow.

Symbolism in flora and fauna

The unicorn as a mythical symbol of Scotland has been known since the 15th century. It was used on many coats of arms of famous families, as well as on gold coins. The image of a mythical animal under James of Scotland was placed on the Royal coat of arms of Great Britain. The unicorn thus replaced the symbol of Ireland in the form of a dragon.

Other animals linked to Scotland are the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, and the infamous Loch Ness monster.

The thistle is the country's national flower emblem. His image is found on the monetary units of Scotland. There is even the Order of the Thistle, which arose during the reign of James II and has a knightly basis. The plant is distinguished by its inaccessibility and stubbornness. In this it is consonant with the motto of Scotland: "No one harms me with impunity."

Heather is considered another revered plant. At one time, a yellow dye used to dye clothes, as well as heather ale, was produced from it.

Symbolism in traditional cuisine

Scotland is distinguished by its originality in the national cuisine. Haggis is a traditional dish for all holiday dinners (especially Burns' Birthday). For its preparation, lamb giblets are used, which are ground with onions, lard, oatmeal, and seasonings. All this is boiled in a sheep's stomach. In the past, haggis was a dish of the poor, as it was made from offal that was meant to be thrown away. At one time, Robert Burns, revered by everyone, dedicated an ode to this dish.

What is the symbol of Scotland for lovers of strong drinks? Scotch whiskey is famous all over the world. Translated from the local dialect, the name of the drink is translated as "water of life." The right to produce such an alcoholic beverage is reserved for Scotland.

Other foods that are considered traditional in this country include:

• oatmeal;
• shortbread and oatmeal cookies;
• meat pie;
• carbonated drink "Irn-Bru".

If you ask an ordinary tourist what first of all comes to mind at the mention of Scotland, you can hear a wide variety of answers:

• For someone not alien to modern fashion, these are kilts and tartans.
• For those who know geography, this is Nessie, the famous Loch Ness monster.
• For connoisseurs of quality alcohol - this is Scotch whiskey.
• For people who are not alien to ethnic music - bagpipes.

What do the Scots themselves connect and associate with? Oddly enough, the familiar symbols of Scotland are not known to many, and not all of them will be on the list of tourists. Among the symbols of Scotland are present: thistle, unicorn, Apostle Andrew.

How Scottish Symbols Came to Be

Thistle is a seemingly ordinary plant, but, nevertheless, has the status of a semi-official national symbol of Scotland. You can see the thistle on the monetary units of this country (by the way, Scotland, remaining part of the UK, has the right to issue its own banknotes). Often, the inhabitants of this country associate the nature of this plant with their own: unpretentious, stubborn, purposeful thistle, indeed, similar to the Scots. But is it only for this that the thistle received the proud name "symbol of Scotland"?

The roots of this tradition go back more than a thousand years into the depths of history, to one battle at Lunkart, in which the Scots were able to win, according to the legend, thanks to the help of thistles. The cunning Vikings wanted to silently get close to the sleeping camp of the Scots, but, unfortunately, a thorny, stubborn plant fell under their feet. One of the Vikings shouted and at once declassified the entire military operation.

In Scotland, there is even an Order of the Thistle - for the uninitiated it may sound a little funny, but, nevertheless, this is one of the most important and most ancient orders of this country, founded under King James II and having a knightly basis.

The unicorn is another symbol of Scotland. You can meet him on many coats of arms of Scottish families (appeared in heraldry from about the fifteenth century), as well as on some coins (including the gold unicorn issued under James II). One of the most honorable places for a unicorn is the Royal Arms of Great Britain: before the accession to the English throne of James of Scotland, in its place was the symbol of Ireland - a dragon, later replaced by the monarch with a more familiar symbol of his country.

Another symbol of Scotland is the Apostle Andrew, whose relics, according to historical data, were transferred to one of the Scottish towns - to St. Andrews, where they are buried to this day. According to legend, the apostle was crucified on a cross of an unusual shape - in the shape of the letter X, with axes of the same length. You can meet the St. Andrew's cross, which got its name from the murdered apostle and became one of the common symbols of Christianity, quite often in Scottish symbolism. In addition, the St. Andrew's cross is the central element on the country's flag.