The national symbols of Scotland are the objects, images, or cultural expressions that are emblematic, representative, or otherwise characteristic of Scotland or Scottish culture. As a rule, these national symbols are cultural icons that have emerged from Scottish folklore and tradition, meaning few have any official status. However, most if not all maintain recognition at a national or international level, and some, such as the Royal Arms of Scotland, have been codified in heraldry, and are established, official, and recognised symbols of Scotland.

Flags

The national flag of Scotland, the Saltire or St. Andrew's Cross, dates from the 9th century, and is thus the oldest national flag still in use. The Saltire now also forms part of the design of the Union Flag.
The Royal Banner of Scotland, a banner showing the Royal Arms of Scotland, is also frequently to be seen, particularly at sporting events involving a Scottish team. Often called the Lion Rampant (after its chief heraldic device), the banner is property of the monarch and use without authority can constitute a criminal offence.[1] Its use by the First Minister of Scotland is granted by the monarch.

Heraldry

The Royal Arms of Scotland[2] is a coat of arms symbolising Scotland and the Scottish monarchs. The blazon, or technical description, is "Or, a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory counter-flory of the second", meaning a red lion with blue tongue and claws on a yellow field and surrounded by a red double royal tressure flory counter-flory device.

Although officially subsumed into the heraldry of the British Royal Family in 1707, the historic Royal Arms featuring the lion rampant continues to represent Scotland on several coins of the pound sterling, forms the basis of several emblems of Scottish national sports teams (such as the Scotland national football team), and endures as one of the most recognisable national symbols of Scotland.

The thistle, the floral emblem of Scotland, also features in Scottish & British heraldry through symbols, logos, coats of arms, and on British currency.
The Honours of Scotland, the Scottish Crown Jewels, are displayed in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle, from where they are removed only for State Occasions. They appear on the royal crest, as well as on the badges of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and upon Royal Mail premises, vehicles and pillar/wall boxes in Scotland.

Music

Bagpipes are largely associated with Scottish music and Scottish culture
The Proclaimers became known for singing in distinct Scottish accents with a few Scots words
The Bay City Rollers were one of the world's biggest bands, and became known as the "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh"
Runrig, one of the most commercially successful groups to sing in Scottish Gaelic

Anthems

Cultural

Burns' Night is an annual celebration of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns.
Declaration of Arbroath (1320) Scotland Declaration of Independence. Tartan Day, a recent innovation from Canada, is a celebration of all things Scottish on the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath.
The Stone of Scone, a block of red sandstone used for the coronation of Scottish kings. Usually seen as a symbol of unity and Scottish independence
St Andrew's Day, 30 November, is the national day with the St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007, designating the day to be an official bank holiday.[5]
Tartan is a specific woven textile pattern that often signifies a particular Scottish clan, as featured on a kilt.

Flora and fauna

The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland. The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, used prior to 1603 by the Kings of Scotland, was supported by two unicorns, and the current royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is supported by a unicorn for Scotland along with a lion for England. The unicorn is frequently found as an ornament on mercat crosses. A National Unicorn Museum is being set up in Forres, Moray.
The thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland.
Heather is also considered to be a symbol of Scotland. Wearing a sprig of heather is believed to bring good luck.
The Scots Pine is the national tree of Scotland.

Food and drink

Haggis is one of Scotland's most recognisable and traditional foods associated annually with Burns' night.
Irn-Bru is Scotland's most popular home-grown soft drink.
Shortbread is a classic Scottish dessert that consists of flour, sugar, and butter.
Whisky is the quintessential drink of Scotland.

People

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.
Robert the Bruce, a national hero and King of Scotland after the Scottish Wars of Independence
Robert Burns is recognised as Scotland's national poet.
William Wallace, a leader in the Scottish Wars of Independence who became a national hero
Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland (2007–2014), and the first First Minister to both achieve a majority in the Scottish Parliament and to hold a referendum on Scottish independence
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023), the first women to hold the office of First Minister
Donald Dewar, the first First Minister of Scotland and often regarded as "Father of the Nation"

See also the 16 people in the Hall of Heroes at the Wallace Monument in Stirling. For a nineteenth century list of over 600 people see the Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen.

Miscellaneous

Forth Rail Bridge, connecting Edinburgh and Fife by railway, is considered a Scottish cultural icon and a major achievement in the Scottish Enlightenment and engineering
Edinburgh Castle, a national icon of Scotland. Considered one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1,100-year history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world"
Kilt, Scotland's national dress. Originating in the Scottish Highland dress for men, it is first recorded in the 16th century as the great kilt, a full-length garment whose upper half could be worn as a cloak. The small kilt or modern kilt emerged in the 18th century, and is essentially the bottom half of the great kilt. Since the 19th century, it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland, and more broadly with Gaelic or Celtic heritage.
Scottish Terrier, Scotland's national dog. The breed is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, and West Highland White Terrier.
Highland dancing, Scotland's national dance
The Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh, home to Scotland's national parliament
The Callanish Stones, erected in the late Neolithic era and are depicted on Bank of Scotland debit cards.
The National Monument of Scotland, Scotland's national memorial to the Scottish soldiers and sailors who died fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.It was intended, according to the inscription, to be "A Memorial of the Past and Incentive to the Future Heroism of the Men of Scotland"

See also

References

  1. ↑ Act of the Parliament of Scotland 1672 cap. 47 and Lyon King of Arms Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 17)
  2. ↑ Jamieson 1998, pp. 14–15.
  3. ↑ "Games team picks new Scots anthem". BBC. 9 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "Freedom Come-All-Ye". unionsong.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Explanatory Notes to St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007 Archived 1 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
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