Which is the national symbol of Scotland. Why is the unicorn a symbol of Scotland? Floristic symbol of Scotland

The national symbols of Scotland include the coat of arms and the flag (attributes of power), the bagpipes (musical instrument) painted on the coat of arms), tartan (the fabric from which the kilts are sewn), thistle (found on banknotes) and the real character of Scottish history - the Apostle Andrew ...

Therefore, all of the above symbols can be attributed to very real things. But the fact is that many citizens of Scotland have created imaginary features around these objects - they have thought up and invented various stories while not changing the history of their origin.

The symbol of Scotland is the thistle

This thorny weed is endowed with semi-official symbolic power in this country. If you believe history, then it was the thistle in 990 that saved the army of King Kenneth II from certain death. The Scots were fast asleep and did not expect an attack at night. The Danes wanted to kill everyone, but one of the warriors stepped on a thorny weed with his bare foot and woke the whole camp with his cry. The Scottish army quickly woke up, as a result, the enemy army was defeated. This weed turned out to be a thistle, and the Scots decided that it was to him that they owed their victory, and not at all to the courage and strength of the soldiers.

Thistle - the symbol of Scotland - is depicted on many coins, emblems and emblems, is sold in souvenir shops and grows in the fields. The thorny bush was first used as an emblem in 1470. And in 1687, the Order of the Thistle was even created, which includes members. Members of the order wear chains of gold. The links of this decoration are composed of thistle. Their motto is: "Nobody will make me angry with impunity."

The symbol of Scotland is the flag

The next attribute of this country is We know it as a symbol Only the banner of Scotland has a blue background, and the cross is white, and our sea ​​flag the colors are reversed. There is also an unofficial attribute of power in this northern country - a red lion depicted on a yellow background. It is often used as the second national symbol of Scotland, although it is not approved by British law.

The symbol of Scotland - coat of arms

Before England and Scotland were united, the coat of arms looked very different. Some elements have disappeared over time, and now only the lion reminds of the former

Scotland's symbol - whiskey and tartan

Scotch whiskey is a special cult. This drink is sold almost everywhere. You can also watch the production process, taste different varieties and more.

Now about the tartan. This is a special ornament on the fabric and one of the types of wool weaving, which is used when sewing national clothes: kilts, scarves and much more. Now the first thing associated with Scotland is the tartan cage. And there were times when the British, in an effort to destroy all the symbols of Scottish life, banned the tartan.

"Nemo me impune lacessit" - "No one will touch me with impunity." This motto of Scotland is not just a hymn to the thistle, but it speaks of wariness and resentment. It is possible that the Scots, with their bagpipes and kilts, are defending themselves against the British, who have always wanted to break them. And all these defiant attributes are the same thorns as in a plant from the Aster family.

There are many interesting symbols in Scotland.

Scotland motto- can be seen everywhere, including on the edge of some one-pound coins: "Nemo me impune Uicessit" - which in Latin means: "No one will touch me with impunity!"... The motto is quite consistent with the character of the Scots, whom neither the Vikings, nor the Danes, nor the Romans could conquer until the end.

Apostle Andrew- the patron saint of Scotland, according to legend, his relics were transferred in the 7th century from Constantinople to the Scottish city of St. Andrews. The image of the apostle, as well as the X-shaped cross on which, according to legend, he was crucified, serve as symbols of Scotland.

Scottish flag- is, the image of St. Andrew's cross, on a sky-blue cloth.

Coat of arms and royal standard- they depict a red heraldic lion, on a yellow field, surrounded by a red double frame with lilies.

National Anthem of Scotland- "The Flower of Scotland". "Scotland the Brave" - ​​"Scotland of the Brave".

Thistle- thorny weed, is semi-formal national symbol Scotland, is depicted in particular on banknotes. It became a symbol as a result of the battle won. In the year 990, on the eve of the Battle of Lunkart, near Perth, the Danes who had encroached on Scottish soil were creeping up in the predawn haze to the sleeping troops of King Kenneth II. To walk silently, they took off their shoes and were practically at the goal, if not for the field of thistles, which lay in the way (according to another version, it was a castle moat, overgrown with thistles). Sharp thorns, invisible in the dawn lila, pierced the bare feet of the soldiers, someone cried out in surprise, and, instantly awakening, the defenders of the castle put the Danes to flight.

Modest, unpretentious, proud and unapproachable - such is the thistle, such is the character of the Scots. There is also some hidden mystical power in this purple flower. Our superstitious ancestors used the thistle to drive evil spirits out of the house. It was also believed that he protects the home from natural disasters, and animals - from the evil eye and disease. Observing a thistle, you can predict bad weather: before the rain, its thorny cones shrink. Judging by the meteorological statistics, the scarlet brushes of the Scottish thistle are mostly hidden from prying eyes.

Unicorn- is traditionally included in many historical Scottish coats of arms (often in the form of a supporter).

Tartan- ornament from horizontal and vertical stripes. Kilts are sewn from fabric with such an ornament.

Bagpipes- the national musical instrument, the unofficial symbol of Scotland.

10 popular tourist answers about Scotland

What is the first thing that comes to tourists' minds when the proud nation of Scots is mentioned? The ten most popular answers are as follows:

1. Super economy as a national trait.
2. Scottish Historical Heritage.
3. Kilts and tartans.
4. Bagpipes.
5. Language.
6. Whiskey.
7. Football and pubs.
8. Haggis. (the national Scottish dish of mutton giblets)
9. Loch Ness monster.
10. Weather.

If you ask an ordinary tourist what first of all comes to his mind when mentioning Scotland, then you can hear a wide variety of answers:

• For someone who is 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.

With what do the Scots themselves associate and associate themselves? Oddly enough, the familiar symbols of Scotland are not known to so many, and not all of them will be included in the list of tourists. Among the symbols of Scotland are: thistle, unicorn, Andrew the Apostle.

How did Scottish symbols appear?

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

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

In Scotland, there is even the 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. It can be found on many coats of arms of Scottish families (appeared in heraldry from about the fifteenth century), as well as on some coins (including the golden Unicorn issued under James II). One of the most honorable places for a unicorn is the Royal Coat of 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 - in 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 the axes of the same length. St. Andrew's cross, which got its name from the murdered apostle and has become one of the most common symbols of Christianity, can be seen quite often in Scottish symbolism. In addition, the St. Andrew's cross is the centerpiece of the country's flag.

Modern Scotland has five million inhabitants. They all honor the traditions of their ancestors. This is expressed in national dress, cuisine, music and much more. For guests, the symbol of Scotland is most often associated with a kilt, bagpipes and whiskey. In fact, representatives of this country, struggling for independence for centuries, see thistle, heather, unicorn and the apostle Andrew as their symbols. This list will be continued in the article.

State symbols

The official symbol of Scotland is, first of all, the coat of arms. And, of course, it's also a flag. Its cloth is blue background with a white St. Andrew's cross on it. The flag is known from the 9th century and 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 gold field. It has a red inner double border with sprouted lilies and a rebel lion in the same color as 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 sporting events, including for the Scottish national football team.

Symbols 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. The dishes praised by the national Scottish poet are brought to the table to the accompaniment of bagpipes. At the same time, his poems are heard from everywhere. The most revered dish on this day is haggis, which will be described below.

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

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

What is the most commonly associated symbol of Scotland with independence? Few people know that this is the Skunsky stone. It is a block of sandstone that 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".

Symbols in flora and fauna

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

Other animals that are associated with Scotland are the first cloned mammal - Dolly the sheep and the sensational Loch Ness monster.

The thistle is the national floral emblem of the country. His image is found in 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. This is consonant with the motto of Scotland: "No one will harm me with impunity."

Another revered plant is heather. At one time, it was used to produce a yellow dye used for dyeing clothes, as well as heather ale.

Symbols in traditional cuisine

Scotland is also distinguished by its originality in its national cuisine. The traditional dish for all holiday dinners (especially on Burns's birthday) is haggis. For its preparation, lamb giblets are used, which are chopped with onions, bacon, oatmeal, and seasonings. All this is boiled in a lamb stomach. In times past, haggis was a dish for the poor, as it was prepared from offal that was to be discarded. At one time, the revered Robert Burns dedicated an ode to this dish.

What is the symbol of Scotland for lovers of strong drinks? Scotch whiskey is known 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 drink 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".

National flag of Scotland - St. Andrew's, white cross on blue background, became a symbol of national independence. Biblical legend says that St. Andrew was crucified by the Romans on a diagonal cross, which is why the cross on the St.Andrew's flag is located diagonally. The St. Andrew's flag appeared in Scotland in the XII century. The second national flag, also owned by Scotland, is the royal flag depicting a lion (called the "lion lord") standing on its hind legs. He flutters over the apartment of the Minister, the representative of the British government in Scotland. They cannot be brandished without special permission, which nevertheless applies to Scottish football fans.

The flag of Scotland is a blue cloth with a white (in heraldry silver) oblique (St. Andrew's) cross. The aspect ratio is not regulated, usually 5: 3 or 3: 2 panels are used. The width of the stripes forming the cross must be 1/5 of the height of the flag.

The Scottish flag is one of the oldest national flags in the world, its appearance, according to legends, dates back to 832, when the Scottish king Angus before the battle with the Anglo-Saxons saw in the sky a sign in the form of an X-shaped cross, on which, according to legend, was Andrew the First-Called, who is considered the patron saint of Scotland, was crucified. The battle was won and the image white cross on the sky blue field has become one of the symbols of Scotland.

The Scottish flag became part of the flag of Great Britain.

The flag was created under the influence of the Scottish flag navy Russia (St. Andrew's flag), which is an inverse image national flag Scotland.

The coat of arms of Scotland is a scarlet rebellious lion within a double narrow inner border decorated with anti-lilies. It was first placed on the seal of Alexander III of Scotland in 1251, although the red lion was probably previously used by William I the "Lion" (1165-1214), and a lily border was present in his son's coat of arms.

Alexander II (1214-1249). When James VI of Scotland, under the name of James I, took the English throne after the acceptance of the Union of annexation in 1603, the rebellious lion of the Scots was placed in the second quarter of the royal coat of arms. Curiously, when the British monarch visits Scotland, the quarters are always reversed, with Scotland getting the first quarter.

British The Royal Family is in fact the main clan of Scotland and uses certain heraldic insignia like any other clan. On solemn days, the royal tartan and its variants are worn, and from time to time the royal kleinod applied to Scotland can be seen. The eldest son of the sovereign has his own heraldic banner for use in Scotland, where he is none other than the Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord Isles, Grand Governor of Scotland.

He uses a simple lambel in combination with his Scottish coat of arms.

The Scottish Parliament sits in Edinburgh, but this prerogative was granted to Scotland quite recently - only in 1999. Scotland also has its own government. But the head of state for the Scots is Queen Elizabeth. The patron saint of Scotland is St. Andrew (St. Andrew), his day is celebrated by Scots around the world on November 30.