National symbols of Scotland

The National symbols of Scotland include a diversity of official and unofficial images and other symbols.

The distinctive Royal Stewart Tartan is the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II.

• The Flag of Scotland, the Saltire or St. Andrew's Cross, dates (at least in legend) 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.
• Stone of Scone, Block of red sandstone used for the coronation of Scottish kings. Usually seen as a symbol of unity and Scottish independence.
• Declaration of Arbroath (1320) Scotland Declaration of Independence.
• The Royal Standard 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), it is technically the property of the monarch and its use by anybody else is illegal, although this is almost universally ignored, and never enforced.
• The unicorn is also used as a heraldic symbol of Scotland. The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, used prior to 1603 by the Kings of Scotland, incorporated a lion rampant shield supported by two unicorns. On the Union of the Crowns, the Arms were quartered with those of England and Ireland, and one unicorn was replaced by a lion (the supporters of England).
• 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. Stylised versions of the Crown of Scotland appear upon the badges of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, those of the Scottish Police Forces, the Scottish Ambulance Service and upon Royal Mail premises, vehicles and pillar/wall boxes in Scotland.
• William Wallace, a national hero and a leader in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
• The thistle, the floral emblem of Scotland, features in many Scottish symbols and logos, and on UK currency. Heather is also considered to be a symbol of Scotland.
• Scotland has no official national anthem. There are several candidates, however: Flower of Scotland is popularly held to be the National Anthem of Scotland, and is played at events such as football and rugby matches involving the Scotland national teams, and as of 2010 is used for the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games. Other candidates include Scotland the Brave, Highland Cathedral, Scots Wha Hae and A Man's A Man for A' That. ^[1]
• Tartan is a specific woven textile pattern that often signifies a particular Scottish clan, as featured in a kilt.
• St Andrew's Day, the 30 November, is the national day, although Burns' Night tends to be more widely observed. Tartan Day is a recent innovation from Canada. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament passed the St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007, designating the day to be an official bank holiday.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Games team picks new Scots anthem". BBC. 9 January 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8449939.stm. 
2. ^ Explanatory Notes to St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007

General references

"Symbols of Scotland - Index" Rampantscotland.com. Retrieved 20 September 2007

Specific references and notes