9 Most Important Scottish Symbols And Their Meanings

Are you looking for the most important Scottish symbols and their meanings?

Famous for its whisky distilleries, beautiful lochs (lakes) and magical mountains across the country, bagpipes, and lively music culture, Scotland is one of the most interesting places in the world. It also has one of the most stunning landscapes and architecture in Europe.

Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom and shares a border with England to the south. It occupies the northern third of Great Britain and is home to nearly 800 small islands, which include the northern isles of Shetland and Orkney, Arran, Skye, and the Hebrides.

Scotland has a population of merely over 5 million; that’s less than in the city of London. But these over 5 million people are brave, courageous, fiery, and bold. Needless to say, the Scotch people are a force to reckon with.

The same is true with their culture. They have the most distinct cultures in Europe and, as such, the symbols associated with Scotland are really interesting.

Let’s check out the most interesting Scottish symbols in the following list.

9 Most Important Scottish Symbols And Their Meanings

1. Saltire / Saint Andrew’s Cross (Flag of Scotland)

The national flag of Scotland is called the Saltire or Saint Andrew’s Cross. It consists of a white diagonal cross on a blue background. These diagonal bars are of equal length and which is called a saltire.

The Saltire is the oldest flag in Europe and the Commonwealth, believed to date back to the year 832 AD — during a battle fought in East Lothian. According to tradition, the Saltire originated in this battle that took place in the Dark Ages.

The Saltire flag represents Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland who is supposed to have been crucified on a crux decussata (saltire) in Patras, Greece.

The blue field on the Scottish flag represents the blue robe that Saint Andrew often wore. It was his blue robe against the white wood of the cross where the saint was crucified which inspired the flag’s design.

The blue color on the Scottish flag symbolizes perseverance, loyalty, truth, justice, and vigilance; while white represents peace and honesty.

2. Unicorn

Believe it: the unicorn really is the national animal of Scotland.

The romance between the Scotch people and this famous mythological creature dates back many centuries. In Celtic mythology, this creature symbolized purity and innocence, as well as masculinity and power.

It is believed that Scotland chose unicorn to be its official national animal because of the tales of dominance and chivalry associated with this magical creature.

Unicorns are proud and untameable, as well as fiercely independent and difficult to capture or conquer. The Scottish people relate to these traits and you will understand why if you’ve read Scotland’s history.

3. The Scotch Thistle

While the plant is widespread in the world, growing both in Europe and Asia, as well as Australia and America where it was introduced, the thistle has been an important symbol of Scotland for over 500 years.

According to legend, a sleeping party of Scottish warriors were saved from ambush by an invading Norse army when one of the enemies trod on the spiky thistle. Crying in anguish, he roused the slumbering warriors who duly vanquished the invaders, hence adopting the thistle as the Scottish national flower.

The pinkish lavender color of the Scotch thistle symbolizes divine love and royalty.

The flower also represents one of the highest honors Scotland can give an individual. It was chosen by Sir Walter Scott as the emblem for King George IV’s visit to Scotland in 1822 and has been accepted as a national symbol.

4. Lion Rampant

The term “lion rampant” refers to the positioning or attitude of the lion on this symbol.

The image of a Lion Rampant symbol depicts the profile of a rampant lion – standing upright on one or both hind legs, faced to the left, with the forelegs raised and claws unsheathed as if ready to strike. It is the personal banner of the monarchs and the Royal Standard of the King or Queen of Scots.

This design originated during King Richard’s reign, with the English emblem of this kind — a rampant lion on its hind legs. The lion was eventually featured on the Scottish Coat of Arms and combined into the Great Seal of Scotland.

5. Tartan

The earliest known tartan in Scotland is believed to date to the 3rd or 4th century AD. While there was woven cloth practically everywhere, only in Scotland have the tartans been given such cultural significance.

For many centuries, tartan had been part of the everyday clothing of the Scotspeople, particularly the Highlanders. However, it was in the Scottish Highlands that the development of this cloth continued, thus becoming synonymous with the symbol of clan kinship in Scotland.

In the olden times, red tartan was worn in battle so blood was not seen. Green mixed well with the forest — ideal for hunting. Blue tartan symbolized lakes and rivers, while yellow resembled crops.

Today, these colors distinguish religion: red and green tartans are a symbol for Catholics and blue for Protestants.

6. Stone of Scone

The Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, is an ancient relic of Scottish royalty. It is a rectangular slab of yellow sandstone upon which Scottish monarchs were traditionally crowned.

Viewed as a sacred object, the earliest origins of the Stone of Scone are unknown. It was taken from the Scots by King Edward I of England in 1296. Today it is in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle alongside the crown jewels of Scotland.

The Stone of Scone is the symbol of Scottish monarchy and the ancient symbol of royal power in Scotland.

7. Bagpipe

Scottish immigrants brought the bagpipe to America over a century and a half ago. Since then, it has become a symbol of mourning for fallen heroes, especially cops and firefighters, with the bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace” during fire and police funerals.

In the place of its origin, this musical instrument holds a different symbolic meaning. The bagpipe, specifically the Highland bagpipe, is a well-established symbol of Scotland with both political and religious meanings.

Its most meaningful representation, however, is that of freedom as well as strength for having survived the oppression of Scotland by the English who had banned this instrument that was considered “an instrument of war.” This is because bagpipes had an ability to influence Scottish men to grab their weapons and go to war.

8. Haggis

There is no other food more associated with Scotland than haggis.

This dish is a pudding made of minced heart, lungs, and liver of a sheep seasoned with onion, salt, and other spices. It is thought to have been brought to Scotland by the Vikings, while some believe it was the Romans.

Lauded by Scotland’s most famous poet, Rober Burns, haggis has become a Scottish national symbol in Scotland, as well as the symbol of Burns’ Night — a special day celebrated in honor of the great Scottish Bard. Burns’ 1787 poem called “Address to the Haggis” gave haggis its national importance.

9. Scotch Whiskey

Scotch whisky is either malt whisky or grain whisky aged in oak barrels for at least three years. As the name suggests, Scotch whiskey is produced in Scotland and Scotland alone.

Scotch whisky has been part of Scottish history since back in the late 1400s, when this alcoholic drink was originally distilled by monks for medicinal purposes and also by Scottish farmers who needed the extra income during winter.

This quintessential drink of Scotland is recognized as a symbol of sophistication. For the Scottish people, it means the “water of life.” The word “whiskey” comes from the Gaelic “usquebaugh” or “uisge beatha,” which means exactly that: “water of life.”