Symbol of Scotland - thistle, bagpipe and tartan

The national symbols of Scotland include the coat of arms and the flag (attributes of power), the bagpipe (musical instrument), the unicorn (the animal painted on the coat of arms), the tartan (the cloth from which the kilt is made), the thistle (found on the currency) and the real character of the Scottish History - Apostle Andrew.

Consequently, all of the above symbols can be attributed to very real things. But the fact is that many citizens of Scotland created imaginary features around these objects - they thought up and invented different stories, without changing the history of their origin.

Symbol of Scotland - thistle

This prickly weed is endowed with a semi-official symbol authority in this country. If you believe the story, 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. Danes wanted to kill everyone, but one of the soldiers stepped barefoot on a prickly weed and woke his cry with the whole camp. The Scottish army quickly woke up, as a result, the enemy's army was defeated. This weed was 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 warriors.

Thistle - a symbol of Scotland - is depicted on many coins, emblems and coats of arms, is sold in souvenir shops and grows in the fields. For the first time the thorn bushes were used as emblems in 1470. And in 1687, the Order of the Thistle was created, which includes members of the royal family. The participants of the Order wear chains of gold. The links of this decoration consist of a thistle. Their motto is: "Nobody will get me angry with impunity."

Symbol of Scotland - flag

The next attribute of this country is the St. Andrew's flag. We know him as a symbol of the Russian navy. Only the flag of Scotland has a blue background, and the cross is white, and our sea flag has the colors opposite. 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 the law of Britain.

Symbol of Scotland - coat of arms

Before England and Scotland united, the coat of arms looked quite different. Some elements eventually disappeared, and now only the lion recalls the former Scottish independence.

Symbol of Scotland - whiskey and tartan

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

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

"Nemo me impune lacessit" - "No one will touch me with impunity". This motto of Scotland is not just a hymn to a thistle, but it speaks of alertness and resentment. It is possible that the Scots, with their bagpipes and kilt, are defending themselves against the English, who always wanted to break them. And all these evocative attributes are the same spines as the plants from the family of astroves.