Floral symbols of English-speaking countries. Why is the unicorn a symbol of Scotland? National plant of Scotland

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The symbols of each country are considered, first of all, the attributes of power - the coat of arms, flag and anthem. In addition to them, each state has its own emblems in the form of plants, animals, household items or saints. For the Scots, the following are significant:

Thistle

The plant is considered one of the most recognizable symbols of the Scottish nation. On the country's banknotes, the image of a thistle represents determination, perseverance, unpretentiousness and exactly corresponds to the characteristics inherent in the indigenous population of this extraordinary state. According to legend, more than 10 centuries ago, Scottish warriors won one of the important battles with the Vikings thanks to a thistle that fell under the feet of their enemy and caused one of the Vikings such pain that he screamed, after which he was revealed. Today in the country there is a knightly Order of the Thistle, which is awarded to the most courageous representatives of the nation.

Unicorn

The mythical animal is another famous emblem of Scotland. For a long time, nobility and local aristocrats depicted a unicorn on their coats of arms, and under the monarch James II, the fictional creature was minted on gold unicorns. It is believed that this tradition dates back to the 15th century, when the unicorn first appeared on state symbols countries. Today the unicorn adorns the Royal Arms of Great Britain, although previously there was a domineering dragon, which was considered the Irish emblem until the reign of King James.

The Righteous Apostle Andrew and the St. Andrew's Cross

According to Christian legends, in one of the small settlements Scotland - the city of St. Andrews transferred the relics of St. Apostle Andrew. Local residents are sure that the shrine is kept there to this day. Since the execution of the great martyr was carried out through crucifixion on an equiaxed cross shaped like the letter “X”, from then on the figure began to be called St. Andrew’s and became a symbol of the true Christian faith. The St. Andrew's Cross is ubiquitous on the emblems of Scotland, including the main image on the national flag.

Kilt

The subject of national pride is the kilt, which is a pleated piece of tartan fabric. The kilt is draped around the waist using special devices and decorations - straps or buckles. A kilt is made from a special woolen fabric mixed with tartan; by the color of the cell, you can determine to which clan or surname a particular Scot belongs. In everyday life, such clothes are not worn, but all official events are not complete without a kilt, especially traditional Scottish weddings.

Some units of the British Army also wear the kilt. Modern Scottish fashion houses offer various types of skirts that imitate a kilt.

Whiskey

Classic Scotch whiskey is called scotch all over the world. Interestingly, this product name is enshrined in law and is protected by copyright. The secret of preparation was known to the ancient Celts, who produced “fiery liquid” in large quantities. At the end of the 15th century, the distillation process was improved and whiskey became famous in Europe as the “water of life.”

According to the official technology for making scotch, it is divided into five categories, each of which has its own specific characteristics and can be blended, malt, single malt, or grain. Bagpipes The distinctive and easily recognizable musical instrument is made from various types of leather, including goat, calf or cowhide, and is a bag with several tubes inserted into it. Air is blown through one of them, polyphony is created through the others, and special pipers play the bagpipes. The instrument is made in Scotland in the Mixodilian mode, in a special key - B-flat major. In the Middle Ages, good bagpipers were worth their weight in gold and formed unique clans that evoked respect and veneration among

Modern Scotland is inhabited by five million inhabitants. They all honor the traditions of their ancestors. This is expressed in national clothing, cuisine, music and much more. For visitors, the symbol of Scotland is most often associated with a kilt, bagpipes and whiskey. In fact, representatives of this country, which has been fighting for independence for centuries, see thistles, heathers, unicorns 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 is also a flag. Its cloth has a blue background with a white St. Andrew's cross on it. The flag has been known since the 9th century and is 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 golden field. It has a red inner double border with sprouted lilies and a risen lion to match the border. The tongue and claws of the beast are painted 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 competitions, including the Scottish national football team.

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

No celebration is complete in Scotland without bagpipes. This national musical instrument, just like its sound, cannot be confused with anything else.

St. Andrew's Day is celebrated annually on November 30. In Scotland this date is officially a bank holiday.

Which symbol of Scotland is most often associated with independence? Few people know that this is a Skunk stone. It is a sandstone block that was used for the coronation ceremonies of Scottish and English monarchs. Its weight is about 150 kilograms. Another name for the stone is Jacob's Pillow.

Symbolism 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 James of Scotland was placed on the Royal Arms of Great Britain. The unicorn thus replaced the symbol of Ireland in the form of a dragon.

Other animals associated with Scotland include the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, and the notorious Loch Ness Monster.

The thistle is the country's national floral emblem. His image appears on Scottish currency. There is even the Order of the Thistle, which arose during the reign of James the Second and has a knightly basis. The plant is distinguished by its inaccessibility and stubbornness. This is in keeping 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 to dye clothes, as well as heather ale.

Symbolism in traditional cuisine

Scotland is distinguished by its originality in national cuisine. A traditional dish for all festive dinners (especially Burns's birthday) is haggis. To prepare it, lamb offal is used, which is chopped with onions, lard, oatmeal, and seasonings. All this is boiled in a lamb stomach. In times past, haggis was a poor man's dish because it was made from offal that was meant to be thrown away. 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 famous 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 to Scotland.

Other foods that are considered traditional in this country include:

• oatmeal;
• shortbread and oatmeal cookies;
• meat pie;
• carbonated drink "Irn-Bru".

Topic: How a wild and prickly plant became a symbol of Scotland

Topic: How a wild thorny plant became a symbol of Scotland

Learning history and culture of different countries is always very interesting., learning about official and unofficial national symbols is one of the most curious themes. People, who have ever learned about the history of English speaking countries, know that every of these countries. Except national flag and coat of arms, England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland have their national plants. It is a common fact that a red rose symbolizes England, and Ireland is symbolized by a four-leaf clover. Wales is associated with a yellow daffodil and thistle is one of Scotland’s plant symbols. But not everyone knows the legends connected with these homely plants.

Studying the history and culture of different countries is always interesting. In my opinion, learning about official and unofficial symbols is one of the most interesting topics. People who have ever become acquainted with the history of English-speaking countries know that each of these countries has its own symbols. In addition to the flag and coat of arms, England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland have their own national plants. Everyone knows that the red rose symbolizes England, and the four-leaf clover symbolizes Ireland. Wales is associated with the yellow daffodil, and the thistle is one of the plant symbols of Scotland. But not everyone knows the legends associated with these national plants.

A legend about such a wild prickly plant as a thistle that became a symbol of Scotland impressed me very much. It says that once some Norsemen arrived to the east coast of the country and landed there. They wanted to invade Scotland and populated by Scots. Somehow the Scots got to know about the invaders so they took up their arms and decided to set up an ambush. They took their station near Tay, the largest river of Scotland. The warriors arrived at the ambush late in the day. They were very tired after a long march so they pitched a camp. After a while it got dark, and the Scottish warriors rested carelessly because they the enemies earlier than next day. This is why there was no guard to watch the camp.

The legend of such a wild thorny plant as the thistle, which became a symbol of Scotland, made an impression on me. It says that the Scandinavians once arrived to east coast countries and landed there. They wanted to conquer Scotland and settle in those lands that were inhabited by the Scots. Somehow the Scots found out about the invaders, so they took up arms and decided to ambush them. They stopped near Thay, the very big river in Scotland. The soldiers arrived at the ambush towards the end of the day. They were tired after the hike and set up camp. It soon became dark, and the Scots warriors rested carelessly, because they did not expect the enemy to appear until the next day. Therefore, there was no guard to monitor the camp.

But the cunning Norsemen decided to surprise the Scottish warriors and capture the camp under cover of darkness. To get closer as silently as it is possible, the Norsemen took off their shoes. When they were near, one of the invaders stepped on a thistle’s prickly leaf. A sharp pain shot through his leg, and he cried out. The Scots were alarmed. They quickly grabbed the weapon and defeated their overnight guests. Since those times a prickly thistle became a national symbol of Scotland.

But the insidious Scandinavians decided to take the Scottish warriors by surprise and capture the camp under cover of darkness. To get as quietly as possible, the Scandinavians took off their shoes. When they were already close, one of the invaders stepped on a thorny thistle leaf. A sharp pain shot through his leg and he screamed. The Scots woke up. They quickly grabbed their weapons and repelled the attack of the night guests. Since then, the thorny thistle has become a national symbol of Scotland.

It would be a mistake to believe that the floral symbol exists only in old legends. The Scots have been depicting their homely plant on the coins for more than five hundred years. And Order of the Thistle appeared. It was one of the most honored knightly orders in Scotland which entered the history of the country. If we visit the land of thistle, heather and bagpipe, we will find hundreds of souvenir shops selling countless little things depicting these symbols.

It would be a mistake to think that the flower symbol exists only in old legends. The Scots have featured thistles on their coins for over five hundred years. And in the 17th century the Order of the Thistle appeared. It was one of the most revered orders of knighthood, which went down in the history of the country. If we visit the land of thistles, heathers and bagpipes, we will find hundreds of souvenir shops selling countless little things depicting these symbols.

If you ask an ordinary tourist what first comes to mind when he mentions Scotland, you will 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.

What do the Scots themselves connect and associate themselves with? Oddly enough, not many people know the usual symbols of Scotland, and not all of them will be on the tourist list. Among the symbols of Scotland there are: thistle, unicorn, Apostle Andrew.

How did Scottish symbols appear?

The thistle is a seemingly ordinary plant, but nevertheless has the status of a semi-official national symbol of Scotland. You can see thistles on the currency of this country (by the way, Scotland, while remaining part of Great Britain, 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 is indeed similar to the Scots. But is it only for this that the thistle received the proud name “symbol of Scotland”?

The roots of this tradition go back more than a thousand years into history, to one battle of Lunkart, which the Scots were able to win, as legend has it, precisely thanks to the help of thistles. The cunning Vikings wanted to silently approach the sleeping camp of the Scots, but, as luck would have it, a thorny, stubborn plant fell under their feet. One of the Vikings shouted and immediately declassified the entire military operation.

In Scotland, there is even an 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 gold unicorn issued under James II). One of the most honorable places for a unicorn is the Royal Arms of Great Britain: before the accession of James of Scotland to the English throne, in its place was the symbol of Ireland - the dragon, which was later replaced by the monarch with a more familiar symbol of his country.

Another symbol of Scotland is Apostle Andrew, whose relics, according to historical data, were transferred to one of the Scottish towns - 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 axes of equal length. You can see the St. Andrew's cross, which got its name from the murdered apostle and became one of the common symbols of Christianity, quite often in Scottish symbolism. In addition, the St. Andrew's cross is the central element on the country's flag.