The Scottish flags

There are alot of Scottish flags, but there are two in particular that for the longest time just confused me. I didn't know which was which. All I knew was that my father got a hat at the highland games one year (He didn't take me) and it had a lion on it. He claimed it was the flag of Scotland, so I thought it was. Then one day I was watching some movie, and the Scottish flag came up, and it was a blue one with a white X on it. So, I'm going to adress those first.



The picture above is of the flag of Scotland, the Saint Andrew's Cross or The Saltire. In gaelic it is called Bratach na h-Alba, and in scots it is called Banner o Scotland. This one is the flag that I see most Scottish people waving. Its been a proud flag since 1513. There is a legend that the Christian apostle and martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, was crucified on an X-shaped cross, so thats how the flag became what it is. I like this flag, blue and white are beautiful colors, and actually the colors of my high school. I'm also christian so I have that sort of connection with it. I still associate the lion flag with Scotland though.




The flag above is called the royal standard of Scotland. In Gaelic it is called Bratach rìoghail na h-Alba, and in scots Royal banner o Scotland. It is also known as the Banner of the King of Scots, or more commonly the Lion Rampant of Scotland. Whenever I see this flag, I just think of Scotland. This flag is restricted to a few officers of state and royalty. I don't like the restriction of symbols to anyone, but I guess thats just the American side of me. It may have been adopted in the 12th century by William I "the Lion," which is cool. This flag is really making me want to talk about how Scotland should have independence, and how England has done it wrong, but I'm going to restrain myself, and talk about that another time.


There are other flags, but I am kind of tired. I'll probably write about them another time.

--JSparrow