Scottish Culture and History

The unicorn – yes, you read that right! This mythical creature has been linked to Scotland for many centuries. First used in the 12th century on the Scottish royal coat of arms by William I, the unicorn symbolises purity and innocence, as well as masculinity and power in Celtic mythology. 

While the unicorn is mythological, its strong attributes make it the perfect fit to be Scotland’s national animal. When Scotland and England unified under the reign of James VI of Scotland in 1603, the Scottish Royal Arms had two unicorns supporting a shield. When James VI became James I of England and Ireland, he replaced the unicorn on the left of the shield with the national animal of England, the lion, to show that the countries were united. Today, you can go unicorn-spotting at iconic attractions including St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh and at Delgatie Castle, one of the oldest and most historic castles in Scotland.  

Scotland’s national flower is the thistle. The origins of how this purple thistle became an emblem of Scotland remain a mystery. Legend has it that a sleeping party of Scots warriors were saved from ambush by an invading Norse army when one of the enemies stepped on the spiky plant. His anguished cry awoke the warriors who then defeated the invaders and adopted the thistle as their national emblem. If you're visiting Scotland, you'll find the thistle across many of our gardens, parks and countryside. 

The Saltire, which is believed to be the oldest flag in Europe. The Saltire is instantly recognisable with its blue flag and white diagonal cross. It can be seen flying in the crowds of many international events, festivals and sporting events, as well as on churches and national and local government buildings. 

St Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland shortly after Scotland gained independence from England in 1320 (The Declaration of Arbroath) and held status with the Church to gain protection against the attempts of English kings to conquer the Scots. Legend has it that in the ninth century, the Pictish King, Angus mac Fergus, adopted St Andrew as the patron saint after The Battle at Athelstaneford in AD 832. This involved an army of Picts and Scots under King Angus who invaded the Lothians, which was still Northumbrian territory at the time. The king vowed that if, with St Andrew’s help he won, he would make him the patron saint of Scotland after seeing The Saltire appear in the sky. The rest, as they say, is history. 

Here in Scotland, St Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30 November. It's a great opportunity to celebrate Scotland's rich culture, with exciting events ranging from live music and ceilidhs to food festivals and community gatherings. 

In Scotland, there are four main languages. They are English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic and British Sign Language, which have helped to shape our rich and vibrant culture. The people of the north east also have Doric, the regional dialect spoken in Aberdeen and its surrounding areas.  

Scottish Gaelic is mostly spoken within the Highland & Islands communities and features heavily within our road signs and place names when travelling further north of the country. In the lowlands of Scotland, Scots was the adopted language and is officially recognised as a regional language by the UK government. 

18 Braw Scottish Words and Phrases

Scots are an inventive and innovative bunch! From telephones to televisions, pedal bikes to pneumatic tyres, find out more about the inventors and inventions that have their origins in Scotland. 

8 Revolutionary Scottish Inventions and Inventors

Scotland is known for its year-round hospitality. Watch the colours of spectacular fireworks shoot across the sky at Hogmanay or tuck into a Burns Night feast in the winter months. In the summer, the Edinburgh Festivals bring a wave of entertainment, arts and culture famous across the globe.  

Find out what’s happening when you visit Scotland