The
Flag of Scotland - Description of the Scottish Flag
As the
above picture of the Scottish Flag indicates the overall
background is
Blue
The description of
the Scottish Flag is as follows:
The flag of
Scotland features a white X-shaped cross representing the cross
of the Christian martyr Saint Andrew (Scotland's patron saint)
on a blue field
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Scottish flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Scottish flag is
described as a Cross reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Scottish flag is described as
3:5
The
emblem on the Scottish flag pictures the cross of St. Andrew
The Meaning
& History of the Scottish Flag
St. Andrew is the Patron Saint of
Scotland
St. Andrew's's day is celebrated on
November 30th
St. David was an early crusader for
Christianity and was thought to have been a fisherman in Galilee
and became a desciple of Jesus Christ, founder of the Christian
religion
The
History of the Scottish Flag and its inclusion in the British
Union Jack
Queen
Elizabeth I ruled a divided nation. As the "Virgin Queen" she
named the son of Mary Queen of Scots (her cousin) as her
successor
James VI of
Scotland therefore also became James I of England and on April
12, 1606
The first
'Union Flag' was created by using ecclesiastical heraldry by
combining the red cross of St. George of England and the saltire
of St. Andrew of Scotland
This was not
a totally accurate representation of the flags as the blue
background of the Scottish national flag is a lighter "sky" blue
than the dark blue used on the Union Flag
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Scottish
Flag Etiquette
Scottish Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Scottish as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Scottish
State Flag of
Scottish
Military Flag of
Scottish (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Scottish
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Scottish Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Scottish should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Scottish flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Scottish should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Scottish flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Scottish, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Scottish Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Scottish flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Scottish flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Scottish flag to the top, then lowering the
Scottish Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Scottish flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Scottish flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Scottish flag
The Scottish flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Scottish
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Scottish flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Scottish
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding Scottish Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Scotland
Location:
Western Europe, Northern section of
British Isles between the North
Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
Land Size of
Scotland : 30977.59 miles
Climate / Weather
of Scotland : temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest
winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the
days are overcast
Scottish Capital City:
Edinburgh
Main Industries :
machine tools, electric power & automation equipment, railroad
equipment, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other
consumer goods
Main Colors of
the Scottish Flag : Blue with white cross
Commonly mis-spelt
as Scotish
The Celts and Ancient
Scottish History
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence
of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient
culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries
including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium,
Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various
tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi
by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common -
barbarian
It is from the Greek, Keltoi, that
Celt is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the
Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the
raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to
extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name
for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul
commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient
times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the
Celts
Concise History of
Scotland & its Flag
55BC Julius
Caesar lands in Britain
80AD The
Roman, Julius Agricola invades "Albion" or "Caledonia" the
ancient names for Scotland
84AD Celtic
tribes of Caledonia unite under Calgacus but are defeated by the
Romans
121 - 129
Hadrian's Wall is built by the Romans
397 - St
Ninian brings Christianity to Scotland
476 The
Roman Empire collapses
800 - 900s
Vikings raid Scotland
1005 King
Malcolm II rules Scotland and defeats the Vikings at the battle
of Mortlach
1034 - 1040
King Duncan I
1040 - 1057
Macbeth kills Duncan to become King of Scotland
1272 William
Wallace born
1274 Robert
the Bruce born
1297
Scottish war of Independence led by William Wallace
1298 Scots
Defeated by Edward I of England
1305 William
Wallace executed
1306 Robert
the Bruce crowned King
1314 Battle
of Bannockburn when Robert the Bruce defeats the English and
gains Scottish independence
1371 Robert
II the first Stewart King takes the throne
1513 Battle
of Flodden and James IV killed in battle
1559 Start
of the Reformation in Scotland with John Knox's sermon at Perth
1561 Mary
Queen of Scots returns to Scotland from France
1565 Mary
Queen of Scots marries Henry, Lord Darnley
1567 Henry
Darnley murdered
1568 Mary
Queen of Scots flees to England and is imprisoned by Elizabeth
I. Her baby son becomes James VI of Scotland
1587 Mary
Queen of Scots executed at Fotheringay Castle
1603 James
VI of Scotland becomes James I of England bringing about the
Union of the Crowns
1692 The
Massacre of Glencoe - The Campbells murder the MacDonald clan
1707 The Act
of Union is passed and Scotland is formally united with England
to form Great Britain
1745 Bonnie
Prince Charlie - Prince Charles Edward Stuart - returns to
Scotland to claim the British throne
1746 Battle
of Culloden where the Jacobite Scots defeated and Bonnie Prince
Charlie flees to France
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The
Scottish Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Scottish Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
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