Editing Scotland (section)

=== National identity ===
{{Further|Scottish people|National symbols of Scotland}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 320
| image_style       = border:yes;
| image1            = Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland.svg
| alt1              = Royal Arms of Scotland
| caption1          = The [[Royal Arms of Scotland]]
| image2            = Mooie bloeiwijze van een Speerdistel (Cirsium vulgare) 03.jpg
| alt2              = Scottish Thistle
| caption2          = The [[spear thistle]], the [[national emblem]] of Scotland
}}

The image of [[Saint Andrew|St. Andrew]], martyred while bound to an X-shaped cross, first appeared in the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] during the reign of [[William the Lion|William I]].<ref name="NAS">[http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/051124.asp "Feature: Saint Andrew seals Scotland's independence"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916085046/http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/051124.asp |date=16 September 2013 }}, ''The National Archives of Scotland'', 28 November 2007, retrieved 12 September 2009.</ref> Following the death of [[Alexander III of Scotland|King Alexander III]] in 1286 an image of Andrew was used on the [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] of the [[Guardians of Scotland]] who assumed control of the kingdom during the subsequent [[interregnum]].<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web |date=28 November 2007 |title=Feature: Saint Andrew seals Scotland's independence |url=http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/051124.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916085046/http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/051124.asp |archive-date=16 September 2013 |access-date=9 December 2009 |publisher=The National Archives of Scotland}}</ref> Use of a simplified symbol associated with Saint Andrew, the [[saltire]], has its origins in the late 14th century; the [[Parliament of Scotland]] decreeing in 1385 that Scottish soldiers should wear a white Saint Andrew's Cross on the front and back of their tunics.<ref>Dickinson, Donaldson, Milne (eds.), A Source Book Of Scottish History, Nelson and Sons Ltd, Edinburgh 1952, p.205</ref> Use of a blue background for the Saint Andrew's Cross is said to date from at least the 15th century.<ref>G. Bartram, [http://www.flaginstitute.org/images/page10_large.gif www.flaginstitute.org ''British Flags & Emblems''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109055700/http://www.flaginstitute.org/images/page10_large.gif |date=9 November 2012 }} (Edinburgh: Tuckwell Press, 2004), {{ISBN|1-86232-297-X}}, p. 10.</ref> Since 1606 the saltire has also formed part of the design of the [[Union Flag]]. 

There are numerous other symbols and symbolic artefacts, both official and unofficial, including the [[thistle]], the nation's [[national emblem|floral emblem]] (celebrated in the song, [[The Thistle o' Scotland]]), the [[Declaration of Arbroath]], incorporating a statement of political independence made on 6 April 1320, the textile pattern [[tartan]] that often signifies a particular [[Scottish clan]] and the royal [[Royal Standard of Scotland|Lion Rampant]] flag.<ref>"National identity" in M. Lynch (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'', (Oxford, 2001), pp. 437–444.</ref><ref>Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) ''Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland''. London. HarperCollins. Page 936.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Symbols of Scotland—Index |url=http://www.rampantscotland.com/symbols/blsymbols_index.htm |access-date=17 September 2014 |website=Rampantscotland.com}}</ref> Highlanders can thank [[James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose]], for the repeal in 1782 of the [[Dress Act 1746]], which prohibiting the wearing of tartans.<ref name="Works">{{Cite book |last=Bain |first=Robert |title=Clans & Tartans of Scotland (revised) |publisher=William Collins Sons & Co., Ltd. |others=P.E. Stewart-Blacker (heraldic advisor), foreword by The R. Hon. C/refountess of Erroll |year=1959 |editor-last=Margaret O. MacDougall |page=108}}</ref>

Scotland has its own [[regalia]] known as the [[Honours of Scotland]] (informally the [[Scottish Crown Jewels]]) which consists of the [[Crown of Scotland]], a Sceptre and [[Scottish Sword of State]]. The Scottish crown was worn by [[Scottish monarchs]] during their coronation, and today is kept in the Crown Room at [[Edinburgh Castle]]. The Crown of Scotland is present at each state opening of the Scottish Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Parliament opening: Crown returns to seat of parliament |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/378157.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref> Collectively, the Honours of Scotland are the oldest regalia in the [[British Isles]], dating from the late 15th and early 16th centuries.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Honours of Scotland |url=https://www.royal.uk/honours-scotland |website=www.royal.uk |access-date=6 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The Queen at the Scottish Parliament - crop.jpg|thumb|left|170px|The [[Crown of Scotland]]]] 

Although there is no official [[national anthem of Scotland]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 March 2006 |title=Action call over national anthem |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4828454.stm |access-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> ''[[Flower of Scotland]]'' is played on special occasions and sporting events such as football and rugby matches involving the Scotland national teams and since 2010 is also played at the Commonwealth Games after it was voted the overwhelming favourite by participating Scottish athletes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 January 2010 |title=Games team picks new Scots anthem |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8449939.stm}}</ref> Other currently less popular candidates for the National Anthem of Scotland include ''[[Scotland the Brave]]'', ''[[Highland Cathedral]]'', ''[[Scots Wha Hae]]'' and ''[[A Man's A Man for A' That]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2014 |title=Background Info |url=http://www.parliament.scot/gettinginvolved/petitions/PE01500-PE01599/PE01541_BackgroundInfo.aspx |access-date=17 January 2021 |website=www.parliament.scot}}</ref>

[[St Andrew's Day]], 30 November, is the [[national day]], although [[Burns' Night]] tends to be more widely observed, particularly outside Scotland. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament passed the [[St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007]], designating the day an official [[bank holiday]].<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/en2007/2007en02.htm "Explanatory Notes to St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002638/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/en2007/2007en02.htm |date=1 October 2007 }} Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 22 September 2007.</ref> [[Tartan Day]] is a recent innovation from Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tartan Day in Canada {{!}} Scotland.org |url=https://www.scotland.org/events/scotland-week/tartan-day-in-canada |access-date=17 August 2021 |website=Scotland |language=en |archive-date=25 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425221329/https://scotland.org/events/scotland-week/tartan-day-in-canada |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The national animal of Scotland is the [[unicorn]], which has been a Scottish heraldic symbol since the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish fact of the week: Scotland's official animal, the Unicorn |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scottish-fact-of-the-week-scotland-s-official-animal-the-unicorn-1-2564399 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016033524/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scottish-fact-of-the-week-scotland-s-official-animal-the-unicorn-1-2564399 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |access-date=17 September 2014 |website=Scotsman.com}}</ref> The [[Court of the Lord Lyon]] regulates [[Scottish heraldry]] and the Public Register of All Armorial Bearings in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.courtofthelordlyon.scot/about%20us.htm|website=The Court of the Lord Lyon |access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref>