The Thistle The flower of Scotland is the best known symbol which is recognized all over the world It dates back 800 years A legend says that Viking invaders stepped on these plants, cried out in pain and alarmed sleeping Scots This helped the Scots fight off the attackers It appeared on silver coins in 1470 and became a part of Scotland’s Coat of Arms in the 16th cent The Unicorn The national animal and a heraldic symbol In Celtic mythology it symbolised innocence and purity, healing power, joy and life In the 15th cent gold coins appeared with a unicorn image and two unicorns appeared in the Coat of Arms The Order of the Thistle It’s Scotland’s highest chivalric order founded by King James VII (1687) The official motto of the Order is 'Nemo me impune lacessit', which Latin translates into 'No one provokes me with impunity' St Andrew Since the 10th cent he has been considered the Patron Saint of Scotland A legend says that his holy relics were brought at what is now of St Andrews St Andrews became the religious capital of Scotland Saint Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30th November each year The Saltire St Andrew is believed to have died on a diagonally transversed cross This cross has been adopted as the national flag of Scotland The blue stands for the sky It is believed to be one of the oldest flags in the world still in use today The Lion Rampant Unofficially, it is often thought to be the Second National Flag of Scotland It is also called the Royal Flag of Scotland It was adopted by King William I (William the Lion) in the 12th cent It was also used later by King Richard I of England (Richard the Lion Heart) The Heather Beautiful Scottish heather is another characteristic symbol of Scotland which is recognized around the world Also said to be their national flower It grows abundantly on the Scottish moors, glens and highlands The colour ranges mostly from lilac to purple White heather is considered to be a symbol of good luck It had multiple uses: mattresses, ropes, walls, thatched roofs, brooms, paint, even in drinks (ale), honey, tea, soaps, aromatherapy and medicine The Royal Coat of Arms It was the official coat of arms of the kings of Scotland It presents two crowned unicorns holding a shield with a red lion on a yellow field Atop the shield sits the helm and the crest depicting a red lion which wears the crown of Scotland and holds the Sceptre and the Sword of State Above the crest is the motto ‘In Defens’ It is a contraction of the motto ‘In My Defence God Me Defend’ The unicorns stand on a number of thistles