Scottish Flag of Preference?

[JBfromBS]

Which flag of the Scots is your personal favorite, and why?

Gosh, c'mon everybody reread the question...
He didn't ask which was your favorite national flag of Scotland, he asked which flag of the Scots is your personal favorite. Well, I would say the Scottish Royal Standard definitely qualifies as a "flag of the Scots" wouldn't you? (And yes, I know the present "royal family" is really of German descent )

Joe

[macwilkin]

Gosh, c'mon everybody reread the question...
He didn't ask which was your favorite national flag of Scotland, he asked which flag of the Scots is your personal favorite. Well, I would say the Scottish Royal Standard definitely qualifies as a "flag of the Scots" wouldn't you? (And yes, I know the present "royal family" is really of German descent )

Joe

Joe,

See my earlier post; because there is so much history and custom behind the flags, it is important that we know this, much the same as wearing tartan, before we display them. I love the story of the Saltire and St. Andrew, so hence it is my favourite; others may like the connection of the LR with Robert the Bruce.

There's nothing wrong with a wee bit o' history! :mrgreen:

and btw, the Royal Family has some Scottish blood as well.

Cheers,

Todd

[Retro Red]

The Rampant Lion is a fine, bold standard with it's striking colors & strong imagry, but my preference is for the Saltire. I like the story of it's origin & it's clean, distinctive lines.

It's made a mark on this Scot!

.

[MacWage]

I'm surprised that no one on this thread has yet mentioned the fact that the actual national flag of Scotland is the St. Andrews Cross. That's why I prefer it, personally.

The Lion Rampant is not a national flag. It's the Arms of the Monarch of Scotland, and though you see it used all the time in the United States (and I can only presume in Canada, as well) as a Scottish national flag, that is an incorrect usage.

For us Americans who don't have a tradition of heraldry, I liken it to the Presidential Seal. Both the Presidential Seal and the US Flag are symbols of our country, but one represents the entire nation, while the other represents our leader/the office of leadership.

M

Thanks Matt!

I asked the first question VERY carefully. In several other posts, I have seen pics of various games, tents, and gear (such as brooches and sporrans) made using both of the main Scottish flags, as well as the union flag (which is ALSO a Scot flag) The Union was adopted as royal when James VI of Scotland became James I of England and used by his representantives and that of his son, grandson, and great-grandson, while the two kingdom retained their own flags (Red George on white for England and White saltire/X for Scotland). It was then adopted as official, and general flag following the official union in 1706/7 (depending on the dating moment of the union).

I was curious how many would think "proper"/"official" flag for use, as well as "peronal design preference"and what else would arise.

As an amateur vexologist (one who studies flags and symbols), I find flags fascinating, especially the ones (at least 3) of Scotand. I am surprised noone mentioned the "fairy flag," also a Scottish flag, as well as the many historically specific flags used in Scottish lands and to represent Scots in other lands (such as mercenaries and soldiers serving under the French and other nations).

As a matter of interest, during the Atlanta Olympics, in 1996, there were flags EVERYWHERE. There was a particularly common set of about 8-10 flags (forgot exact #). In it was the US, Canada, Mexico, Britain, etc and THE RAMPANT LION! Both lion and saltire were all over the city, the most common entity not an independant Olympic team. I even have one of the "they don't exist" Scotland flag caps with the Atlanta Olympic logo embroidered on its side. There is a MUCH more common version of the SAME cap with a face logo on the side. Mine is NOT one of these, for mine has the torch Atlanta Olympic logo on its side. I also have 2 saltire/Atlanta Olympics pins-another "they don't realy exist." Someone at ACOG never realized that Scotland was part of Great Britain and released various items bearing the saltire. The caps are RARE, but do exist. They only made 5-20 (from what I understand) and I managed to buy one of the displays at the tail end of the games, after noone stocked them- realizing the bo-bo).

Each Scottish flag has a HUGE depth in meaning (thus the "why"), which could inform choice, as well as "I like the colors/simplicity/complexity/beauty."

My personal choice:
I like the design and colors of the Rampant Lion- It is a thing of beauty! But, it is Royal heraldry, improper for me to fly, and offensive (to some) to do so.

I PERFER the blue and white saltire. It is genuinely "Scottish," a symbol of the people as a whole, used by various groups, and also a thing of beauty. I also like its adaptability. Any blue field can be crossed by two white bands to create this flag, even two strips of masking tape! (It's even the source of this web site and forum's name!)

Also, I am a descendant of Covenanters (AKA Reformed Presbyterians), and the saltire was once known as "The Flag of the Covenant," often bearing the slogans: "For Christ's Croun & Covenant" or "Covenants for Christ, Kings and Kingomes" (misspellings on originals).

Thus for its simplicity, recognizability, beauty, heritage and, above all, symbology, I use (heavily) the twin white Crossed Bars on Blue.

(Let's keep this going, its interesting- at least to me!)

[Moosehead]

and btw, the Royal Family has some Scottish blood as well.

And Irish. Cousin Betty is my 23rd cousin.

As for the question...Lion Rampant.

[Valencian Kilted]

I prefer the saltire. Main reason is that it's quite an exclusive symbol for Scotland. Other can be that the simbol of Spanish Air Force is also a St. Andrew's cross, although here is black over white field. It was also used in red colour over white field by the spanish "tercios" on those centuries when Spain was a world power fighting on her own against France, England, Holland, the Otoman empire... although it was a symbol that identified the burgundy heritage of our kings... You can see rampant lions on many places all around europe, here in Spain it was used to represent the Kingdom of León (obviously) with a purple lion over silver field, that you can observe in Spain's coat of arms...



and also it's represented in blue colour on my surname coat of arms:


So for me it was important to identify Scotland with a symbol for her own,... and saltire does it quite better for me than Rampant Lion!

¡Salud!

T O N O

[Eric T]

"But there's never been any lions native to Scotland! Maybe it should be the rampant haggis?" Hmmm.


An amusing bit of info, for those not squeemish of looking at photo of a St. Andrew's Cross spider....

Spider pic and info

[Colin]

"But there's never been any lions native to Scotland! Maybe it should be the rampant haggis?" Hmmm.


An amusing bit of info, for those not squeemish of looking at photo of a St. Andrew's Cross spider....

Spider pic and info

But inside every Scot beats the heart of a lion

Maybe the Rampant lion was one of those exotic pets that people think now roam the countryside http://www.scottishbigcats.co.uk/

Ok, back to the topic at hand.

[macwilkin]

The Lion Rampant originates from King William I of Scotland, "William the Lion", who used a Lion Rampant as a personal standard & seal.

Cheers,

Todd

ps: moved to heraldry and tartans sub-section. Why didn't I think of this before?

[CameronTaylor]

[QUOTE=MacWage As an amateur vexologist (one who studies flags and symbols), I find flags fascinating, especially the ones (at least 3) of Scotand. I am surprised noone mentioned the "fairy flag," also a Scottish flag, .... [/QUOTE]
Have you a link to said flag ??


CT - interesting thread :neutral: