FLAG OF SCOTLAND
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(Redirected from Cross of St Andrew)
The 'flag of Scotland' features a white saltire, a ''crux decussate'' (X-shaped cross) representing the cross of the Christian martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, on a blue field. It is named the 'Saltire' or the 'Saint Andrew's Cross'. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned ''Azure, a saltire argent''.
The flag of Scotland is one of the oldest flags in the world, traditionally dating back to the 9th century, and is the oldest national flag still in modern use.
According to legend, in 832 A.D. King Óengus (II) (or ''King Angus'') led the Picts and Scots in battle against the Angles under King Aethelstan of East Anglia near modern-day Athelstaneford in East Lothian. King Angus and his men were surrounded and he prayed for deliverance. During the night Saint Andrew, who was martyred on a saltire cross, appeared to Angus and assured him of victory. On the following morning a white saltire against the background of a blue sky appeared to both sides. The Picts and Scots were heartened by this, but the Angles lost confidence and were defeated. This saltire design has been the Scottish flag ever since.
Material evidence of the saltire's use dates from somewhat later. In 1385 the Parliament of Scotland decreed that Scottish soldiers should wear the saltire as a distinguishing mark. The earliest surviving Scottish flag consisting solely of the saltire dates from 1503: a white cross on a red background. By 1540 the legend of King Angus had been altered to include the vision of the crux decussata against a blue sky. Thereafter, this saltire design in its present form became the national flag of Scotland.
The Scottish flag can have different shades of blue sometimes.
There are five flagpoles outside the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh. The Saltire is flown every day, alongside the Union Flag and the EU Flag. The fourth flagpole is used for special occasions such as Commonwealth Day and United Nations Day. The fifth pole is used for the Royal Standard.[1]
The Scottish Executive has decreed that the Flag will fly on all its buildings every day from 8am until sunset. An exception is made for "national days". On these days, the Saltire shall be lowered and replaced with the Union Flag. These days are the same as the flag days of the United Kingdom with the exception of 3 September (Merchant Navy Day), which is a specific flag day in Scotland and during which the Red Ensign may also be used.
Another difference with the UK days is that on Saint Andrew's Day, the Union Flag will only be flown if the building has more than one flagpole - the Saltire will not be lowered to make way for the Union Flag if there is only one flagpole.[2] This difference arose after Members of the Scottish Parliament complained that Scotland was the only country in the world that could not fly its national flag on its national day.[3]
Edinburgh Castle is managed by Historic Scotland, but it still has a military garrison of the British Army. Like all British Army bases, it flies the Union Flag (in ratio 5:3) and the Army flies it everyday from the Clock Tower. The Saltire is flown everyday at the Half Moon Battery.[4]
The flying of the Union Flag at Edinburgh Castle has sometimes caused controversy. In 2001, a group of 20 Scottish National Party MSPs called for the Union Flag to be replaced by the Saltire.[5]
The Flag can be flown at any time by any individual, company, local authority, hospital or school. There is no need to have planning permission to fly the flag from a vertical flagpole.
In recent years, embassies of the United Kingdom have flown the Saltire to mark St Andrew's Day.
At various times throughout history colours as light as sky blue or as dark as dark navy blue have been used (a selection apparently motivated by which colour of blue dye was available at the time). When incorporated as part of the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, the navy blue colour used was that of the Blue ensign belonging to the historic 'Blue Squadron' of the Royal Navy.
Although this navy blue colour was used specifically for depicting the Union Flag on maritime flags on the basis of durability, it soon became standard on Union Flags, both on land and at sea. This navy blue colour trend was adopted for the Saltire itself by many flag manufacturers, resulting in a variety of shades of blue being depicted on the flag of Scotland ranging from "sky blue" to "royal blue" to "navy blue". Eventually, this situation resulted in calls to standardise the colour of Scotland's national flag.
In 2003, a committee of the Scottish Parliament met to examine a petition that the Scottish Executive (Scottish Government) adopt the Pantone 300 colour as a standard. (Note that this blue is of a lighter shade than the Pantone 280 of the Union Flag). Having taken advice from a number of sources including the office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the committee recommended that the optimum shade of blue for the Saltire should be Pantone 300. Recent versions of the Saltire have therefore largely converged on this official recommendation.
The flag proportions are not fixed, but is generally taken as 4:5, 3:5, or 2:3. The bars in the cross should be 1/5 (i.e., 20%) the width of the flag.
The Scottish Saltire and field is one of the components of the Union Flag, the flag of United Kingdom. A reversed version (blue saltire on a white field) is to be found in the naval ensign of Russia (see Russian Navy) used before and after the Soviet Union (Saint Andrew is also a patron saint of Russia).
In Canada, the Scottish Saltire is featured on the coat of arms of Nova Scotia and on that province's flag. The Nova Scotian Flag has both a Cross of Saint Andrew and a rampant lion; the colours are reversed and the blue is generally a lighter shade than the Scottish Flag. The U.S. state of Alabama's flag is officially a "crimson cross of Saint Andrew," but may actually be based on the Confederate Battle Flag, which itself was based on the saltire. Similarly, the Spanish island of Tenerife and the remote Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia also use the saltire on their flags.
The Scottish Saltire is also used unofficially by students and graduates of Xavier University because of the university's blue and white official colors and the resemblance of the flag to the letter "X".
It is the flag for St. Andrew's Scots School, Argentina (founded in 1838) and its "spinoff" university Universidad de San Andrés.
The Dutch municipality of Sint-Oedenrode, named after the Scottish princess Saint Oda, also uses the Saltire as the basis of its flag.
The Royal Standard of the King of Scots, also known more commonly as the Lion Rampant, is the flag used historically by the King of Scots. It remains the personal banner of the monarch and use of this flag is restricted under the Act of the Parliament of Scotland 1672 cap. 47 and 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 17.[6]
This flag is used as a second unofficial national flag for Scotland (particularly at sporting events), and despite such use being illegal under the Act, the Lyon Court has rarely prosecuted offenders for flying the Standard unofficially.
★ The Bearer of the National Flag of Scotland
★ Royal Banner of Scotland
★ Royal coat of arms of Scotland
★ List of Scottish flags
★ List of British flags
★ Saint Patrick's Flag
★ Saltire
★ Information on the Saltire from the soc.culture.scottish FAQ
1. Your Other Questions about the Scottish Parliament questions (last question)
2. Scotland.gov.uk- "Royal and ceremonial"/
3. BBC News- "Ministers agree flag day review"
4. Scottish Parliament Written Answers- 11/06/02
5. BBC News- "Political row over flag flying"
6. Lyon Court "The Lion Rampant"
★ Petition Number 512
★ Saint Andrew in the National Archives of Scotland
The 'flag of Scotland' features a white saltire, a ''crux decussate'' (X-shaped cross) representing the cross of the Christian martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, on a blue field. It is named the 'Saltire' or the 'Saint Andrew's Cross'. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned ''Azure, a saltire argent''.
The flag of Scotland is one of the oldest flags in the world, traditionally dating back to the 9th century, and is the oldest national flag still in modern use.
History
According to legend, in 832 A.D. King Óengus (II) (or ''King Angus'') led the Picts and Scots in battle against the Angles under King Aethelstan of East Anglia near modern-day Athelstaneford in East Lothian. King Angus and his men were surrounded and he prayed for deliverance. During the night Saint Andrew, who was martyred on a saltire cross, appeared to Angus and assured him of victory. On the following morning a white saltire against the background of a blue sky appeared to both sides. The Picts and Scots were heartened by this, but the Angles lost confidence and were defeated. This saltire design has been the Scottish flag ever since.
Material evidence of the saltire's use dates from somewhat later. In 1385 the Parliament of Scotland decreed that Scottish soldiers should wear the saltire as a distinguishing mark. The earliest surviving Scottish flag consisting solely of the saltire dates from 1503: a white cross on a red background. By 1540 the legend of King Angus had been altered to include the vision of the crux decussata against a blue sky. Thereafter, this saltire design in its present form became the national flag of Scotland.
The Scottish flag can have different shades of blue sometimes.
Flying the flag
Scottish Parliament
The Flag flies alongside the Union Flag and the EU flag at the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh.
There are five flagpoles outside the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh. The Saltire is flown every day, alongside the Union Flag and the EU Flag. The fourth flagpole is used for special occasions such as Commonwealth Day and United Nations Day. The fifth pole is used for the Royal Standard.[1]
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Executive has decreed that the Flag will fly on all its buildings every day from 8am until sunset. An exception is made for "national days". On these days, the Saltire shall be lowered and replaced with the Union Flag. These days are the same as the flag days of the United Kingdom with the exception of 3 September (Merchant Navy Day), which is a specific flag day in Scotland and during which the Red Ensign may also be used.
Another difference with the UK days is that on Saint Andrew's Day, the Union Flag will only be flown if the building has more than one flagpole - the Saltire will not be lowered to make way for the Union Flag if there is only one flagpole.[2] This difference arose after Members of the Scottish Parliament complained that Scotland was the only country in the world that could not fly its national flag on its national day.[3]
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is managed by Historic Scotland, but it still has a military garrison of the British Army. Like all British Army bases, it flies the Union Flag (in ratio 5:3) and the Army flies it everyday from the Clock Tower. The Saltire is flown everyday at the Half Moon Battery.[4]
The flying of the Union Flag at Edinburgh Castle has sometimes caused controversy. In 2001, a group of 20 Scottish National Party MSPs called for the Union Flag to be replaced by the Saltire.[5]
Others
The Flag can be flown at any time by any individual, company, local authority, hospital or school. There is no need to have planning permission to fly the flag from a vertical flagpole.
In recent years, embassies of the United Kingdom have flown the Saltire to mark St Andrew's Day.
Colour and dimensions
At various times throughout history colours as light as sky blue or as dark as dark navy blue have been used (a selection apparently motivated by which colour of blue dye was available at the time). When incorporated as part of the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, the navy blue colour used was that of the Blue ensign belonging to the historic 'Blue Squadron' of the Royal Navy.
Although this navy blue colour was used specifically for depicting the Union Flag on maritime flags on the basis of durability, it soon became standard on Union Flags, both on land and at sea. This navy blue colour trend was adopted for the Saltire itself by many flag manufacturers, resulting in a variety of shades of blue being depicted on the flag of Scotland ranging from "sky blue" to "royal blue" to "navy blue". Eventually, this situation resulted in calls to standardise the colour of Scotland's national flag.
In 2003, a committee of the Scottish Parliament met to examine a petition that the Scottish Executive (Scottish Government) adopt the Pantone 300 colour as a standard. (Note that this blue is of a lighter shade than the Pantone 280 of the Union Flag). Having taken advice from a number of sources including the office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the committee recommended that the optimum shade of blue for the Saltire should be Pantone 300. Recent versions of the Saltire have therefore largely converged on this official recommendation.
The flag proportions are not fixed, but is generally taken as 4:5, 3:5, or 2:3. The bars in the cross should be 1/5 (i.e., 20%) the width of the flag.
Outith Scotland
The Scottish Saltire and field is one of the components of the Union Flag, the flag of United Kingdom. A reversed version (blue saltire on a white field) is to be found in the naval ensign of Russia (see Russian Navy) used before and after the Soviet Union (Saint Andrew is also a patron saint of Russia).
In Canada, the Scottish Saltire is featured on the coat of arms of Nova Scotia and on that province's flag. The Nova Scotian Flag has both a Cross of Saint Andrew and a rampant lion; the colours are reversed and the blue is generally a lighter shade than the Scottish Flag. The U.S. state of Alabama's flag is officially a "crimson cross of Saint Andrew," but may actually be based on the Confederate Battle Flag, which itself was based on the saltire. Similarly, the Spanish island of Tenerife and the remote Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia also use the saltire on their flags.
The Scottish Saltire is also used unofficially by students and graduates of Xavier University because of the university's blue and white official colors and the resemblance of the flag to the letter "X".
It is the flag for St. Andrew's Scots School, Argentina (founded in 1838) and its "spinoff" university Universidad de San Andrés.
The Dutch municipality of Sint-Oedenrode, named after the Scottish princess Saint Oda, also uses the Saltire as the basis of its flag.
The Lion Rampant - Scotland's alternative national flag
The Lion Rampant, often used as an alternative national flag.
The Royal Standard of the King of Scots, also known more commonly as the Lion Rampant, is the flag used historically by the King of Scots. It remains the personal banner of the monarch and use of this flag is restricted under the Act of the Parliament of Scotland 1672 cap. 47 and 30 & 31 Vict. cap. 17.[6]
This flag is used as a second unofficial national flag for Scotland (particularly at sporting events), and despite such use being illegal under the Act, the Lyon Court has rarely prosecuted offenders for flying the Standard unofficially.
See also
★ The Bearer of the National Flag of Scotland
★ Royal Banner of Scotland
★ Royal coat of arms of Scotland
★ List of Scottish flags
★ List of British flags
★ Saint Patrick's Flag
★ Saltire
External links
★ Information on the Saltire from the soc.culture.scottish FAQ
References
1. Your Other Questions about the Scottish Parliament questions (last question)
2. Scotland.gov.uk- "Royal and ceremonial"/
3. BBC News- "Ministers agree flag day review"
4. Scottish Parliament Written Answers- 11/06/02
5. BBC News- "Political row over flag flying"
6. Lyon Court "The Lion Rampant"
★ Petition Number 512
★ Saint Andrew in the National Archives of Scotland
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