Scottish Flag of Preference?

[smaughazard]

You're exactly right, Hiker. At least 25% of the vehicles I see at the various games are sporting that tag on the front.

[macwilkin]

In my travels (way too many interstate miles between here and New Orleans) I see lots of cars with the flag of Nova Scotia on them...especially as front license plates. I began wondering about this some time ago and started asking folks (whenever I had the chance) if they were from Nova Scotia. 100% have replied "What do you mean..that's the flag of Scotland."

I've also seen for sale at various games, a variant of the saltire with the Lion Rampant in the center, mostly as a license plate -- sometimes these are labeled as "Nova Scotia", which is incorrect -- the NS flag is a blue saltire on a white field:



The NS flag is one of my favourites.

Cheers,

Todd

[M. A. C. Newsome]

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

[Big Paul]

I love the Saltire.

[JBfromBS]

A vote for the Lion Rampant here, mostly because the colors are the same as my family colors. (The family shield is in my avatar)

Joe

[Woodsheal]

Matt is correct. Technically,the "Lion Rampant" is only supposed to be used by the royal family. Such "rules" are universally ignored, however...!

[macwilkin]

Matt is correct. Technically,the "Lion Rampant" is only supposed to be used by the royal family. Such "rules" are universally ignored, however...!

This is a battle that I've been fighting for years now. Matt is correct; the Lion Rampant is the flag of the Sovereign, not a national flag. When the flag is flying over a building, that means that the Sovereign is in residence. It is also used by those who represent the Sovereign, such as the Lord Lyon, The Lord High Commissioner of the Church of Scotland, etc.

One web site has this to say:

King George V signed a Royal Warrant in 1934 allowing the use of the Rampant Lion flag as "a mark of loyalty" because of the forthcoming Jubilee celebrations. The Lord Lyon officially now takes the view that this permission "related to decorative ebullition", that is, it is permissable to wave the flag at football matches. It is however not allowable to fly the flag without permission, on a flag-pole or from a building.

Our local St. Andrew's Society actually has in our by-laws that the society will not fly the Lion Rampant flag at any event, save our annual commemorations of the Battle of Bannockburn, then only as a historical display. Since we are a St. Andrew's Society, we fly the Saltire.

Now, I don't believe that one should go around and tell folks not to fly the Lion Rampant -- but if someone asks me why I do not fly one from my clan tent or from our society's tent, I am honest with them.

Some tend to get very defensive when this is brought up; I personally don't care what you fly from a staff in your front yard, but like the symbolism of tartan, one should be aware of the history, customs and traditions behind this symbol before flying it.

Regards,

Todd

[JBfromBS]

Technically,the "Lion Rampant" is only supposed to be used by the royal family. Such "rules" are universally ignored, however...!

I guess that is another reason I like it, my family was once the "royal family" of Scotland. (Not that I'm claiming any royal blood, mind you, just that the Bruces were Kings of Scotland)
So that flag is a bit of my heritage, but I don't "fly" it (or the Saltire for that matter). But the question was which one we liked better, and I like the Lion Rampant!

Joe

[macwilkin]

I guess that is another reason I like it, my family was once the "royal family" of Scotland. (Not that I'm claiming any royal blood, mind you, just that the Bruces were Kings of Scotland)
So that flag is a bit of my heritage, but I don't "fly" it (or the Saltire for that matter). But the question was which one we liked better, and I like the Lion Rampant!

Joe

A Bruce! Och, Lad -- I'm a Comyn! The Bruce stole the throne from us! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[JBfromBS]

A Bruce! Och, Lad -- I'm a Comyn! The Bruce stole the throne from us! :mrgreen:

Not to hijack this thread or anything, but...

Would you like to meet in a chapel somewhere and discuss this?

Now, back to which flag we like!

Joe