The Secret History Behind Scotland's Flag

Scotland's flag is one of the oldest national flags still in use anywhere in the world.

The legend goes back to a battle fought long before Scotland existed as we know it: as Pictish and Scottish forces faced a larger invading army, white clouds are said to have formed a shape in the sky — a diagonal cross, an X — against the blue. The commanders took it as a sign from Saint Andrew, and after their unlikely victory, adopted the saltire as their symbol from then on.

Scotland traces its founding as a unified kingdom to November 30, 843 — Saint Andrew's Day, the same day the cross is named for — the date printed on every Scotland design in our catalog. The same white saltire on blue has flown ever since, making it one of the oldest continuously used flag designs on Earth.

A flag the legend says was written in the clouds — and has flown on the ground for well over a thousand years since.

Shop the Scotland collection → — or explore the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Story Cards page.