The St Andrews Cross is said to be the oldest flag throughout Europe and the British Commonwealth. Accorsing to legend, the diagonal white cross is that shape because St Andrew refused to be crucified on the same shape of cross as Christ.

It is believed that the origin of the saltire as the flag of scotland goes back to around 832AD. At this time Scotland was not yet a single country, but divided into 4 nations, and it is thought that the flag was the result of a battle near Athelstaneford in East Lothian, when Angus Mac Fergus, King of the Picts of Alba, along with Eochaidh, King of the Scots of Dalriada, defeated King Athelstan, King of the Angles of Northumbria.

It is said that a short time before the battle, King Angus prayed to God that, in spite of his smaller army, he would lead his men to victory. The morning of the battle the King and his followers saw a formation of clouds that looked like a white diagonal cross against the blue sky - the cross of St Andrew. They took this sign as an omen, and promised that if voctory was granted, then the name of St Andrew would forever live on as the patron saint of Scotland.

The Picts and Scots won the battle that day, and thereafter the Cross of St Andrew became the flag of Scotland.

The saltire was later incorporated into the Union flag, although the colour of blue there is different. The true colour of blue should be azure - the colour of the sky the days the clouds formed there over 1100 years ago.

Today the Scottish flag is now on show more than ever before. It can be seen in hundreds of places throughout the country, from ancient buildings and castles, to modern schools and offices, and can be seen flying proudly above the new Scottish Parliament. But nowhere does it fly more proudly than in the village of Athelstaneford where it is still hoisted daily, and flies day and night floodlit, to remind us of King Angus and his dream and victory all those centuries ago.

The Lion Rampant is one of Scotland's most recognisable symbols.William I is credited with giving Scotland the Lion Rampant.

The story goes that William was gifted two lions by a knight returning from the crusades. William liked the roaring beasts so much that he had one depicted, standing upright, claws racking, on his armourial bearings. Every King and Queen of Scotland has used it since.

In the 1170's heraldic symbols and beasts became the new badges of identity for fashion concious kings and noble families of northern Europe, so it is entirely possible that William took up the device as a status symbol. It also served the practical purpose of differentiating followers on the battlefield, as a standard around which they could protect their lord.

Its first recorded use was by William's son, Alexander II, who used a Lion Rampant on his great seal. In the reign of Alexander III , the lion developed its familiar surrounding frame known technically as a double tressure flory and counter flory.

Robert the Bruce was handed the Royal standard in 1306 and has since been immortalised as being associated with the Lion Rampamt. Bruce's son David added the sword to the Royal Crest, the sceptre was introduced in 1542, and the standing lion adorned all the privy seals of the Kings until 1603.

In the past the flag was the flag of Scotland's monarch. Only he or she was allowed to use it, and it was hoisted only when the King or Queen was there in person. However as time went by it was used less and less, until the 19th Century, when the flag was revived as the "Scotch Standard" that anyone could use.Today the flag is almost as widely used as the saltire, and some people even think it is the flag of Scotland, not Scotland's monarchs.