Did You Know Scotland’s National Animal Is a Unicorn?

Most countries pick a real creature to stand for the nation…and Scotland chose a unicorn.

The mythical horse with a single horn is Scotland’s official national animal, and it has held that status for centuries!

Why the Unicorn?

The choice was not whimsical, even though a lot of us associate unicorns with sparkles and magic. In Celtic tradition, the unicorn represented independence, purity, and raw power. It’s said the animal could not be captured or controlled by any force.

For a nation that spent much of its history defending its independence, an untamable creature made a fitting symbol: the unicorn embodied the qualities the Scots wanted associated with their identity.

From Two Unicorns to One

The unicorn appeared on Scotland’s royal coat of arms starting in the mid 1500s. For a time, two of them stood on the design, one on each side of the shield.

That changed after the Union of the Crowns in 1603, when the Scottish and English thrones came under a single monarch. The two coats of arms merged, and one of Scotland’s unicorns gave up its place to the English lion. The UK royal coat of arms shows the result today, with the lion representing England on one side and the unicorn representing Scotland on the other.

Where to Spot the Unicorn Around Scotland

You can find unicorns across Scotland, and many of those depictions have survived for you to see in person!

Stirling Castle holds one of the best-known examples. Inside, you will find a set of seven woven tapestries showing scenes of a unicorn hunt. The recreated versions now hang in the castle, and you can take a close look if you have the chance to travel here.

At Edinburgh Castle, you can spot unicorns worked into carvings and decorative details. And the University of St Andrews keeps its own record of the unicorn. Its special collections include historical manuscripts and seals featuring the unicorn, giving you a paper trail of the symbol that stretches back through the centuries.

About the Author

As the editor in chief of Frayed Passport, my goal is to help you build a lifestyle that lets you travel the world whenever you want and however long you want, and not worry about where your next paycheck will come from. I've been to 20+ countries and five continents, lived for years as a full-time digital nomad, and have worked completely remotely since 2015. If you would like to share your story with our community, or partner with Frayed Passport, get in touch with me using the form on our About page.

Featured image by Alex de Koning on Unsplash