We use cookies on our website. You are free to manage this via your browser settings at any time. To learn more about how we use our cookies click Read MoreAcceptRead more
Search
  • New
  • Art
    • All Art
    • Fine Art Prints
    • Stretched Canvas Prints
    • Scratch-It Maps
  • Clothing
    • T-Shirts
    • Baby & Kids Clothes
  • Bags & Cases
    • Suitcases
    • Totes
  • GK Collections
    • Butterflies & Bees
    • IRN-BRU
    • GK Odes
    • Love Scotland
    • Mapped Out
    • Pride & Joy
    • Scottish Wildlife
    • Scottish Breakfast
    • Scottish Thistles
    • Scotties, Westies & Doggy Pals
    • The Vault
    • Tunnock’s
  • Bargain Bundles
  • Homeware
    • Aprons
    • Candles
    • Cards
    • Clocks
    • Cork Pinboards
    • Cushions
    • Kitchen Storage Tins
    • Mugs & Coasters
    • Placemats
    • Plates
    • Serving Trays
    • Teapots
    • Tea Towels
    • Totes
  • Sale
  • Tunnock’s
  • Sign In

Customer reviews from trustpilot

Sign In or Create an account

Lost password ?

New client Register ?

Search
0 (£0.00)
Menu
  • New
  • Art
    • All Art
    • Fine Art Prints
    • Stretched Canvas Prints
    • Scratch-It Maps
  • Clothing
    • T-Shirts
    • Baby & Kids Clothes
  • Bags & Cases
    • Suitcases
    • Totes
  • GK Collections
    • Butterflies & Bees
    • IRN-BRU
    • GK Odes
    • Love Scotland
    • Mapped Out
    • Pride & Joy
    • Scottish Wildlife
    • Scottish Breakfast
    • Scottish Thistles
    • Scotties, Westies & Doggy Pals
    • The Vault
    • Tunnock’s
  • Bargain Bundles
  • Homeware
    • Aprons
    • Candles
    • Cards
    • Clocks
    • Cork Pinboards
    • Cushions
    • Kitchen Storage Tins
    • Mugs & Coasters
    • Placemats
    • Plates
    • Serving Trays
    • Teapots
    • Tea Towels
    • Totes
  • Sale
  • Tunnock’s

Flower of Scotland Scottish Thistle infographic by Scottish Artists Gillian Kyle
Scottish infographics

9 Fascinating Facts about the Flower of Scotland

2019-03-15 / 3818 / 0
How did the humble but not so dainty thistle come to be the emblem of Scotland?
I’ve been researching the milestones along this fascinating journey and now I’m delighted  to share  my illustrated infographic and timeline of how the thistle became the Flower of Scotland. It goes a little something like this…

 

1263, the Battle of Largs: sleeping Scottish clansmen were alerted of invading bare-footed Norse Vikings when one of the intruders stepped on a thistle and squealed loudly!  Scotland 1 – Vikings 0

1470: the first use of the thistle as a royal symbol of Scotland was on silver coins issued by James III

1540: the Order of the Thistle, the highest honour in Scottish chivalry, was founded by King James V; the Order’s motto being “no one provokes me with impunity”

1642: the Scots Guards – personal bodyguards of King Charles I of England and Scotland – adopted the thistle as their regimental emblem

1687: King James VII of Scotland (James II of England and Ireland) revived the earlier Order of the Thistle

1871: the first Scotland vs England rugby international, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh; Scotland played in a shirt featuring the embroidered thistle on the left breast and notched up the first win in one of the world’s oldest international contests!

1967: Flower of Scotland is written: although Scotland has no official national anthem a number of songs have been adopted over the centuries;

• The Scots Wha Hae, Robert Burns 1793: the first widely used unofficial Scottish national anthem was popular over 2 centuries; see Robert Burns, An Illustrated Story

• Scotland the Brave: first known version dating from 1911; used by the Scottish national football team from the 1980’s

• Flower of Scotland written by Roy Williamson of The Corries 1967; adopted first by the Scottish national rugby team in 1990 and soon after by the Scottish national football team

• Robert the Bruce: The Scots Wha Hae and Flower of Scotland share the common theme of Robert the Bruce’s victory over Edward II at Bannockburn in 1314

1984: the newly minted £1 coin took floral emblems as its theme to represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent countries; the thistle was used on this coin to represent Scotland

1990: with both Scotland and England vying to win the Grand Slam in the concluding match of the Five Nations Championship, the Scottish Rugby Union played Flower of Scotland for the first time as their pre-match anthem; Scotland went on to beat England 13–7

And of course,  in honour of the stout role played by the inauspicious thistle over 800 years of Scottish history,  I’ve designed a Gillian Kyle range.  My Flower of Scotland designs pay homage to the Scottish Thistle in all its beautiful, spiky detail.

In the range there are t-shirts for men and women, mugs and coasters, tote bags, cushions, suitcases, prints and canvases all featuring my hand-drawn, pen and ink thistle artwork printed in simple blacks,  greys and blues. A great way to subtly show your Scottish colours!

I loved creating this range and illustrating this Flower of Scotland facts infographic.

If you like this infographic format, you may also be interested to see some of my other Scottish infographics:

• Robert Burns, an Illustrated Story
• Charles Rennie Mackintosh at 150
• 15 Fun Facts on the 3 Forth Bridges
• Recipes of Scotland Collection
• What is in a haggis – the 12 essential ingredients

Till next time,

PS I’d LOVE to share my newest art, contemporary Scottish designs and Scottish Stories with you as they are released.  Join our mailing list here for regular doses of all things Scottish!

 

Scottish Thistle Coasters by Scottish artist Gillian Kyle
Scottish Thistle Mug in blue by Scottish artist Gillian Kyle
Flower of Scotland, Scottish Thistle tea towels by Scottish artist Gillian Kyle
Flower of Scotland, Scottish Thistle cushion design by Scottish artist Gillian Kyle
Scottish Thistle Mens T-shirt
Scottish Thistle Mug in lilac by Scottish artist Gillian Kyle
Scottish Thistle Tea Towel by Scottish artist Gillian Kyle
Women's Scottish Thistle t-shirt in charcoal by Gillian Kyle
Tags: Flower of Scotland, Gillian Kyle, Scottish facts, Scottish gifts, Scottish infographic, Scottish rugby, Scottish rugby infographic, Scottish t shirts, Scottish Thistle gifts, scottish thistle t shirt
Share Post

Related posts

haggis ingredients by Gillian Kyle
Robert Burns
Read more

What is in a haggis – the 12 essential ingredients

2020-01-16 / 655 / 0
... Continue reading
Contemporary Scottish thistle art
Scottish Thistle
Read more

Scottish Thistles

2019-08-29 / 1433 / 0
... Continue reading
Emblems of Scotland by Scottish Artist Gillian Kyle
Scottish infographics
Read more

Robert the Bruce, Tartan Day and April 6th

2019-04-04 / 1022 / 0
... Continue reading
iconic brands of Scotland
IRN-BRU
Read more

11 Inspiring and Iconic Scottish Brands

2019-03-12 / 1889 / 0
... Continue reading
Famous Scots - Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Glasgow School of Art infographic illustrated story with interesting facts by Scottish artist Gillian Kyle
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Read more

Charles Rennie Mackintosh at 150

2018-06-01 / 3841 / 2
... Continue reading

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

Useful Links

  • My Account
  • Contact
  • Sign up (for more of all things Scottish)
  • Meet Gillian Kyle
  • Scottish Stories Blog
  • Delivery & Returns
  • FAQ
  • Cookies
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trade Customer Login
  • Become a Trade Customer
  • Wholesale Ordering Form

Hello from Gillian Kyle

Thanks for visiting! I design colourful and fun Scottish gifts for you and your home. I love what I do and I hope you enjoy looking around just as much.


Hello from Gillian Kyle

Customer Reviews

Trustpilot

© Gillian Kyle 2019

We'd LOVE to share our newest Scottish art, designs and Scottish Stories Blogs with you as they are released. Sign up below for regular doses of all things Scottish...
We take your data seriously at Gillian Kyle - here's our Privacy Policy
We'd LOVE to share our newest Scottish art, designs and Scottish Stories Blogs with you as they are released. Sign up below for regular doses of all things Scottish...
We take your data seriously at Gillian Kyle - here's our Privacy Policy
We'd LOVE to share our newest Scottish art, designs and Scottish Stories Blogs with you as they are released. Sign up below for regular doses of all things Scottish...
We take your data seriously at Gillian Kyle - here's our Privacy Policy

Terms & Conditions

  • buy 1 full-price Scottish adult or child's T-shirt and get 50% off a second (full-price adult or child's t-shirt)
  • just add both tees to your basket and the discount will be applied at checkout - it's easy!
  • if  choosing t-shirts at different prices (for example 1 adult's and 1 child's), the more expensive t-shirt will be charged at full price and the discount applied to the less expensive t-shirt
  • this offer does not apply to already-discounted t-shirts
  • sorry, no other discount codes or discount coupons can be used offer ends at midnight on Sunday June 30th - don't miss out!