๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟScotlandยทNational Animal (heraldic)
๐ฆUnicorn
A real country's national animal โ that isn't real.
Scotland is one of the only countries whose official national animal is a mythical creature. The unicorn has appeared in Scottish royal heraldry since the 12th century and was formally incorporated into the royal arms in the late 1300s.
Why this animal?
Medieval Scots saw the unicorn as the symbol of purity, innocence, masculinity, and power โ a fitting national emblem during centuries of conflict with England, whose symbol was the lion. The two animals are still depicted together on the UK royal coat of arms.
Things to know
- ยทOn the UK royal arms, the unicorn is shown chained โ medieval lore held that only a virgin could tame a wild unicorn.
- ยทThe unicorn-versus-lion rivalry in heraldry inspired the nursery rhyme 'The Lion and the Unicorn,' written after the 1707 Acts of Union.
- ยทApril 9th is National Unicorn Day in Scotland.
- ยทNarwhals โ small Arctic whales with a 10-foot spiral tusk โ are often credited as the real-world inspiration for the unicorn myth.
- ยทScotland's national bird is the golden eagle, which definitely does exist.