The Legend of the Saltire

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The Saltire, Scotland's National Flag is so-called because its cross resembles the simplest form of horse jump of crossed poles, and comes from the French, "sauteur". However its origins are much older. Athelstaneford has always been proud to be associated with the birth of Scotland's flag - the Saltire or Flag of St. Andrew. The diagonal white cross on a blue background is easily recognised and flies as a visible reminder of Scotland's heritage, particularly, in connection with her patron saint. The St. Andrew's Cross is said to be the oldest flag within the British Commonwealth and throughout Europe. But why should it be flown in an East Lothian village? For there in an easterly corner of the church graveyard the Saltire flies day and night. There, regularly flood-lit, the flag of St. Andrew brings an added warmth and light, especially during the long winter nights.

The story behind the saltire is believed to have originated in a battle fought near Athelstaneford in the 9th Century. The very name of Athelstaneford suggests the Ford of Athelstan. There was, indeed, a West Saxon King of that name; but our Athelstan was a warrior from Northumbria. Historians suggest differing versions of the tale, but it is generally agreed that an army of Pictish soldiers under their leader Angus mac Fergus High King of Alba - and assisted by a detachment of Scots led by Eochaidh, King of Dalriada (Grand-father of Kenneth mac Alpin) - found themselves surrounded by a much larger force of Angles led by their leader Athelstan. The year was 832 AD. A short time before the battle, King Angus prayed to God that, in spite of his smaller army, he might lead his soldiers to victory. That day his prayers for deliverance were answered. There in the sky could be seen a cloud formation of a white diagonal cross against a blue sky - the very cross-shape on which Andrew, the first disciple of Christ, was put to death.

That day the Picts and Scots won the battle and the Cross of St. Andrew became the flag of Scotland.

471 years later the Saltire would deliver another Scots victory at the Battle of Roslin , 24th February 1303, when 8,000 Scots defeated a superior English army in three separate engagements. The Scots were encouraged by the sight of a Saltire erected by Monks at the highest point is the Pentlands, celebrated in the "Ballad of the Battle of Roslin".

The Story behind the Legend

Andrew, the first disciple of Christ, and like his brother Peter was a fisherman from Galilee, who went on to spread the Gospel in Greece and Asia Minor. Andrew the Apostle was crucified by the Romans in Patras in Southern Greece on an X-shaped cross with his body upside down, so he could neither see the earth or his executioners, only the sky of blue which he had glorified as the kingdom of heaven.

The preaching of Andrew the Apostle had become known in all parts of the world, and part of his remains were taken to Scotland, and eventually he was chosen as the Protector of the Scottish people.

Some 300 years after his death, the Emperor Constantine was going to move the saints bones, and legend has it that a monk was warned of this in a dream by an angel, who told him to remove the saints bones to the "ends of the Earth" to keep them safe.

Scotland was as near to the ends of the ancient Greek world as you could get, and that is how his remains came to be taken to Scotland. The monk brought the holy relics ashore at what is now St. Andrews A chapel was built to house them, and by 1160 a cathedral. St. Andrews was the religious capital of Scotland, and the goal of many pilgrims.

The saints remains have now disappeared, probably destroyed during the Scottish Reformation, when the strictures of Calvinism tended to wish to remove traces of Catholic "idolatry". The site of the relics is now marked by a plaque in the ruins of the Cathedral in St. Andrews.

Interestingly, some of Saint Andrew's bones were taken to Amalfi in Italy. From there the church sent some fragments in 1879 to Scotland. And in 1969, Pope Paul VI gave some further relics to to the Catholic church in Scotland during a visit to Scotland

Saint Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30th November each year.

*As a footnote, it is interesting to know that the patronage of St. Andrew is shared by two other countries - Greece and the former USSR now known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The Thistle
The National Emblem of Scotland

For centuries Norse invaders had raided the coasts of Scotland. Despite heroic defense by the Scottish people these raids became ever fiercer and the Vikings began to settle in conquered lands. During the reign of King Alexander III (1241-1285) of Scotland, King Haakon of Norway attempted to conquer Scotland. According to the legend, the Norsemen tried a sneak attack at night on the Scottish camp at Largs. The Norsemen were barefoot and they stepped on thistles. As they cried out in agony, the Scots were alerted and the attack was rebuffed. The Norwegian king withdrew his army and the thistle thus became the Scottish national symbol, bearing the motto: "Nemo me impune lacessit" meaning "No-one hurts me with impunity"

Other Scottish National symbols are the Saltire (St. Andrew's Cross) which is the National Flag and the Lion Rampant, the flag of Scottish royalty.

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