Chasing Unicorns

**Tomo** · 17th January 21, 01:49 PM

Mythical beasts - certainly.

Scottish - most definitely.

So why is there a dearth of representations of Scotland's national emblem on Highlandwear and associated paraphernalia?

Everything else seams pretty well covered:

Rampant lions - check
Stags - check
Thistles - check
St Andrew - check
Saltires - check
Celtic stuff - check
Pictish stuff - check
Clan ephemera - check
Heilan Coos - check
Unicorns - err... well...

**FossilHunter** · 18th January 21, 10:14 AM

It does seem a shame. In modern times I’m sure it has to do with unicorns being feminized in pop culture.

A lot of people think of this:

Rather than this (the unicorn from CS Lewis’ The Last Battle):

**FossilHunter** · 18th January 21, 10:21 AM

There’s also the fact that the crest of clan Oliphant is a unicorn.

It’s possible the association with a specific clan has made it less popular as a general highland symbol. On the other hand stags feature in the crests of some clans but are a very popular symbol of the highlands as well. Deer stalking and the fact that deer are real probably has something to do with that.

**MacKenzie** · 18th January 21, 11:58 AM

I'll go with modern cultural association. "Unicorns and rainbows" and all that falderal.

It is a part of the Royal coats of arms, after all.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Li...th_Realms).svg

**Micrographia** · 18th January 21, 01:59 PM

Well, it's the national animal rather than emblem - the lion rampant on the royal banner is our emblem and would always always be first choice for an animal design that refers to Scotland. It's also only really present on the Royal coats of arms (both the English and the Scottish versions) so doesn't have that feeling of specificity that the other symbols of Scotland have. I wouldn't be surprised if a lion was the first choice for national animal, but some other country got there first...

You can still find them though. I remember being in the crowd when this handsome example was unveiled.

Untitled.jpg

Regards, EEM