'As ithers see us'

"Jings! Crivvens! Help ma Boab!"

The Dundee comic strip hero's promotion from bucket to throne wasn't the only surprise in the recent survey of 1000 people commissioned by Hall's. The most famous living Scotsman, Sir Sean Connery, was beaten into third place by William Wallace. And perhaps even more surprisingly, Mel Gibson made it onto the list, albeit outside the top ten. The Aussie star was granted the status 'honorary' Scotsman for his stirring performance in Braveheart. Resistance, it seems, is a recurring theme. So it should come as no surprise those other time-honoured emblems of Scotland, the thistle and the Saltire, both have their origins on the battlefield.

The plant that changed history

Legend has it that the thistle's significance dates back to the 11th century when a group of marauding Danes attacked a Scottish castle by night. Having taken off their shoes, so as to maintain the element of surprise, the Danes leapt into the castle moat – only instead of being filled with water, it contained thistles. Their shouts of pain awoke the Scots and the Danes fled. Others say that it wasn't the Danes, but Norsemen, under the leadership of King Haakon of Norway, who succumbed to the prickly thistle at the coast near Largs. Whatever the precise turn of events, one thing is certain – the thistle has been an important Scottish symbol for well over 500 years. It appeared on silver coins as early as 1470 and from the beginning of the 16th century was incorporated into the Royal Arms of Scotland.

A sign from above

The legendary Saltire, which you see adorning public buildings, incorporated into the heraldry of major companies and painted onto the faces of the Tartan Army, dates from even earlier – to 832 AD if historians are to be believed. For it was then that an army of Picts and Scots under King Angus (or Hungus) invaded Lothian to drive out the Northumbrians. Things didn't go quite according to plan and the army found itself surrounded by an overwhelming force of the Angles under their leader Athelstan.

From here accounts differ, but a popular version tells how the King prayed for deliverance. That night, St Andrew (the Patron Saint of Scotland) appeared to King Angus and promised him victory – a victory that was assured when the following day, a white saltire or x-shaped cross (similar to the one on which Saint Andrew had been crucified), appeared in the sky. Other accounts talk of King Angus' army carrying banners made from x-shaped crosses from which a heavenly light shone. Either way, the Scots won the day and the Saltire became the flag of Scotland. It's a shame that the record-breaking Saltire (measuring 65ft by 82ft), which accompanied Scotland's World Cup squad out to Australia, didn't secure a similar victory.

You might have thought that with a story this old, there would be nothing new to report. Well, in the words of Flower of Scotland, "think again!" Following literally centuries of uncertainty surrounding the correct shade of the blue, the Scottish Parliament's education, culture and sport committee has recently decided on the optimum shade for the Scottish flag. It is to be Pantone 300, which in layman's terms is "azure" or, appropriately enough, "sky" blue.

A Scots miscellany

So what else does the word "Scottish" conjure up? There's the image of the bagpipes, of course, which the Highlanders have developed into a national instrument. Classified as instruments of war during the 1700s owing to their shrill, penetrating notes that could carry up to 10 miles, bagpipes were once outlawed, along with kilts . . . and that other symbol of Scottish dissent, golf! Banned in 1457, 1471 and again in 1491 because it was distracting citizens from their archery practice, penalties were decreed against players of "golfe, or uther sik unprofitabill sportis." Tiger Woods might have something to say on that last point.

There's Hogmanay too, which the Scots celebrate like no other nation; Burns Suppers with their customary Address to a Haggis and Auld Lang Syne; phenomenally popular Edinburgh Castle, Britain's most visited ancient monument after the Tower of London; the omnipresent "uisge beatha" or Water of Life and the altogether more elusive Nessie. All essentially Scottish, but none of them representative of the whole of Scotland.

For the complete picture, you have to include other, more modern images, like Dolly the Sheep, the devolved Parliament and the winners of this year's Icons of Scotland awards, organised by Scotland Magazine. 2004's Hall of Fame includes the Edinburgh International Festival (in the category Heart of Scotland); Ewan McGregor (for Spirit of Scotland); the Balmoral (for Scottish food and drink) and the Falkirk Wheel (for Scottish innovation).

Looking to the past and the future

Balancing the old with the new, the traditional with the contemporary, is a constant challenge for those charged with promoting Scotland's assets. But a challenge with significant rewards. Get it right and there's no end to the investment, business and tourism that can be secured.

Following hot on the heels of recent rebranding campaigns by 'Glasgow: Scotland with Style' and 'Inverness, City of the Highlands', the latest region to commission a makeover is the Scottish Borders. Some say that the current logo, which features the warlike image of a reiver, complete with bonnet and steed, sits incongruously with this tranquil corner of Scotland. But we all know how attractive and memorable a lawless past can be!