Unicorns are currently very on trend. However, they’ve actually been popular in Scotland for a long time. In a sense, we Scots knew about Unicorns before they were cool. That’s right, we’re the ultimate unicorn hipsters.
We’ve popped some weird and wonderful facts about Unicorns below – so you can amaze and delight your friends and family whilst Unicorn Spotting around Scotland. You’re welcome!
Here are some quick Top Ten Facts you never realised you needed to know about Unicorns….
- The Unicorn is the National Animal of Scotland. Yep. That’s right. That beautiful, mythical and magical beast, that absorbs energy from the sun is eh…Scottish. Quite.
- The Unicorn has been the National Animal of Scotland since the 12th Century – first officially appearing in the Coat of Arms in the reign of William I.
- April 9th is the designated ‘National Unicorn Day’. Plan your parties.
- The horns of unicorns were often bought and sold as medical remedies or as having magical properties in medieval times. They were arguably even more commercial then than they are now.
- The Throne of the Kingdom of Denmark was reputedly made out of Unicorn Horns and looks amazingly Game of Thones-esque. However, it was later discovered to be made from the tusks from male Narwhal whales. Those fashion-forward, but significantly less fabulous, ‘Unicorns of the Sea’ type whales also have a single tusk which can grow up to between 1.5m and 3m long.
- Unicorns are actually mentioned in the bible (Psalm 22 v 21) but this is now thought to be a misinterpretation of the Hebrew word ‘re’em’. They appear in the King James version (written in the 17th Century) but have since been renamed in later mundane translations as ‘wild oxen’. Yawn.
- Unicorns are thought to be the natural enemy of the Lion and the Elephant (neither animal particularly local to Scotland, although a couple now live in Blair Drummond Safari Park). In 1603 James VI of Scotland and I of England put the Unicorn and the Lion into the combined Royal Arms of the United Crowns of the UK….and both animals have remained at loggerheads ever since.
- Unicorns can be found throughout Scotland – sitting on top of Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile, at the entrance to the Meadows, on the HMS Unicorn in Dundee, on old pound coins, in stained glass windows and in every fashion shop going. You can even take a Unicorn Spotting Tour in Edinburgh – Mercat Tours, Edinburgh
- The Unicorn was thought to be the noblest of all animals and could live for a thousand years. They were also known to be incredibly strong and wild which is why you often see Scottish depictions of them draped in chains – symbolic of the Scottish Kings strength and ability to control them. You don’t mess with someone who is able to control a Unicorn etc, etc.
- Unicorns were believed to be real until as recently as 1825 when their existence was discredited by French Naturalist, Paleontologist and general killjoy, Georges Cuvier. Pssst…..you can choose to ignore that last fact if you like. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone!
