National anthem of Scotland facts for kids
| National anthem of |  Scotland |
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Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. This means the British national anthem, "God Save the King", is used for big events. These include royal visits or when Scottish athletes compete in the Olympic Games.
However, for many other occasions, Scotland uses different songs. The most popular ones are "Flower of Scotland" and "Scotland the Brave". Many people think Scotland should have its own official national anthem.
In 2004, legal experts for the Scottish Parliament said it could choose a national anthem. This meant it was not a decision only for the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This news made people more interested in the idea.
A group called the Scottish Green Party supported a request to the Scottish Parliament. But the Scottish Government decided not to act on it. They felt it was not a top political issue at the time. Still, people have tried to discuss a Scottish national anthem again since then.
Contents
How Songs Are Used Now
At most international sports events, Scotland uses Flower of Scotland as its anthem. This happens when the Scottish football team plays. It is also used for the Scottish rugby team.
Since 2010, Flower of Scotland has also been the victory song for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. Before that, Scotland the Brave was used.
Songs That Could Be Scotland's Anthem
In June 2006, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra asked people online to vote for their favorite song. They wanted to see which song people thought should be Scotland's national anthem. More than 10,000 people voted.
Flower of Scotland was the most popular, getting 41% of the votes. Scotland the Brave came in second with 29%.
| Song | Votes (%) |
|---|---|
| Flower of Scotland | 41% |
| Scotland the Brave | 29% |
| Highland Cathedral | 16% |
| A Man's A Man for A' That | 7% |
| Scots Wha Hae | 6% |
Other songs have also been suggested as possible anthems. One is Auld Lang Syne by the famous poet Robert Burns. Another is Freedom Come-All-Ye by Hamish Henderson. Both of these songs are written in Lowland Scots.
The Thistle o' Scotland is another idea. It was first written in Scottish Gaelic in 1902. Later, it was translated into Lowland Scots.
What's Next for Scotland's Anthem?
Even though newspapers like The Scotsman have written about it, the Scottish Parliament has not had a full debate. A politician named Michael Matheson tried to get the topic discussed. However, the committee in charge did not agree to it.
An Edinburgh musician named Bob Murray has also tried to keep the discussion going. He performs a one-man show about the topic. He presents it at different places to encourage more people to think about it.
See also
In Spanish: Himno nacional de Escocia para niños
