The lowly thistle

by chuckofish

Someone brought this vase of thistles to work the other day. He picked them on the side of the highway! Aren’t they awesome?

Often considered a weed around here, the thistle has been, of course, the national emblem of Scotland since the reign of Alexander III (1249–1286). According to legend, an invading Norse army was attempting to sneak up at night upon a Scottish army’s encampment. During this operation one barefoot Norseman had the misfortune to step upon a thistle, causing him to cry out in pain, thus alerting the Scots to the presence of the Norse invaders.

It is the symbol of the Order of the Thistle, a high chivalric order of Scotland

Crests of the Knights of the Thistle in their chapel in St. Giles Cathedral (or the High Kirk) in Edinburgh

According to Wikipedia the thistle is found as well in many Scottish symbols and as the name of several Scottish football clubs. The thistle, crowned with the Scottish crown, is the symbol of seven of the eight Scottish Police Forces (the exception being the Northern Constabulary). The thistle is also the emblem of Encyclopædia Britannica, which originated in Edinburgh, Scotland. Carnegie Mellon University features the thistle in its crest in honor of the Scottish heritage of its founder, Andrew Carnegie.

I started collecting Govancroft “Made in Scotland” pottery for daughter #2 (because Cameron is her middle name) when she was little. I love the funky, stylized and somewhat garish purple and green thistles.

I also have given her some Stangl china in the “Thistle” pattern–very mid-century modern.

Neither, I’m afraid, really grabbed her, but I like them anyway. And, I for one, love the lowly thistle–prickly though they be! Like some people I guess.