ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Scottish heraldry

Okay, so let me tell you a story! Scotland is a country with lots of families living there. Each family has its own special symbols, colors, and designs that represent them.

Now, imagine if you had your very own superhero cape that had your family's symbol on it. That's kind of what Scottish Heraldry is like. Each family has its own unique design that they can use on their clothes, flags, or even armor.

These designs are called "Coats of Arms" and they are made up of different parts. There's the shield, which is like the main picture, and then there are other things like animals or shapes around it.

The symbols on the coat of arms are called "charges" and they can be things like a lion, a sword, or even a unicorn (which is the national animal of Scotland!). Each of these charges has its own special meaning and tells a story about the family.

Now, not just anyone can create their own Coat of Arms. You have to be granted permission by a special organization called the "Lord Lyon King of Arms." This is because Scottish Heraldry is taken very seriously and is considered a big honor to have your own Coat of Arms.

So there you have it, Scottish Heraldry is like having your own superhero cape with your family's special symbol on it, and it's a really big deal!