Tomorrow is St Andrew’s Day when the Scottish Saltire flag will be flown from many buildings in Scotland.  This flag and monument in Athelstaneford is traditionally the place where the design of the flag originated.  According to legend when the Pictish leader, Angus, feared the outcome of the battle against the invading Northumbrians in 832 he had a vision that St Andrew would help.  During the battle nearby a cloud formation in the shape of a diagonal cross appeared in the blue sky looking like the cross on which St Andrew was crucified. Angus attributed the victory to the saint and subsequently the legend has grown with the white cross on the blue background forming the Scottish Saltire.
(Extra) The monument shows the battlefield with the two armies facing each other and the sign in the sky of the St Andrew’s Cross.  On the top the inscription states
TRADITION SAYS THAT NEAR THIS PLACE IN TIMES REMOTE PICTISH AND SCOTTISH WARRIORS ABOUT TO DEFEAT AN ARMY OF NORTHUMBRIANS, SAW AGAINST A BLUE SKY A GREAT WHITE CROSS LIKE SAINT ANDREW’S, AND IN ITS IMAGE MADE A BANNER WHICH BECAME THE FLAG OF SCOTLAND.