The flag of the Clan MacCait shows on a blue background a white, upright St. Andrew’s cross, topped with a silver thistle with a dark blue inflorescence, flanked by two silver, dark blue armored, rising cats. At the top left a white and silver spearhead, and at the top right a white and silver swingarm. On a dark blue banner in white letters the motto: “Cogita, ne mihil molestus”.
The symbolism of the flag
The white St. Andrew’s cross on a blue background is the motif of the Scottish national flag, the Saltire. While the latter is showing the St. Andrew’s Cross lying down, we put ours on it’s feet to make room for more elements on the flag.
First, the St. Andrew’s Cross is covered with a thistle. Legend has it that hostile Northmen, that wanted to raid a Scottish camp at night, were caught in a shrub of thistles. By the resulting noise the Scots were warned early enough and could fight back the attack. The thistle became the national flower of Scotland.
The name of the clan is reflected by the two ascending cats flanking the St. Andrew’s Cross on both sides. The Scottish Gaelic word “Cait” means “cats”.
The Latin motto of the clan “Cogita! Ne mihil molestus.” means free translated: “Think! Don’t bother me.” It goes back to some dubious questions that are asked in a historical camp, such as “Is the fire real?” If you can keep the visitor from sticking his hand in the embers to find out the answer himself only by fast intervention, this motto goes straight through your mind.
In the upper left corner the flag shows Gungnir, the spear of Odin. It stands for the Robertsons of MacCait, who have their origin on the Orkney Islands.
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