The traffic cone that became Scotland's symbol has arrived in Boston — and the city's statues will never be the same
The Tartan Army brought to Boston a Glasgow tradition that has lasted 40 years: traffic cones on statues. Here's the story behind the custom.
Bagpipes, beer and… traffic cones. The Scottish supporters arrived in Boston with everything you'd expect — and the city's statues are paying the price.
Since at least June 17, monuments scattered across the Massachusetts capital have been waking up adorned with orange cones. The "Arms of Friendship" monument and the statues of basketball player Bill Russell, philosopher Samuel Adams, and former mayor Kevin White have all been "crowned" by the Tartan Army — as Scotland's supporters are known. To reach the taller ones, fans even enlisted a truck with a crane. No joke.
But where does this custom come from? Glasgow. In Scotland's most populous city, a statue of the Duke of Wellington — the general who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo — has sported a permanent cone on its head since the 1980s. According to ge, citing the BBC, the tradition began with nightlife-goers who would climb the pedestal to place the object. The City Council tried to put an end to the habit, removed the cone for an advertising campaign, and even considered raising the pedestal in 2013 — but public pressure always won out.
Today, the cone is part of Glasgow's identity: it appears on postcards, keyrings, and tourist posters. In 2014 it was green with the word "Yes," supporting the independence referendum. In 2020, blue with stars, referencing Brexit. In 2022, yellow and blue, in solidarity with Ukraine.
In Boston, the fun has already spread to children: a young girl was spotted wearing a cone-shaped hat during the match Scotland lost to Morocco. The city expects to welcome around 30,000 Scots throughout the World Cup.
If Scotland advance in the competition, how many more statues will end up sporting this unlikely accessory? Boston already knows the answer won't be zero.