Heart of Midlothian (Royal Mile)

The Heart of Midlothian is a mosaic located outside St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. The heart marks the location of the entrance to Edinburgh's Old Tolbooth which was demolished in 1817.^[1] Locals will often spit upon the heart as a sign of good luck. While the tradition is now one of good luck, it was originally believed to be done as a sign of disdain for the executions which took place within the Old Tolbooth.^[2]

The Edinburgh football team Heart of Midlothian F.C. takes its name from the Old Tolbooth, and the mosaic which marks its former location.^[3]

The Heart of Midlothian mosaic located in the Royal Mile has also inspired numerous company logos such as that of the Heart of Midlothian football club.

References

^ Cosh, Mary (2003). Edinburgh: The Golden Age. Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited. p. 542. ISBN 978-1-78027-258-0. OCLC 908403124.
^ Monuments and Statues of Edinburgh, Michael T.R.B. Turnbull (Chambers) p.17
^ "History | Heart Of Midlothian Football Club". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2020.

External links

A short documentary with both locals and tourists giving their differing views about the origin of spitting on The Heart.
Picture of the Tolbooth in Edinburgh City Libraries' Capital Collections

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[1] Cosh, Mary (2003). Edinburgh: The Golden Age. Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited. p. 542. ISBN 978-1-78027-258-0. OCLC 908403124.

[2] Monuments and Statues of Edinburgh, Michael T.R.B. Turnbull (Chambers) p.17

[3] "History | Heart Of Midlothian Football Club". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2020.

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