The Gaelic deeply appreciated the Scots pine and it held very special significance for them. They referred to it as “giubhas” (“juicy tree”), and often planted it over the graves of warriors or other important figures as it was associated with kings and other powerful people (Forestry Commission Scotland, 2013). In the British Isles, a relatively circular stand of Scotch pines could be interpreted as a sacred “fairy hill”, where the Celtic culture saw a connection between the natural and the supernatural, a holy area which was both appreciated and feared (LaViolette & Mcintosh, 1997). 

The Scottish Enlightenment Period saw the planting of many Scotch pines as part of an effort to beautify the area; the Earl of Moray is reported to have planted approximately 10 million of these trees on his land (Forestry Commission Scotland, 2013). This appreciation for the beauty of the Scotch pine appears to still exist today, as evidenced by its promotion to national tree of Scotland (as detailed earlier). A case study of three separate funeral pyres in Poland reveals that the Scotch pine was the primary wood utilized in these fires (Moskal-del Hoyo, 2012), demonstrating the respect that people had for the pine. Scotch pine trees were also known to be used as landmarks or guides in boreal Sweden.