A colorful orange traffic cone was greeted like a VIP at Boston Logan International Airport after arriving from Glasgow. Accompanied by a bagpiper in traditional dress, the cone was welcomed by diplomatic officials, the Governor of Massachusetts, and the Mayor of Boston.
This event marked a new chapter in Boston’s growing affection for Scotland’s tartan army. The traffic cone has become a symbol of the Scottish fans’ antics during their recent World Cup journey, where they delightfully placed them on various statues around the city.
Governor Maura Healey expressed her unique experience, stating, “I have to admit, this is probably – yes, it is – my first official welcoming ceremony for a traffic cone,” She continued, “But it’s a pretty special one, isn’t it? Because this cone tells the story of what happened this summer. What happened in Boston, what happened in Massachusetts.”
Adding a humorous touch, she remarked, “And special thanks to the Scots for drinking all the beer,” which drew laughter from the audience. She assured them, “I do promise you, when you return … we will never again run out of beer in Massachusetts.”
Boston’s bars found themselves overwhelmed by the demands of the Scottish fans during the World Cup, with many establishments running low on supplies and needing urgent restocking. The vibrant presence of Scottish supporters transformed parts of Boston into an unofficial Scottish enclave, filled with music from bagpipes and lively chants, while bright orange cones were spotted on prominent landmarks, including statues of Samuel Adams, Celtics’ Red Auerbach, and even the beloved Make Way for Ducklings in the Public Garden.
Mayor Michelle Wu humorously reflected on the experience, stating, “There are still some traffic cones atop our most important statues,” acknowledging how Boston had “unofficially become New Scotland”
The specially designed commemorative cone, adorned with illustrations celebrating both Boston and Scotland along with the slogan “It’s an in-joke that’s gone too far, actually,” is set to tour various landmarks in Massachusetts over the coming week to raise funds for mental health charities before returning to Scotland.
This quirky tradition traces back to Glasgow, where the practice of placing traffic cones on public statues started as a late-night prank in the 1980s. Over time, it has developed into an emblem of Scotland’s cheeky sense of humor, with the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow being a notable example where the cone’s presence has become iconic despite numerous removal attempts.
One of the cone’s Scottish escorts, Danny Campbell, humorously described the phenomenon.
“But no, it isn’t a joke. This is a metaphor for life.”
He elaborated on the importance of embracing joy in life, saying that people often get caught up in their daily responsibilities and forget what truly matters. “going to our jobs and cooking sausages and all the sort of serious stuff that adults have to do” he noted, reflecting on the impact of Scottish fans during their Boston visit. “That’s what our countrymen represented when they came here,”
He concluded, “They left stomachs and cheeks sore from laughing, they cleaned up after themselves, they spread joy, and these people came together with humor and they built relationships with each other.”
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