National symbols of Great Britain

The UK’s national flag is UNION JACK. It was set up in 1801 after the

last of three Acts of Union. Union Jack presents the combination of colours and crosses reflecting the peculiarities of the existing at that time national flags of England, Scotland and Ireland (see the picture 2.2).

Picture 2.2 – National flag

The name, the colours and crosses symbolize the union of the united parts of the country. Union Jack comprises three crosses. The red upright cross on the white field is St.George’s Cross – the patron saint of England. The diagonal white cross on the blue field is St.Andrew’s Cross – the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross on the white field is St.Patrick’s Cross – the patron saint of Ireland. Besides the Union Jack there is Royal Standard – Royal personal flag.

The national anthem is the oldest in the world, established in 1745 and based on a song of the 17^th century. The beginning of it runs as follows:

God save our gracious Queen,

God save our noble Queen,

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious

Long to reign over us.

God save the Queen!

Now about the national emblems. The emblem of England is the red rose. It became the emblem after the Wars of Roses (1455-1485) which was the war of the dynasties for the English throne. The war between the Roses ended by the marriage of Henry VII Tudor (the Lancastrian whose emblem was the red rose) with Princess Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV (the Yorkist whose emblem was the white rose).

The emblem of Scotland – the thistle, was chosen as such, because it saved the country from the enemy. The legend says that in ancient times the Norsemen raided the east coast of Scotland intending to plunder it and to settle there. The Scots took their stations behind the river Tay, the largest in Scotland. Not expecting the enemy before the next day and being tired after a long march they pitched their camp and were resting. The Norsemen saw that no guards protected the camp so they crossed the river intending to take the Scots by surprise. On coming quite near they took off their shoes not to make noise. But one of the Norsemen stepped on the thistle and shrieked with pain. The alarm was given in the Scots camp and the Norsemen were put to fight. Scots, thankful for timely help, chose the thistle as their national emblem.

The leek and daffodil is Welshmen’s national emblem. Welshmen all over the world celebrate (on the 1^st of March) St.David’s Day by wearing either leeks or daffodils. St.David is supposed to have lived for several years on bread and wild leeks. The daffodil is also closely associated with St.David’s Day due to the belief that it flowers on that very day. It became an alternative to the leek as a Welsh emblem in the present century, because some thought the leek vulgar.

The shamrock, the national emblem of the Irish, is proudly worn on St.Patrick’s Day, March 17. It is worn in memory of Ireland’s patron saint, who when preaching the doctrine of the Trinity to the pagan Irish used the shamrock (a small white clover with three leaves on one stem) as an illustration of the mystery.

QUESTIONS FOR CONTROL:

1. Where is Great Britain situated?

2. Can you describe its geographical position? Use the map of Europe.

3. What rivers or lakes of the country do you know?

4. What role does the English Channel play in the life of the English people?

5. When was it opened?

6. What mineral resources is Great Britain rich of?

7. What mountains can be found on the map of the country?

8. Say about flora and fauna.

9. What national symbols of the UK can you name?

10. When was the Union Jack set up?

11. What symbols of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland do you know?