8. Tell the tale behind the flag named "the Red Dragon" and the prophecy related to it.

The origin of the adoption of the dragon symbol is now lost in history and myth. A plausible theory is that the Romans brought the emblem to what is now Wales during their occupation of Britain, but it could be even older. The green and white stripes of the flag were additions by the House of Tudor, the Welsh dynasty that held the English throne from 1485 to 1603.

The oldest recorded use of the dragon to symbolize Wales is from the Historia Brittonum, written around 820 AD, but it is popularly supposed to have been the battle standard of Arthur and other ancient Celtic leaders. Many legends are associated with the Welsh dragon. The most famous is the prophecy of Myrddin(or Merlin) of a long fight between a red dragon and a white dragon. According to the prophecy, the white dragon would at first dominate but eventually the red dragon would win. This is an allegory of the historical struggle between the Welsh and the English.

Scotland

Exercises

1. Answer the following questions to the text:

1. Is Scotland an independent country and nation? – It is a country, former independent kingdom and one of the 3 nations comprising Great Britain. 2. What is the ancient and modern Gaelic name for Scotland? – Alba. 3. What differentiates the Scottish flag from the English flag? – The national flag of Scotland features a white saltire on a blue field. 4. Where is Scotland located and what are the specifics of its landscape? – Scotland comprises the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It is bordered on the south by England. The country consists of a mainland area plus several island groups. 5. Compare the climate of Scotland to that of England and other continental countries of the same latitude. – Scotland has a temperate oceanic climate, milder than might be expected from its latitude. 6. Where does the majority of the Scottish population live? – They live in the Central Belt, which contains Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling. 7. What were the early settle­ments in Scotland? – The were in the Inner Hebrides islands, dating back some 9000 years. 8. What are the earliest known tribes in Scotland as described by the Romans? – Picts (painted people) living south of the rivers Clyde and Forth. 9. What was the purpose of building Hadrian's Wall? – Hadrian's Wall was built by Romans to prevent invasion of barbaric tribes from the North. 10. When does the name "Alba" first appear? After what historic event? – It was the name given to the kingdoms Picts and Scots (Pictavia and Dalriada), unified by Kenneth Mac Alpin. 11. What was the major change in the devel­opment of the country starting from the 1000s? – Scotland lost its mainly Celtic character. It took on a mixture of Celtic and English characteristics. 12. How did William Wallace and Robert the Bruce affect Scottish history? Why are they still revered today? – In 1297, the angry Scots rebelled against Edward’s authority. The leader of one revolt, William Wallace, decisively defeated the English in Stirling. In 1306, Robert the Bruce, seized the throne. He began his bid to free the Scottish kingdom from English control. 13. How did the rela­tions between Scotland and England develop in the 14^th to 16^th centuries? – With the fall of Berwick in 1318, all Scotland was free. But England unknowledged Scotland’s independence. 14. What was the story of how Scotland turned Protestant? – Scottish nobles adopted the role of religious reformers. Their actions led to a civil war. The Scottish Parliament outlawed the Mass, denied the authority of the pope, and made Scotland into a Protestant country. 15. What were the consequences of the failure of Mary, Queen of Scots to become ruler of England? – When Mary returned to Scotland from France, she was received with tolerance. She sought to give Elizabeth no further offence. 16. What happened to Scotland under the rule of Oliver Cromwell and later with the Act of Union of 1707? – Scotland virtually became an English province. The English and Scottish kingdoms and parliaments were combined as the United Kingdom and the Parliament of great Britain. 17. What was the major change that happened to Scotland under the Blair Labour government of the UK? – It held referendums on the issue of devolution: the creation of national assemblies in each of the 3 countries of the UK except England. 18. What are the official and de facto languages in Scotland? – There are 2 official languages, Scots and Scots Gaelic, in addition to the de facto language, English. 19. What cunency is used in Scotland? – Different symbols are used from English coins and on banknotes, which are issued by 3 banks. These notes do not feature the Queen of England, but Scottish personalities. 20. What differentiates the history and current state of education in Scotland from those in other countries? – Scotland became the first country since Sparta in classical Greece to implement a system of general free State education. 21. What are the peculiar features of Scots Law found nowhere else? – The Scots Legal system is unique in having 3 possible verdicts for a criminal trial: «guilty», «not guilty» and «not proven». 22. What churches and religions are there in Scotland? – The Church of Scotland (or The Kirk) is the national church. It differs from the Church of England in that it has a Presbyterian form of church governance, not state control. 23. What are the most popular kinds of sport in Scotland? – Shinty, golf, highland games, football, rugby. 24. Describe the Highland Games and their traditional competitions? – The competitions are best known for traditional competitive athletic heavy events, highland dancing and pipe bands. The major heavy events are the hammer throw, shot putt and tug-of war, together with the unique caber toss. 25. What are the outstanding literary figures of Scotland? – Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Rankin. 26. What are the popular festivals in Scotland? – the Edinburgh festival, the Edinburgh festival Fringe. 27. What are the specifically Scottish holidays and traditions related to them? – Hogmanay (New Year – it is traditional after midnight to sing Robert Burns’ «For Auld Lang Syne», tradition of the first-footing, the smocking stick) and Ne’erday (Christmas Day). A Burns Supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns (25 of January). Recitation of the poem Address to a Haggis by Robert Burns is an important part of the supper. Today Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. 28. What are the icons associated with Scotland by everybody else in the world? – Loch Ness, Irn Bru (caffeinated soft drink), a tartan (a specific woven pattern that in modern times signifies a particular Scottish clan), single malt Scotch whisky.