II. Flag

Every country has its symbols. What are they?

1. What do you know about Britain’s flag? (how it looks like, its name)

2. Look at the flag and the name and guess what crosses on the flag mean, why it has such name.

3. Read the text and check if your ideas were right.

Flag of GB.

The history of Britain’s flag goes back to 16^th century when the inhabitants of the British Isles united under one King. But a problem arose, which flag should represent the state and be on the king’s ships. In 1606 the problem was solved. They created a union flag. Firstly, it was known as “the British flag” or “the flag of Britain”. Since 1707 they began to call it “the Union Jack”. The exact origin of the name is unclear. “Jack” refers to the flag that is flown on the ship and denoted a nationality.

4. a) Working in groups read a text about other symbols of the UK countries. Make up a rebus and draw it on the poster.

b) Exchange the posters in order another group could reconstruct the text (the group who has done the poster are the observes, they make notes about the context). The others fill in the table about the symbols.

country

flag

plant

Saint patron

other symbols

England.

The flag of England is a red cross on a white background. It was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12^th century. The king’s soldiers wore it in battle. Like England, every country in the UK has its own patron saint who in times of great danger helped to save the country from its enemies. England’s patron saint is Saint George. One of the best-known stories about him is his fight with a dragon. He is known through out the world as the dragon-slaying patron saint of England. St. George’s Day is on April 23^rd , so, in a sense, this is England’s national day. The national flower of England is a red rose.

Wales.

The Welsh flag is a green and white bicolour (the white stripe is on top) picturing a large, red dragon. The red dragon is a symbol of Wales. It has been used in Wales since the Romans invaded and occupied Wales (in the 1^st century AD, almost two thousand years ago). Saint patron of Wales is St. David. His day is celebrated on the 1^st of March. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. He spread the word of Christianity across Wales. St. David’s Day is commemorated by the wearing of daffodils or leeks. Both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblem.

Scotland.

The national flower of Scotland is the thistle, a prickly-leaved purple flower which was first used in the 15^th century as a symbol of defence. St. Andrew is Scotland’s patron.

Northern Ireland.

The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover. An Irish tale tells of how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Born in Britain, he was carried off by pirates and spent 6 years in slavery before escaping and training as a missionary. His day is on the 17^th of March.