National Emblems and Holidays of the United Kingdom

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as "The Union Jack", is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross on a white background is the cross of the St. George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross on a blue background is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, and the red diagonal cross on a white background is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The Welsh flag, called "The Welsh Dragon", represents a red dragon on a white and green background.

St. George's Day falls on 23 April and is regarded as England's national day. On this day some patriotic Englishmen wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose is the national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses (15th century).

St. Andrew's Day (the 30th of November) is regarded as Scotland's national holiday. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland thistle was first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence.

St. Patrick's Day (the 17th of March) is considered as a national holiday in Northern Ireland and an official bank holiday there. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. According to legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish.

St. David's Day (the 1st of March) is the church festival of St. David,
a monk and bishop, the patron saint of Wales. The day is regarded as the national holiday of Wales, although it is not an official bank holiday. On this day,
however, many Welshmen wear either a yellow daffodil or a leek pinned
to their jackets, as both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

In the Royal State Emblem three lions symbolize England, a lion rampant – Scotland, and a harp – Ireland. The whole is encircled and is supported by a lion and a unicorn. The lion has been used as a symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy for many centuries. The unicorn, a mythical animal that looks like a horse with a long straight horn, is a symbol of purity.

Names:

Vocabulary:

background – фон, задний план

bank holiday – большой праздник, официальный нерабочий день

bishop – епископ

church [t∫ə:t∫] festival – церковный праздник

сross – крест

daffodil [`dæfədil] – нарцисс

emblem – эмблема, символ

everyday speech – обыденная речь

harp – арфа, губная гармоника

horn – рог

knighthood [`naithud] – рыцарское звание, рыцарство

leek – лук-порей

monk – монах

nobleman [`nəublmən] – дворянин, знатный человек

patron saint – святой-покровитель

purity [`pjuəriti] – чистота

rampant – стоящий на задних лапах

Royal [`roiəl] – королевский

shamrock – трилистник

State Emblem – государственный символ

straight – прямой

symbol – зд.: символ, эмблема

the coats of arms – герб, the Royal coast of arms (State Emblem) – королевский герб

the Trinity – Св. Троица

thistle – чертополох

to be made up of – состоять из

to pin – прикалывать булавкой, pinned – приколотый булавкой

to be considered as – считаться, рассматриваться (как)

to be regarded as – расцениваться, считаться, иметь отношение

to encircle [in`sə:kl] – окружать, to be encircled – быть окружённым

to symbolize [`simbəlaiz] – символизировать

unicorn [`ju:niko:n] – единорог

Questions for self-examination:

1. What is the flag of the UK made up of?

2. What does the Welsh flag represent?

3. What is the Scotland's national holiday?

4. What is the national holiday of Northern Ireland?

5. What is the national holiday of Wales?

6. How does the Royal State Emblem look like?