Symbols of UK cities. National symbols of Great Britain

Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or as it is commonly called, "Union Jack" (Union Jack), is a combination of three crosses of the patron saints of England (a straight red cross on a white field - the cross of St. George), Scotland (an oblique white cross on a blue field - the cross of St. Andrew ) and Ireland (an oblique red cross on a white field is the cross of St. Patrick).

The modern flag was finally formed by 1801. The aspect ratio of the flag is 1:2.

State Emblem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland- This is the official coat of arms of the British monarch (currently - Elizabeth II). It is a four-part shield, supported on one side by a rising golden crowned lion with a turned face (the symbol of England), and on the other side by a silver-white unicorn, symbolizing Scotland. According to mythology, the unicorn is a very dangerous animal, so it is chained. However, this chain also has a hidden political connotation: it symbolizes that Scotland is subordinate to England.

On the quadruple shield of the coat of arms, in the first and fourth red fields, there are three gold marching leopards with an inverted mask, officially called “walking lions on guard” (also symbols of England), in the second gold field, decorated with a double red border, a rising red lion with a forked tail and blue claws and tongue (small coat of arms of Scotland), in the third blue field there is a golden harp (the official symbol of Ireland).

Animals stand in a meadow with flowers. Each of the plants depicted on the coat of arms is also symbolic: the rose (white inside and scarlet on the edges of the petals) symbolizes England, the thistle - Scotland, and the leek - Wales.

The shield is surrounded by a blue strap with a buckle. This garter is a sign of the oldest English Order of the Garter, established in 1348 by King Edward III. The garter is inscribed with French: "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ("Let him be ashamed who thinks badly about it").

The shield is crowned with a helmet emblem: an imperial crown with a golden crowned leopard.

At the bottom of the coat of arms, the motto ribbon in French reads: "Dieu et mon droit" ("God and my right"). The meaning of the motto is given by God, and therefore the sacred rights of royal power.

UK national anthem("God Save the Queen") is one of the oldest national anthems. For many years, there have been fierce disputes between musicologists regarding the authorship, but they agreed that the author of the anthem is an English poet, playwright, composer and music teacher Henry Carey (1687-1743).

The peculiarity of this anthem is that its music was used as national anthems in many European countries. During the 19th century this melody was the anthem in 23 countries with monarchical rule, including Russia before the creation of the first Russian anthem"God Save the King!"

With minor musical changes, this anthem is played as the anthem of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries. Its melody is also the anthem of the royal family of Norway (not to be confused with the national anthem of this country), sung with lyrics in Norwegian.

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Each country has its own official symbols is the flag, coat of arms and anthem. However, there are also so-called unofficial symbols with which the country is associated with all others. If we talk about Great Britain, then it has a lot of unofficial symbols, for example, by showing a person a double-decker red bus, he immediately recognizes which country they represent. What are they, official and unofficial symbols of Great Britain?

Official (state) symbols of Great Britain

Flag

There is no other like it in the world, and even like it, nowhere else. This flag is also called the "Union Jack". On this moment on the flag of Great Britain, the panels of the kingdoms that make up the country are connected, namely England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the future, the flag may change somewhat due to the desire of some kingdoms to become independent powers. Also curious is the fact that the Union Jack does not have a dragon - the symbol of Wales. The question of adding it to the flag was raised in 2007, however, this case never came to a serious consideration.
The flag of Great Britain consists of three crosses:

• The vertical red and white cross is the cross of St. George, who is considered the patron saint of England.
• The diagonal white cross is the cross of St. Andrew, patron of Scotland.
• The diagonal red cross is the cross of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Northern Ireland.

Coat of arms

The emblem of the United Kingdom is no less interesting than the flag. There are 2 official coats of arms - one generally accepted and the other used in Scotland.
The first (generally accepted) coat of arms is a shield on a green lawn. This shield is divided into 4 parts: on the first and fourth parts, 3 leopards are depicted, on the third, a harp (it symbolizes Northern Ireland), and on the second lion (he personifies Scotland). On the left, the shield is supported by a crowned lion, on the right, by a unicorn. The coat of arms also has 2 mottos written in French. The first reads "Shame on him who thinks ill of it", and it is written on the garter that surrounds the shield (the motto belongs to the Most Noble Order of the Garter). The second motto "God and my right" is at the feet of a lion and a unicorn and belongs to the monarch of Great Britain.
The second (Scottish) version of the coat of arms is different in that it has two fields instead of one, symbolizing Scotland. The unicorn and lion supporting the shield are in this case reversed and holding flags. This option coat of arms as close as possible to the own coat of arms of Scotland.

Hymn

The national anthem of Great Britain has not changed in this country since the 18th century. There is evidence that the hymn tune was performed as early as 1745. The famous phrase "God save the Queen!" was feminized during the reign of a female monarch. In the case of sitting on the throne of the king, the phrase is replaced by "God save the King", and the pronouns also change in the right places.
The anthem of the United Kingdom is used for important public and state events in the country, although it has not been officially approved by royal proclamation. In fact, this anthem is just a tradition, musical composition became the de facto anthem. It happens in the modern world!

Unofficial symbols of Great Britain

Everyone will agree that they have seen the flag of Great Britain a hundred times, many have heard its anthem, more less people saw her coat of arms. But unofficial symbols like double-decker buses, the Tower, red telephone boxes are known to everyone. Therefore, just for the people, and not official meetings and events, unofficial symbols known to the whole world are much more important.

Monarchy

Even today, there is a monarchy not only in Great Britain, but in the way that the British royal court is followed, no one else is followed. Tabloids all over the world write about the Queen herself. IN Lately her granddaughter-in-law Kate Middleton, great-grandchildren James and Charlotte became incredibly popular. And the television broadcast of William and Kate's wedding broke all viewing records. That is why the royal family is the very first symbol of Great Britain.

London

In order not to name all the main attractions separately, it is worth saying that the entire capital is the personification and symbol of Great Britain. Palace of Westminster and Big Ben, and red phone booths and double-decker buses, guardsmen, even constant fogs and rainy weather, and those for many decades have become symbols of the country.

William Shakespeare

The talent of William Shakespeare is admired all over the world. And although the debate continues about whether the English poet and playwright really wrote all these works or several people were hiding under his pseudonym, nevertheless Shakespeare became almost common name associated exclusively with the UK. It is not for nothing that so many people have lived in the United Kingdom for so many years of its existence. prominent people, including Isaac Newton, and Charles Dickens, and Charles Darwin, etc.

The Beatles

World famous, any group for many generations The Beatles gained such popularity at one time that the four from Liverpool can rightfully be considered a symbol of Great Britain. Even today their records are valued, their songs are performed on big concerts, they do not stop talking about, and their contribution to the music industry and history is invaluable.

Sherlock Holmes

None of us even doubts what country Sherlock Holmes represents. Undoubtedly, this is the UK. The hero of Conan Doyle has become literary, albeit fictional unofficial symbol United Kingdom. He combines all the features of the British - good manners, aristocratic manners, politeness, subtle humor. Of course, not all residents of the country fit the description. literary hero, but this is how everyone else sees them, which is why, symbolically, it just so happened that only ladies and gentlemen live in the UK.

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What do each of us associate with a country like Great Britain? Probably, the gloomy Tower, the famous Big Ben, the grandiose Ferris wheel "London Eye" will immediately come to mind, royal guard We closely associate this country with fog, unshakable traditions, beloved detective Sherlock Holmes, the Burberry brand and much more. However, the powerful maritime power has many symbols with which some episodes from its history are associated.

First of all, it is worth mentioning the national symbols of the coat of arms, the anthem. The main product of the country is "God save the King (Queen)!", depending on who is in currently occupies the throne. The coat of arms of the United Kingdom is considered to be the official coat of arms of the monarch of Britain. Other members of his family have their own symbols and titles. True, two coats of arms are distinguished in the country: Scottish and traditional British. In the usual version, there are images of two lions and seven leopards, as well as a unicorn. The shield is divided into four fields, where the emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland are placed.

What is the symbol of Great Britain? Of course, the flag, which is called the "Union Jack". Jack is not a name, but old word denoting a sailor. At first, such a flag was used exclusively in the navy. The cloth itself meant the unification of the two kingdoms. The Cross of Saint George of England was superimposed on the Cross of Saint Andrew of Scotland on blue background. What other symbols of Great Britain exist? This is John Bull, who is similar to from the USA. He is a fictional character: a typical gentleman in a tailcoat, fat, rich. The symbol "Britain" is also popular - the female embodiment of the country. This is a girl in a helmet sitting on the globe and holding a trident and a shield in her hand (a hint of sea ​​power powers).

These were symbols of Great Britain common to the whole country. But each part of the United Kingdom has its own emblems.

Let's start with England. The symbol of this part of Britain is considered to be a red rose. It reminds us of the war of two flowers - scarlet and white. As you know, the red rose (that is, the house of Lancaster) defeated the white one (the house of Orcs) and took the throne. The war ended with the marriage of two representatives of the warring dynasties. The mighty oak is also considered the emblem of England.

Very often, the symbols of Great Britain have a plant theme. Perhaps these are echoes of the beliefs of the Celtic Druids, who worshiped the forces of nature. The emblem of Scotland is the thistle. According to legend, this flower helped to discover the Scandinavians, who took off their shoes in order to attack the sleeping inhabitants under the cover of night. The loud cry of one Viking woke up the defenders, and they drove off the enemies.

Wales has two symbols: the leek and the daffodil. These are the plants that accompanied Saint David. He ate onions during the famine, and the narcissus helped him gain victory in the war with the Saxons. The emblem is a shamrock - the plant of St. Patrick, who brought Christianity to these lands. And also a red hand, symbolizing the thirst for power.

What symbols of Great Britain do you know?

Instruction

The Cross of Saint George is the national flag of England. It is a rectangular red cross on a white background. Saint George is the patron saint of England. The banner of St. George, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, appeared in the English army under King Richard Lion Heart. Later it became the state flag and ensign of the Royal Navy. According to another version, supported by many historians, the "cross of St. George" was originally the flag of the Republic of Genoa. And the English kings paid an annual tribute to the Genoese doges for the right to use the flag on their ships and count on the protection of the powerful Genoese fleet.

"Lions marching on guard" is a traditional English coat of arms. The lion was originally the emblem of the Plantagenet dynasty, the monarchs who ruled England from the middle of the 12th to the end of the 14th century. At the very famous representative this dynasty, Richard the Lionheart, had three lions. Over time, the national emblem of Great Britain was supplemented by other symbols. But even now the logo based on three lions is used by many English public organizations, in particular, English football.

The "Tudor Rose" is another widely known heraldic one. Symbolizes the end of the devastating civil war of the scarlet and white roses. Many years of confrontation ended with the ascension to the throne of Henry VII Tudor. His father came from the house of Lancaster, whose symbol was the scarlet rose. The mother was the heiress of the formerly hostile house of York, which symbolized White Rose.

A golden harp on a blue field is the state emblem of the Republic of Ireland. The harp became a symbol of the country in the 15th century. Why this one became the state emblem, historians do not know for certain. In the book of Karl Allard "On Flags", published in 1708, there is such a version: one of the ancient Irish rulers chose a harp as a symbol of his personal heavenly intercessor, the biblical king and prophet David, the famous poet and musician.

The shamrock is a trade symbol of Ireland, officially registered in the World Intellectual Property Register. In Irish, the emblem is called "shamrock", "". Depicted in the form of a three-petal leaf. According to legend, the heavenly patron of Ireland, St. Patrick, used the example of shamrock to explain the meaning of the church's doctrine of the Trinity.

Great Britain is a country that is known for its culture and history. Even today, it is of interest, if only because the monarchy has been preserved here, and the whole world is watching the life of the royal family. Symbols of Great Britain - what are they?

Story

Britain is a territory where people have lived for a long time. The state here originated so many years ago that it is not surprising that during all this time its symbols have changed several times before taking on a modern look.

The United Kingdom did not immediately become such - moreover, even now there are supporters of separation and independence for some territories. Nevertheless, Foggy Albion still remains an integral state, and its history has a direct impact on the national symbols of Great Britain.

In his modern form and in the present territory the United Kingdom appeared in 1927. It seems that it was quite recently, but do not be deceived - this state has experienced many good and bad times, wars, revolutions. And at the same time, the monarchy, unique traditions and others have been preserved here. distinctive features countries. No wonder hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every year.

UK symbols

There are many of them - both official and those that have acquired their significance thanks to cultural influence government and tourism. It can be not only buildings, structures, transport, flowers and animals, but even famous people which in the minds of the inhabitants are closely connected with the state.

However, in any country there is a separate category of symbols, which includes the anthem, coat of arms and flag. Of course, there are also in the UK.

Flag

Perhaps this symbol cannot be confused with anything. The so-called Union Jack is one of the most unusual flags and is very easy to remember. The fact is that it is made up of overlapping panels with crosses, symbolizing Ireland, England and Scotland - that is, separate parts of the Kingdom.

Due to the fact that in the past few decades much has been said about the independence of some regions, various options flag that may exist in the future.

Another curious nuance is the absence of the symbol of Wales - the dragon - on the Union Jack. In 2007, this issue was raised again, but the matter has not yet reached its serious consideration.

Coat of arms

The next symbol is also of interest, at least because it exists in at least two versions: common and used in Scotland.

The usual emblem of Great Britain is as follows: a shield is placed on a green lawn, divided into 4 quarters: three leopards are placed in the first and fourth, a harp representing Ireland in the third, and a lion symbolizing Scotland in the second. At both sides central figure supported by animals. On the left is a crowned lion, and on the right is a unicorn.

The coat of arms bears two mottos, both in French. One is written on the garter around the shield, and is the motto of the order of the same name: "Shame on him who thinks ill of this." The second reads: "God and my right." This motto belongs to the British monarch.

The coat of arms of Great Britain, used on the territory of Scotland, looks a little different: on the shield, two fields symbolize this region, instead of one. In addition, the unicorn and lion switch places and hold flags. In general, this variant is much more similar to Scotland's own coat of arms.

Hymn

The state symbols of Great Britain are, in addition to the flag and coat of arms, also a national patriotic song. The famous "God Save the King (Queen)", which was known back in the 18th century. Despite the fact that this song is not officially assigned the status of an anthem, it has long been used at all important international and domestic British public and state events. Thus, de facto, this piece of music can be categorized as " National symbols Great Britain". What else are there?

Unofficial symbols

Of course, the coat of arms, anthem and flag of any country are important and are constantly used, but the image of a particular state in the minds of foreigners often gives rise to completely different associations. Sometimes travel magazines even compile a kind of character charts to find out what the image of a particular territory is. For Britain, the most popular are the following:

• William Shakespeare. Disputes do not subside whether he actually wrote all his works and organized a theater, but it is known for sure that this man immortalized his name and forever connected it in the minds of people with the United Kingdom.
• Monarchy. The Royal Family led by Elizabeth II - object close attention from people around the world. The tabloids write about breaking news from the life of relatives of the royal person, and the wedding of William and Kate broke all records in terms of popularity among viewers.
• London. Of course, this city is closely connected with Great Britain, because it is its capital. But many of the symbols of London are associated with the whole country: double-decker buses, red telephone boxes, guards, the Tower, bridges, etc.
• The Beatles. The so-called four from Liverpool gained such popularity in their time that a fair amount of music lovers still believe that musicians are the main symbols of Great Britain.
• Parliament and Big Ben. This building is one of the most recognizable, there are a huge number of photographs and postcards with its image. And of course, it is strongly associated with Foggy Albion.

Perhaps there is no single answer to the question "what is the symbol of Great Britain" - it will be different for everyone.