Uk National Emblems Final

THE FOUR LANDS.NATIONAL SYMBOLS

THE FOUR LANDSThe United Kingdom of Great Britain, consists of four lands: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

A National Emblem

-symbolically represents a nation

-most national emblems originate in the natural world (animals, birds, flowers)

-they may appear on many things such as: - national flags -coat of arms -other patriotic materials-should not be confused with clichs or less formal symbols associated with tourism, ( windmills in Netherlands)

-official symbols are defined by law

Englands National Emblem-the ROSE adopted since the time of the War of the Roses-the house of Lancaster was represented by a red rose-the house of York, by a white one

Scotlands National Symbolthistle is the national symbolAdopted as the emblem of Scotland during the reign of Alexander III (1249-1286)

Legend of the Thistlean army of the king Haaken of Norway intent on conquering the Scots to surprise them by landing at the Coast of Largs at nightthey removed their footwear to move silently under the cover of darknessone of the Vikings stepped into one spiny little plant and cried out in painthus altering the sleeping Scots who won

Thistles found in the fields pastures of the highlands

first use as a royal symbol of Scotland on silver coins issued by King James III in 1470in 1540 king James V founded the ORDER OF THE THISTLE the common badge worn by the knights are: -a cross surmounted by a star of four silver points, and over them a circle bordered and lettered with gold containing the motto:Nemo me impune lacessit (No one harms me without punishment) but often translated by Scots as Dont mess with me!

Wales National Symbols

History of the Flowersthe national flower of Wales is usually considered to be the daffodilhowever, the leek has even older associations as a traditional symbol of Wales - possibly because the its colours, white over green echo the ancient Welsh flag

Legend of the Leekit is associated with St. David, the patron of WalesSt. David ordered his soldiers to wear the leek on their helmets in a battle against the pagan Saxon invaders of Britainthe battle itself took place in a field full of leek this famous spot is to be found in the village of Llanddewi Brefi Every year on ST. David's Day (March 1), the leek is worn in the cap badges of every soldier in every Welsh regimentIn 1984 authorities decided that the British 1 coin representing the Welsh part of the United Kingdom to feature the LEEK on reverse

Northern Irelands Symbol

The Legend of the Shamrock

when Ireland was the land of Druids, a great Bishop, Patrick came to teach the word of God throughout the country

this St. Patrick was well loved everywhere he went

one day, a group of his followers admitted that it was difficult for them to believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity

he reflected a moment and then, stooping down, plucked a leaf from the shamrock and held it before them, showing them the living example of the "Three-in-One"

St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of theHoly Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

the simple beauty of this explanation convinced these skeptics from that day the shamrock has been revered throughout Ireland

Shamrockthe shamrock is a plant similar to a clover the tiny green clover has always been considered a symbol of good luck in Irish cultureaccording to legend, the leaves of a three-leaf clover represent hope, faith, and love, and God added another leaf for luck

The Harpthe official emblem of Irelandit appears on: - Irish coins -presidential flag - state seals - uniforms and documents