Read the following information about national emblems and name them.
Each country also has its own floral emblem:
 | The national flower of Englandis therose.The flower has been adopted as England’s emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses - civil wars (1455-1485) between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose). |
 | The national flower of Scotlandisthe thistle1, a prickly2-leaved purple3 flower which was first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defense. The Scottish Bluebell4 is also seen as the flower of Scotland. 1 thistle [′θıs(ə)l] - чертополох 2 prickly [′prıklı] – имеющий шипы, колючки 3 purple [′pə:pl] – пурпурный, фиолетовый 4 bluebell [′blu:bel] - колокольчик |
  | The national flower of Walesis thedaffodil1,which is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day. The vegetable calledleek2 is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales. There are many explanations of how the leek came to be adopted as the national emblem of Wales. One is that St David advised the Welsh, on the eve3 of battle with the Saxons, to wear leeks in their caps to distinguish a friend from a foe4. As Shakespeare records5 in Henry V, the Welsh archers6 wore leeks at the battle of Agincourt in 1415. 1 daffodil [′dæfədıl] – бледно-жёлтый нарцисс 2 leek [li:k] – лук-порей 3 eve [i:v] – канун, преддверие 4 foe [fəυ] – враг, противник 5record [rı′kÉ:d] – записывать, увековечивать 6 archer [a:∫tə] – лучник |
 | The national flower of Northern Irelandis theshamrock1,a three-leaved plant similar to clover2. An Irish tale tells of how Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Trinity3. He used it in his sermons4 to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity5. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast6 day. 1 shamrock [′∫æmrÉk] - трилистник 2 clover [′kləυvə] – клевер 3 trinity [′trınıtı] - троица 4 sermon [′sə:mən] – проповедь, поучение 5 entity [′entıtı] – суть, существо, сущность 6 feast [fi:st] - торжественный |
What is the British National Anthem?
The National Anthem is God Save the Queen. The British National Anthem originated in a patriotic song first performed in 1745. It became known as the National Anthem from the beginning of the nineteenth century.
On official occasions, only the first verse is usually sung, as follows:
| God save our gracious Queen! Long live our noble Queen! God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen. |
An additional verse is occasionally sung:
| Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign. May she defend our laws, And give us ever cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen. |
The British National Anthem represents the whole of the UK. However, Wales and Scotland have other songs which they sing, especially when playing against England in sport matches.
Wales - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land Of My Fathers)
Scotland - Flower of Scotland and Scotland the Brave
England too has its own song or songs. William Blake's Jerusalem and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot are often sung. Another popular song is Land of Hope and Glory, which was sung at the first England match of the 2006 Six Nations.