Country Studies

the matron goddess of Ireland, a goddess of sovereignty, a goddess of the land

Great Britain – Britannia – inhabited by the Britons – an ancient Celtic people.

English-speaking countries The UK – Great Britain

Coat of Arms

Union Jack

Union Jack

It is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross of saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms represents a quartered shield. In the first and fourth quarters you can see lions which symbolize England, in the second there is a rampant lion and a fleur-de-lis [flɜ:də'li:] which symbolize Scotland and in the third there is a harp for Ireland.

The shield is being taken by a guardant lion (a symbol of England) wearing St. Edward’s crown and a unicorn which symbolizes Scotland.

Under the shield you can also see a flowerbed with Tudor roses (England), a thistle (Scotland) and a shamrock (Ireland).