Floral symbols of Great Britain

It is necessary to start with the fact that the Celts believed: the number 3 is unique, because it means both the past, present and future, or the sky, land and dungeon. The concept of the sacred value of this number was reflected in art. Three-headed figurines are found in Ireland from the Iron Age, as well as an ancient symbolic sign of the trickle (symbol of the sun, «Time running», representing three connected spirals) and a triselion (a sign in the form of three running legs coming out of one point).

Based on all the above, it is not surprising that the shader was in honor of the Celts. It seems that Holy Patrick, the Baptist of Ireland, was well aware of the importance of the tribal for the Irish. After all, according to the legend, it was the shadownik who was elected them as an illustration to explain the trinity of God.

This legend has no confirmation in reality, it does not appear in the sources until the XVIII century. Truthful it or not, no longer matters, because by that time the shadownik was already a full-fledged symbol of Ireland. He was depicted on everything from medieval tombs to coins, and the written testimony of 1681 describes it as an icon attached to the title of outerwear for the day of St. Patrick — March 17.

A century later, the tribal was adopted as the emblem of the folk militia of Ireland – «Irish volunteers». Then he became associated with the manifestations of rebellion and nationalist views, which is why already in the XIX century by Queen Victoria forbade the Irish regiments of the British army wearing it.

These days, you can see the Irish shamrock strongly everywhere: on signs of pubs and beer mugs, stamps and coins, and even on lampposts. Also, it is relatively often found at an altitude of 10 000 m. The fact that the shamrock is a symbol of the Irish airline Aer Lingus, which places it on the tail of their aircraft.

Wales fragrant symbol

It would seem that it may be linked to such vegetables as leeks, and one of the UK regions — Wales? Now try to figure it out.

In fact, Wales has another symbol — narcissus. But its history goes back a few hundred years. With a bow is much more interesting: the roots of his image as a symbol dates back to the times of the ancient tribes, before the conquest of Britain by the Normans.

As it is well known, while each plant or animal was attributed to any property. Luke has a special place — it was believed that he not only cured the common cold and facilitate delivery, but also cast out evil spirits and even predicted the future. It was even assumed that if a girl is put under the pillow onion sprouts in a dream sees her spouse.

Yet as a leek became the symbol of Wales? This tells the ancient legend. Once the patron of Wales, St. David Welsh (according to another version, it was the King of the Blessed Kadvaladr) advised soldiers Celts sent to the battle with the Saxons, attach the bow shoots to their helmets to distinguish his troops from the enemy. The legend on the battle occurred onion field. The battle ended in victory for the Celts. Evidence legend there, but it is known that the white and green dress in the color of the bow-Welsh archers were Edward I, distinguished themselves at the Battle of Crecy, one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years’ War.

Tradition also attach a bow to the clothes on the day of Saint David, 1 March, I went to the XVII century. For the first time it made a king, and after him, and the court. Very soon this tradition took over the easiest people. Since then, on March 1, patriotically tuned residents of Wales are happy to attach leeks to their clothes. His image can also be seen on the caps of the Wales Guards Regiment and on a coin dignity £1.

Interestingly, the reverent attitude of Welstsev to Luka was reflected in art. So, in the drama Shakespeare «Henry’s life V» Captain Flyelelen says to the king: «Walessets are well served in those gardens where leek grows; They wear helmets with his image, who saw your Majesty, at the most honorable service».

As for Narcissa, his story is though short, but no less interesting. I wonder what on Welsh language «onion» and «narcissus» It sounds very similar: Cenhinen («onion») and Cenhinen Pedr («Onion Peter», That is Narcissus). It is possible that that is why the flower was elected the second value with the symbol of Wales. It is believed that he was informally supported in this quality of the English government, because he did not carry a pronounced nationalist nature, as in the case of Luk.

In 1911, it was time for official recognition. David Lloyd George (by the way, the only Wallin as Prime Minister of Britain) insisted that Narcissis was used in the title of title of the title of Prince Welsh in Karnavon Castle. By that time, the flower was long ago, from the end of the XIX century, successfully rolled with a bow as a Wales symbol.