The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The UK is situated north-west of the European continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. It has a total land area of 244,100 square kilometres, of which nearly 99% is land and the remainder inland water. From north to south it is about 1,000 kilometres long. The UK part of Europe and is a member of the European Union (EU). The United Kingdom is made up of: England - The capital is London. Scotland - The capital is Edinburgh . Wales - The capital is Cardiff. Northern Ireland - The capital is Belfast. England, Scotland and Wales together form Great Britain.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Every country has its specific culture and peculiarities which can be found in their symbols. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of them has its symbols and usually there are two types of them official and unofficial ones.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Floral emblems Each country in Britain has its own patron saint and floral emblem: England - St. George and the Rose.  The national flower of England is the rose. 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).

Wales - St. David and the Daffodil Wales - St. David and the Daffodil. The national flower of Wales is the daffodil, which is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day. The vegetable called leek is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales.

Scotland - St. Andrew - the Thistle and Scottish Bluebell Scotland - St. Andrew - the Thistle and Scottish Bluebell. The national flower of Scotland is the thistle, a prickly-leaved purple flower which was first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The Scottish Bluebell is also seen as the flower of Scotland.

Northern Ireland - St. Patrick and the Shamrock Northern Ireland - St. Patrick and the Shamrock.  The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover. An Irish tale tells of how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

1Choose the countries which are the parts of the UK England b) Scotland c) Wales d) Republic of Ireland e) Northern Ireland 2. Match the country with its capital. Соотнесите страны и их столицы.   1)England a) Cardiff 2)Scotland b) London 3)Wales c) Edinburgh 4)Northern Ireland d) Belfast 5) the UK 3. Match the plant symbol and the country 1. Wales 2. Scotland 3.Northern Ireland 4. England