The Flag of England - Description of the English Flag
As the above picture of the English Flag indicates the overall background is white
The description of the English Flag is as follows:
White with a centred red cross that extends to the edges of the flag
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the English flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The basic style shown in the picture of the English flag is described as Cross reflecting the central design of the flag pattern
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the English flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The Meaning & History of the English Flag and St. George - The English flag depicts the cross of St. George, the Patron Saint of England. The feast of England's patron saint is celebrated on 23rd April and Knighthoods of the Order of the Garter are also bestowed on 23rd April
The Real St. George
George run the family estate in Palestine and was born of noble, Christian parents and was a Roman Soldier
He held the rank of a Roman Tribune. A Tribune was a Roman magistrate whose task it was to protect the people against oppression
The Emperor was Diocletian (245-313) who was a great persecutor of Christians
George complained personally to the Emperor about the harsh treatment and persecution of the Christians
Emperor Diocletian threw George into prison where he was tortured, but he refused to recant his Christian faith
He was sentenced to death, dragged through the streets and beheaded
He was martyred at Lydda in Palestine (Nicomedia) and became a cult figure for Christians
St. George became England's patron saint in the 14th century
The Legend of St. George and the Dragon
St George was venerated as a soldier saint
Many legends surrounded the honour and bravery of St. George - the most famous was the legend of St. George and the Dragon
According to legend a dragon was terrorising a Pagan land. The dragon was at first pacified by being fed sheep but then demanded human sacrifice including a beautiful princess
The brave St. George rode into the land and, single-handed, slaughtered the dragon
St. George the Saint of Battles
St George became the Saint of Battles and his symbol, the red cross on the white field, was closely associated with the Crusaders and King Richard the Lionheart
The Crusaders were Christian Knights who went on Crusades to free Jerusalem from the Infidels
The Knights wore chain mail armor which was covered by a surcoat. This livery was a white tabard, or tunic, emblazoned by the red cross of St. George.
Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
Flag History & Evolution:
The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms were born
These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a modern flag
English Flag Etiquette
English Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including English as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of English
State Flag of English
Military Flag of English (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of English
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the English Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of English should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
The English flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of English should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the English flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of English, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in English Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the English flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the English flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the English flag to the top, then lowering the English Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the English flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The English flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the English flag
The English flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
The English flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The English flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to English Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding English Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource.
England
Location:
Western Europe, northwest of France
English Land Size : 130,373 square kilometers (50,337 square miles)
English Climate / Weather : temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Former English Name(s) : n/a
English Capital City: London
English Main Industries : machine tools, electric power & automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
English Agricultural products : cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
English Currency : British pound (GBP) Stirling
Main Colors of the English Flag : White with red cross
The Celts and Ancient British / English History
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common - barbarian
It is from the Greek word Keltoi from which the word 'Celt' is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the Celts
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
280 BC - The Celts sacked many Greek cities
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
50-100AD - The spread of Christianity
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
Middle Ages - Various different cultures emerged in the lands of the Celts and the history of each country changed accordingly
The above information provides a concise background to the Ancient British / English civilisations
The Emergence of England
After the Romans leave the country Britain is separated into many small kingdoms
486 - 865 The Middle Ages are dominated by increasing English trade links with the continent including the German Saxons and Viking raids
The English inhabitants were referred to as the Anglo-Saxons
Christianity spreads throughout the country and St Augustus is sent by the Pope to convert the English population
Information about this period has been obtained from a monk and Historian referred to as The Venerable Bede (673 - 735) in his writing "Ecclesiastical History of the English People"
The Venerable Bede introduced the concept of England and the English people - a Christian people untarnished by any Pagan past...
1120-1129 "HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIAE" was written by Geoffrey of Monmouth and details the English Arthurian legend of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the chivalric court of Camelot. This provided the Welsh with a claim to the sovereignty of the whole island of Britain of which the Tudors took advantage
Concise History of England
871 Wessex Saxon King Ethelred and his brother Alfred, defeat the Danes at the Battle of Ashdown (in Berkshire)
871-899 King Alfred the Great
1016-1035 - Danish under King Canute rule England
1042 - House of Wessex is Restored under Edward, the Confessor (1042-66) and Harold II (1066)
1066 - The Battle of Hastings - William, Duke of Normandy crowned King of England (William I)
1066-1087) - The Normans rule the English
1086 - 1088 - The English Domesday Book is compiled
1154 - 1399 - The Plantagenets (Angevin Line)
1399 - 1371 - The Plantagenets (Lancastrian Line)
1371 - 1485 - The Plantagenets (Yorkist Line)
1485 - 1603 - The Tudors
1603 - 1649 - The Stuarts
1649 - 1659 - The Commonwealth under the Cromwells
1660 - 1688 - House of Stuart, Restored
1689 - 1702 - House of Orange and Stuart
1702 - 1714 - House of Stuart
1714 - 1901 - House of Brunswick, Hanover Line
1901 - Present Day - House of Windsor
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In just a short period of time this concise information with specific facts will improve your overall understanding of the great countries of the World
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The English Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the English Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
