Description of the United Kingdom (UK) Flag - The Union Jack
As the
above picture of the United Kingdom (UK) Flag indicates the colors of the
United Kingdom (UK) Flag, or Union Jack, are red, white and blue - the
actual background, or field, is blue
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the United Kingdom (UK) Flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the United Kingdom (UK) Flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The
United Kingdom flag
pictures the crosses of the Patron Saints of England,
Scotland and Ireland on a blue field as follows:
The red
cross of Saint George, the patron saint of England, edged
in white
Superimposed
on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick the patron saint of
Ireland
Superimposed
on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew, the patron saint of
Scotland
To fly the
United Kingdom flag the correct way up, the broad white band of St. Andrew
should be above the red band of St. Patrick in the upper-hoist
canton
The Meaning
& History of the the Union Jack, or given its correct title the
Union Flag, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. The name
"Union Jack" derives from its early use as a 'jack' which
is the small flag flown at the bow of a ship
The red
saltire cross attributed to St. Patrick was added to represent
Ireland however St Patrick was not a martyr and therefore no
cross was ever ascribed to him
The red
cross, attributed to St. Patrick, is in actual fact, part of the heraldic
device of the Fitzgerald family crest
The
Fitzgerald family were sent by the
English King Henry II of England (1154-1189) to suppress the
Irish in 1172
This flag
has never been used as an emblem of Ireland by the Irish
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
United
Kingdom (UK)
Flag Etiquette
United Kingdom (UK) 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 United Kingdom (UK) as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
United Kingdom (UK)
State Flag of
United Kingdom (UK)
Military Flag of
United Kingdom (UK) (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
United Kingdom (UK)
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the United Kingdom
(UK) Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
United Kingdom (UK) 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 United Kingdom
(UK) flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
United Kingdom (UK) should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the United Kingdom
(UK) flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of United
Kingdom (UK), 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 United Kingdom (UK) Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the United Kingdom (UK) flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the United Kingdom (UK) flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the United Kingdom (UK) flag to the top, then lowering the
United Kingdom (UK) Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the United Kingdom (UK) flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The United Kingdom (UK) flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the United Kingdom (UK) flag
The United
Kingdom (UK) 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 United
Kingdom (UK)
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
United Kingdom (UK) flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to United
Kingdom (UK)
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 United Kingdom (UK) Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
United
Kingdom (UK)
Location:
Western Europe, islands including the
northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North
Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
Land Size of
United Kingdom (UK) : 244,820 sq km
Climate / Weather
of United Kingdom (UK) : temperate; moderated by prevailing
southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than
one-half of the days are overcast
Population of
United Kingdom (UK) : 60,270,708 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
N/A
Capital City of
United Kingdom (UK) : London
GDP of United
Kingdom (UK) : $1.664 trillion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment,
railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and
parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals,
chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food
processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
Currency of United
Kingdom (UK)
: British pound (GBP)
Main Colors of
United Kingdom (UK) Flag : Red, white and blue
Concise History of United Kingdom and the UK Flag (Union Jack)
Queen
Elizabeth I
named the son of Mary Queen of Scots (her cousin) as her
successor
James VI of
Scotland therefore also became James I of England and on April
12, 1606
The first
'Union Flag' was created by combining the red cross of St. George of England and the saltire
of St. Andrew of Scotland
Wales had
been conquered by Edward I of England (1239 - 1307) and became
incorporated into England under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284.
Wales was therefore considered part of the kingdom of England
and the Welsh flag never became part of the Union Flag
The Union
Flag was originally a royal flag rather than a national flag
The new
Union flag was only for use at sea by the military
vessels of England and Scotland to show common
allegiance in the two countries to the monarch
The term
"ensign" is a flag that is
flown (as by a ship) as the symbol of nationality
In 1649 - the execution of
King Charles I and dissolution of the
monarchy
1649 - Oliver Cromwell decreed that the use of the Union Flag
was discontinued because it’s purpose was to show
allegiance to a crown which no longer existed
In 1660 the
monarchy was restored and the Union flag was used specifically
in the king's ships
1707 - England and Scotland were officially united in the
Act of Union and the flag became "the ensign armorial of the
United Kingdom"
January 1,
1801 - Act of Union with Ireland - The red
saltire cross, attributed to St. Patrick, was added to represent
Ireland
The Union
Jack has never been made an official civil flag by any legal
process
It has
become the British National Flag through usage, custom &
practice
In 1908
it was stated in Parliament that "the Union Jack should be
regarded as the National flag"
In 1933 the
Home Secretary stated “... the Union Flag is the
national flag and may properly be flown by any British subject
on land”
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
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
A useful Educational Resource
accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80
minutes!"
The
Flag and Nation of United Kingdom
(UK)
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of United Kingdom
(UK) has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge
of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flag 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!
