Wales is now little more than an extension of England, a major location of English holiday homes. You are grouped as England and Wales as you have no independent opinion.
@@anushkasekkingstad1300 They do have their own opinion. They're just grouped with England as England occupied them which is why they don't have their own courts and all that like Scotland and NI
I'm welsh and I don't blame them for not putting "the cool dragon," you said it yourself, on it, overshadowing everything else! The welsh flag is the coolest.
I'm English and I don't see how the Welsh flag could be incorporated into the Union flag without it looking a mess. Having said that, under no circumstances should the Welsh flag be messed with either, it's easily the best looking out of all of them.
@@muttley00 what... why would I care that you think the welsh flag is cool? I just stated a fact that most people either haven't heard of Wales or think it's part of England.
The fact that you are going out of your way to learn makes you an open minded, forward thinking person. Good luck. S (UK National). P.S. Asking questions doesn't make you dumb, it makes you smart. 🏴🇺🇸
Knowing lots of facts and stuff does not make you smart. US education, seemingly to European eyes, specialises in students knowing historic dates and and being able recite by heart key quotes of US presidents. That self evidently does not make those students 'smart'. Collating and understanding data, interpreting information, comprehending it and being able to utilise that comprehension is what we equate to wisdom.
I love that you are looking into UK history, parliament and flags. This is a very interesting video. There is so much more to explore about this flag, how it is referred to. A lot of UK people refer to it as the Union Jack, but it used to only be called that when flown on a UK warship, and otherwise as the Union Flag. Interestingly, although many depictions make the flag look symmetrical, it is not, and it used to be a way for ships to display distress by flying the union jack/flag upside down. Yes, there is a correct way up! Asking the right questions makes you smart, and you are doing a great job. I am learning lots from your channel. Keep making great content like this! Just a last comment, what the UK is, ... as stated on my passport, I am from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
@@gordonmurray3153 Yes but by acquiring facts and data like this lad is doing, he may follow it up by going into more detail. I knew as a child that The Battle of Hastings was in 1066. As I got older, my own interest (which this chap has) prompted me to ask questions thus learning its background and the circumstances surrounding it.
@@BloodyOffDoors and yet, you still don't know that the battle of Hastings wasn't at Hastings at all, but miles up the coast, near Battle. That for instance, good king Harold Godwinson king of England didn't actually get shot in the eye by an arrow, that he was king for only 9months, the reason why William the Bastard duke of Normany invaded was because the previous king Edward, had made William his heir, not Harold. Harold's only claim to the throne of England was that his sister had married the old king. That the rightfull heir was busy in France at the time. Imagine a brother of Camilla Parker Bowles(nee Shand), attempting to claim the throne of England in this day and age And I'm Scottish, raised and educated in Scotland, yet I know this stuff. Should kinda make you think.
I was taught when at school that the Union Jack was only called Union Jack when on war ships/ships representing Great Britain, When it's just being fluttered about by hand or when on flag poles it's just called Union Flag. I went to school in the 80's, I went to school in Scotland and England and I was told the same thing by both countries
First & Morris, that was true until 1908 when they made calling the Union Flag and the Union Jack synonymous. You can now call UK Flag the Union Jack even when it's not on a naval ship. "It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that 'the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag'."
Yes this is correct. I would also add that the full name of Union Flag is the Union Flag of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. With regard to the exclusion of Wales I believe that this because it is Principality rather than a Kingdom hence why Prince Charles’s title (amongst many) is Prince of Wales. I maybe wrong here but this is my understanding. I’m sure any Welsh person reading this will have strong views on this 😉
Just to confuse you further Tyler the ‘Union Jack’ has two names it’s also called the union flag 😂 The names depict its size and location of the flag. The ‘Union Flag’ was flown on land and the smaller ‘Union Jack’ was displayed on warships but over time the distinction blurred and many people also refer to the ‘Union Flag’ as the ‘Union Jack’
I'm only half Welsh but I've concluded that the reason the Welsh flag is not represented on the Union Jack is because it, and Wales itself, is too awesome. If they put the dragon or any green on there then the rest of the UK would be jealous of the fact that they're not Welsh. A bit like how Americans, deep down, are jealous that they're not Canadian.......
You’ll see much more of the English flag later in this year when England plays the USA in the World Cup football qualifying round, Group B. November … Wales and Iran are in the same group.
@@32ewing "The English and the French joined together in some kind of war effort". Dude...? It was "The Crusades". The war between Christians and Muslims.
'Jack' is/was a naval term for a flag and it was run up a 'jackstaff.' A staff is an olden word for a stick. Flags are run up a flagstaff or a flagpole. (The 'Union Jack' just means, the flag of the Union)
Hi from England 😁 I only think of the England flag when it’s sports related! Also I’d like to know how the Welsh feel about their flag not being part of the Union Jack, but I think that Welsh dragon is epic just as it is 🏴
Comment above, but also the Welsh flag began existence after the Union Jack came into existence. And no, we won't put the Dragon in the centre because the centre indicates who is in charge and considering the British parliament is in England and England is the majority of the UK it's the st George cross which takes precedence
Wales was regarded as a conquered country at the time the Union flag was created so they had no right to have their own flag incorporated into the union flag. All the excuses they give the Welsh as to why their flag is not on the union flag is simply to make the Welsh feel equal to Scotland and England. Then again England has been conquered many times over the millenia, the only country on the British isles not to be conquered is Scotland and that is the real reason the rest of the UK want Scotland to remain in the UK...the Scots are the best fighters and defenders.
The American flag does have a name, the "Star-Spangled Banner." The British and UK flag are the same because the two are interchangeable. "British" is the adjective referring to all the peoples of the United Kingdom. The "United Kingdom" is the name of the country itself. Much like how you call yourselves "Americans" of the United States of America, or just the United States. Same thing. It is the national identification for all the peoples of the United Kingdom.
The US flag has no official name...all names used are nicknames only. The UK flag is called the Union Flag or Union Jack. British and UK aren't interchangeable both ways...Britain is a part of the UK but the UK is not a part Britain. Britain or the full name Great Britain is just the name of the largest island of the British Isles and contains most but not all of the UK (Northern Ireland is on the Island of Ireland which is not part of Great Britain) The UK is a country of countries.
@@stevenbalekic5683 Exactly. Great Britain and the United Kingdom are not the same thing. Great Britain = England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom = those three plus Northern Ireland.
To be fair lots of English people also don’t know Saint George was a Greek/Turkish/Palestinian who never came to England, yet use the St.George flag as a weapon of nationalist pride. If you don’t know, you don’t know. He gets credit for educating himself.
I am from Scotland and the country has 2 flags. The St. Andrews Cross which you see in the video and the Lion Rampant which is a red lion bordered by red fencing on a yellow background.
'British' is the only useable adjective to use for the whole of the UK. 'Great Britain' is different from the UK, but 'Britain' is not, because it is a colloquial term - a very useful one.
@@Rabmac1UK You really miss the point (in a big way). 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' cannot be used as an adjective ("I am United-Kingdom-of-Great-Britain-and-Northern-Irelandish" just doesn't work). So 'British' is - as I said - the only useable adjective. We've never tried 'UKish" - and it wouldn't catch on. Great Britain (not Britain) excludes Northern Ireland, by the way, if you really want to be pedantic. 'British' is a colloquialism.
The American Flag does have a nickname. It's called "Old Glory" and has been since the early 1800s. I'm not sure about today but I was not taught "flag history" in school. My father, Uncles, Grandfather, etc. were in the Army and Navy and that is who I learned it from. They taught us about all the flags.
@@franl155 2:40 - _"the usa flag doesn't have a name"_ ? as a stupid european, i had assumed that it had at least one name : "the stars and stripes" and/or also "star spangled banner"
@@Anson_AKB yeah me too, the lyrics of the US national anthem refers to their 'Star Spangled Banner'. Apparently, many Americans have no idea about either the words or the story behind their own national anthem, famously would struggle to find the USA on map, of America.
@@gordonmurray3153 that's just a lie. We aren't that stupid. We know a decent amount of our history even if our education system glosses over history and Geography.
The original English flag like the Welsh flag had a dragon on it. Only in Englands case it was a white dragon not red. This was the flag flown by the English army of King Harold when he defeated the Viking army of the formidable King Harald Hadrada at Stanford Bridge in Yorkshire. After this victory King Harold learned that another Viking army had landed at the other end of the country in Sussex. So King Harold had to march his exhausted army all the way down the country to meet the new threat of William the bastard, Duke of Normandy at Hastings. This battle lasted all day and just before dark when it would have ended, Harold was hit on the eye with an arrow and all was lost. After this battle William became King and it was his Norman descendants that changed the flag to the cross of St George during the crusades around 3 hundred years later.
you mean the original British flag, because the white dragon represented the Anglo-Saxons, which were and still are nothing more than invaders and occupants - England wasn't even a thing back then
@@lilithiaabendstern6303 No, I mean the original English flag of the white dragon, which is even referenced in early welsh confirming it as the flag of the English, from around the 5th century onwards. It was last flown by King Harold Godwinson at both the battle of Stanford bridge and at Hastings in 1066. The English are no more foreign invaders than the Welsh or the Scots. All are descended from indo Europeans who first arrived here during the iron age and we know them as the Celts or Brithonic peoples . However, they drove out the original people who arrived after the ice age and built Stonehenge. English DNA contains 70% of Brithonic dna as does south Wales and Southern Scotland. The North of Scotand and the North of Wales is predominantly Irish DNA. The Irish invaded all along the east coast of Britain from Cornwall to Scotland. Even the name 'Scotland', comes from the Irish Scoti tribe who invaded and drove out the older pictish peoples. Irish dna, as well as the similarities between their languages, reveals that they originated in the Middle East.
@@petergaskin1811 The original English flag is a white dragon an a red background and is described in both The Historia Britonum, written around 828 and The History of the Kings of Britain a medieval text. The golden 'dragon' that you mentioned is actually not a dragon but a Wyvern, and is claimed to be the flag of Wessex. Though it was only registered as such in 2011.
To complicate things for you a bit more, Northern Ireland has it's own flag as well. A red cross, like the English one, with a red hand in the middle of it.
The Red Hand of Ulster, or Ulster Banner, was tied to the Northern Irish Parliament. So when it ended, the Ulster Banner lost its official footing. But it is still the most beautiful and symbolic of the home country flags
@@patricialewis1464 Should hear him on the subject of the British Isles, UK, Ireland, NI, Great Britain LOL And Brexit. He had really no idea at all. But kudos to him for educating himself.
How would modern American's be expected to know what the Cross of St George flag looks like. It has only been about since the 13th century and featured on flags in over 12 countries worldwide and used by 6 states in the USA 🤭.....
Wales was always considered part of the Kingdom of England's flag, because it is a principality to the Kingdom of England, which is why the first-born son of the English monarch is the Prince of Wales. The Union flag is only a union of former separate kingdoms' flags
It’s much more simple than that: when the flag for England was settled upon, King Henry VIII had passed laws incorporating Wales into England. Nothing to do with it being a supposed “principality” at all. The current Welsh flag is much more recent than that. If we are going back to patron saints, then the flag of the patron saint of Wales (St. David) would have to be used. I understood this to be a yellow cross on a black background. I think it might be tricky to incorporate this into the Union Flag. Of course, we are omitting the issue of Cornwall, too, whose incorporation into England is contested by some, and which happened much earlier than the 1500s.
@@davidstretch5614 The fact that Wales was a principality to England is exactly how and why the Welsh Tudors formally annexed Wales. The fact the Prince of Wales is still a title (albeit ceremonial) means the Principality of Wales still exists, at least ceremonially.
@@TheJthom9 the reason the Tudors might have annexed Wales might be connected with it being a “principality”, but I think the main reason was to extend their power over that part of Great Britain (ie, the “principality” argument was a convenient pretense). The fact that there is still a tradition of the eldest male child of the monarch being called “prince of wales” is merely one of tradition and does not imply the continued existence of an entity called a “principality”.
@@davidstretch5614 Principality explains entirely the pretext of the relationship between England and Wales to this day and is the fundamental premise for this union and the legal entity of England and Wales. It is no different to how Scotland is still technically considered a separate kingdom to England because they were unified as separate kingdoms. Queen is monarch of England (including Wales) and Scotland separately as well as together as the UK, so if Scotland secedes, it would revert back to being the Kingdom of Scotland; in the same way that, if Wales secedes, it would revert back to being the Principality of Wales with the Prince of Wales as Head of State (unless it wanted to be a republic). England and Wales have a unique relationship within the UK which is entirely explained by Wales's historical status. Wales has no royal or legal relationship with Scotland, for example, for the same reason. If otherwise, Wales would be just an arbitrary constituent country, which is just not the case.
Basically the Union Jack (strictly speaking Union Flag, unless flown on a ship) is the flag we in the UK think of as representing us when we are identifying as 'British'. However, on occasions when our identification is more specific- for example most sporting events (though not in the Olympics) people from the constituent nations identify with the flag of their nation. So, for example, when England is playing in international football (soccer) matches then everywhere (homes, businesses, cars etc) sprouts the red and white cross of St George in support.
Going forward, now you seem to be getting a grasp on the England/Great Britain/UK thing, it may help to add 'of' at the end whenever you think of the United Kindom. Hopefully it will remind you of the full title - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and help to remind you of which countries belong to which part. Just a thought! 😊
After the act of Union in 1707, the actual name of the country was Great Britain. You’re right, today Great Britain isn’t a country just the name of the island and the United Kingdom is the name of the country. However in 1707 the country was called Great Britain
@Tyler Rumple. You may already know this. Care must be taken when hoisting and displaying the Union Flag of the United Kingdom. The wider stripe of the Saltaire Cross of St. Andrew (Scotland) should always be in the top left - hand corner when the flag is flown "landscape" style (as in your video at 14:53). The flying of the Union Flag with the thin stripe in the top left - hand corner (inverted/upside down) is apparently an old Naval distress signal from the days of sailing ships, when "Britannia ruled the waves"! Stay safe and well.
Also not mentioned in the video or the comments ive seen so far - the Saltire of st. patrick is offset on the diagonal within the white area of the scottish saltire. This means there is a slightly broader white bit above the diagonal in the top left of the flag. This means that when flying the flag you have to pay attention to fixing it the right way up. This means that you can also signal distress by flying the flag upside down
We picked up the St George’s Cross when Venice and Genoa both had powerful navies - the patron saint of Genoa was St George, and English ships ‘adopted’ the Génoise flag as protection; nobody attacked Génoise ships! And so it became the English naval flag…
@@mintyfrompolo oh yes, probably. But it seems to have been picked up as the symbol of Genoa - St George their patron saint - and because of the power of the Genoese navy, was used by English boats as a defence. I think the English flag/emblem might have been the royal standard of the time - like the French had the fleur-de-lyse.
@@michaels640 l've got vague recollections of seeing that there's somewhere in the Middle East who has St George and the Dragon in their history too. One of those places you'd never think would had a connection.
You're not the only American to not know about the English flag. In Stargate: Atlantis, every character has a flag on their uniform to represent where they come from. Canadians have the Canadian flag. Americans have the Stars and Stripes, Japanese have the Japanese flag, Scottish have the Scottish flag, and the English characters have the Union Flag. Really bugs me.
You are correct that Great Britain is the name of a geographic island and not a country, but in the same way that 'The United States of America' can be referred to as 'USA,' 'US,' 'The States' or 'America' for short, 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' can be referred to as 'The United Kingdom,' 'UK,' 'Great Britain,' 'Britain,' or 'GB' for short also. Even though Northern Ireland is part of the island Ireland and not Great Britain the island, it is similar to calling the US as 'America' even though the US does not include all of the Americas. Also a fun fact, the word Britain comes from the Roman Britannia, meaning land of the Britons, and the French region of Brittany is named from the same root, as they were also Britons, and still speak the Breton language, the only Celtic language still in use in mainland Europe.
The reason why Wales isn't included on the Union Jack is because the Union Jack is a flag combining the flags of the kingdoms within the United Kingdom, and Wales isn't a kingdom it is a principality. Wales never had a Act of Union like the 1707 Scottish one, or the 1801 Irish one.
I refer to myself as English and British ,just as you might say you are a Texan and an American. United Kingdom = United States. It’s common for all nations within the United Kingdom’s to fly their own national flag alongside the Union Jack. Wales didn’t get their flag incorporated in the Union Jack because Wales was a part of England when the flag was created. It has since gained its own devolved parliament and is very proud of the Welsh Dragon.
Em nope?? England is an actual country with actual history and tribal origin Texas is just a state in america britain is the sovereign state scotland england wales and ireland are countries every americanas idenity themselves with beign americand scots and many welsh dont, even etncity wise they are difrence
@ Francois D’aureville . The UK is the sovereign state made up of four regions. Those regions all happen to have had independence and ‘Country’ status in the past and just to confuse it slightly some have a Devolved government today. It is interesting - people in England never really refer to themselves as English, we are British from the UK, but I think that is different in the other regions. Scottish from Uk, etc, similarly to Scots American? The reference to Texas is interesting too as it was an independent country for a short while in the past, so not really that different to our reference.
@@bq6476 the only people who think that are english people every welsh scottish etc.. ive meet identify themselves as scottish or welsh isnt their fault that english people lost their identity already as a french person who lives in england today that is sad you know the uk isnt going to last right??? Scotland and n ireland are making sure of that, you really are comparing a state like texas that was just part of México and then USA with actually historic states like england or scotland????
The 'X' shape is known as a 'saltire'. And yes - flags and standards were invented specifically as a means to identify armies (& navies) in war. That's their reason to exist..
You might be interested in "Trooping the colour." It is a process of running the regimental flag (colour) past the troops to make sure that they had all seen it up close. That enabled them to find their people easily during a battle. It is now a famous ceremony in the UK performed every year on the Queen's "official" birthday.
I'm English, I think of the Union Jack as my flag. Except when England are playing in the Euro or World Cup football (or other international sports for that matter), then my flag is briefly just England.
I'm English, I think of the Cross of Saint George as my flag. Except when at, or in preparation for, war or similar conflict when our armed forces, formed of men and women from throughout the UK, are united against a common enemy. It galls me that on official documents there is no option to state England or English as my nationality or place of birth. Being forced to use the options of United Kingdom or Great Britain always seems incorrect to me. As for the 'United Kingdom' and/or 'Great Britain', yes differences exist and are known by the populations of both, yet there is a blurred perception of both and almost an acceptance that they are the same thing. Even to the extent that the sticker which is compulsory to attach to our vehicles when travelling abroad used to read GB but has recently been changed to UK.
The Scottish flag is also known as the Saltire. It generally, these days, is only used on sporting occasions, like football (soccer). The English flag is still used for the same sporting events, .and since a lot of sporting contests concern bits of the Union, they tend to be seen in Britain more often than the Union Flag.
The Union Jack evolved over time exactly as the Stars and Stripes did. As more (nation)states joined , they were added to the flag, just as each American state had a star added to old glory.
It's amazing how many Americans don't know the Union Jack used to be incorporated into their flag, even through the revolution they flew the Union Jack on their flag. It used to look like the typical red and white stripes but instead of the blue and stars it was a union Jack
Actually the Union flag only incorporates England and Scotland, And I suppose Northern Ireland since their flag is basically the english flag with the red hand of ulster, however Wales is not.
Roast potatoes are an essential part of what is known as a “roast dinner” which is a joint of meat, beef, pork, lamb or chicken and roast potatoes plus some other vegetables. To make the perfect roast potatoes you peel the potatoes first cut them into medium size pieces, boil them for about 7 minutes then you drain them and shake them to toughen the surface and put them in a pan with oil (the best option is goose fat) and bake them in the oven until golden brown. They taste absolutely delicious.
Back in the day we were taught about the flag (sorry The Flag) in junior school. Note too that the diagonal white bands on the Union flag vary in thickness, there is a right way up and a wrong way up. In days gone by, it could be flown upside down to indicate distress (though good luck with spotting the difference at a distance). There are urban myths about aircraft getting upside down flags painted on their fuselages by folk who were clearly never in the Scouts. Also don't get confused between Political boundaries and Geographic ones. In geographical terms the British Isles include Ireland, whereas Great Britain refers to the biggest island made up of England, Scotland and Wales. This being YT, if any of that is wrong someone will likely shout. King James the First of England, who was also James the Sixth of Scotland, considered a selection of possible configurations of the flag. Some had literally the two flags of England and Scotland stitched together, others had a pattern derived from a number of smaller flags. Pity they dropped that idea, Wales could have been easily fitted in: Red, White, Blue.....and Green. In theory it is United Kingdoms, but let's not start on that - two Kingdoms, one Principality and a Province, plus a lot of other bits.
The flag should only be called the 'Union Jack' when it is flown from the jack staff on the bow of a war ship. The US navy also has a 'Jack', the flag with just the stars, flown from the jack staff of navy warships. The first flag of British America was a variation of the East India Company's red and white striped flag.
@@frankmitchell3594 The British came to trade . The natives showed them how to grow tobacco, potatoes and corn in return the natives asked the British for protection against bigger rival tribes. They even showed what plants and berries were medicinal and what was edible. They also showed the new arrivals how to store food throughout the winter. Virginia itself the first settlement was named after Elizabeth I, the virgin Queen.
@Frank Mitchell - FYI: Sorry you are incorrect about the Union 'Jack' only being referred to it that way when on a 'jackstaff'. That is a long outdated story and the UK adopted and legally accepted the terminology Union Fag AND Union Jack, wherever and whenever flown (for well over a hundred years). Thus: The Union Jack or Union Flag is the de facto national flag of the United Kingdom. The Flag Institute (a membership-run vexillological charity) states "the national flag of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories is the Union Flag, which may also be called the Union Jack." The institute has further stated: It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908, a government minister stated, in response to a parliamentary question, that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag of the United Kingdom". Also, Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945, referred to the flag of the United Kingdom as the Union Jack. Even in March 1899 he wrote to his mother referring to the Union Jack as the flag of Great Britain... Cheers 👍🇬🇧
The Union Jack appears in the corner of our Australian flag. We also have the southern cross constellation and the Commonwealth star. However I never knew the Union Jack was made up of the flags from Ireland Scotland and England either! Makes perfect sense, very cool.
@@lovepeace5845 - An OLD story over 100 years out of date. It is the Union Flag OR Union Jack whenever or wherever flown. Confirmed during a Parliamentary Question in 1908 ! Even Winston Churchill always called it the Union Jack...
James the First, (James the Sixth of Scotland) inherited the throne of the childless Elizabeth the First of England. He was the son of Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth's cousin and the nearest living relative.
Ask any Hawaiian what the state flag looks like! Btw, you said you're not trying to sound dumb but boy you sure are making a good job of it! 'History is interesting, who knew?' Bloody hell, only an American would say that!
It, minus the cross of St Patrick, was the flag we fought against during the revolution. It was also incorporated into our very first national banner called the Grand Union Flag. The thirteen red & White Stripes representing the colonies and the Jack representing our ever more reluctant union between America and the Crown.
That's quite a complicated issue because there were many variations. In 1959 the Queen gave her seal of approval to the use of the people's choice of the Red Dragon (Draig Goch).
I have only been watching your videos for a week and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy them. I watch them every day and usually watch several of them one after the other. I have learned some things about America aswell and like your America verses Britain comparisons. I would love to meet you. You seem like a very nice guy and I would enjoy talking to you for hours on American and British culture differences. Good work on the videos my friend.
The UK flag is called the Union Jack. It was designed by King James I (James VI of Scotland) in 1606 representing the flags of Scotland, England and Ireland and remains unchanged. A Jack is the flag flown on the mast or bow (pointy end) of a ship. The Union jack is still included in the flag of several countries and ironically, on the Flag of the US state of Hawaii. The US flag is called the 'Stars and Stripes' or 'Star spangled banner' designed in 1776. Since then, there have been 27 different versions. Today there are 50 stars representing the 50 states and 13 stripes representing the 13 original colonies. 👍
wrong the Union flag was only England and Scotland Union Jack is a naval flag for SHIPS the so called UNION only can't after the Scottish alien act of 1705 after Scotland refused to join a UNION Scottish ships were hijacked crew kidnapped thrown in jail and cargo STOLEN and Scots were arrested on sight if they entered England after two years of this bullshit trying to bankrupt Scotland and blackmail them into a Union no one voted to join England just 12 Scottish lords bought off with English gold to sign the agreement while crowds rioted outside against the Union in the streets of Edinburgh
@James Codling- Not true, you are about 200 years out of date! Both Union Flag OR Union Jack are accepted terminology wherever and whenever flown (not just from a 'flagstaff'). Check the Flag Institute for all the legalities...
An American friend was shocked that Fiji is actually a country, not just bottled water. Shocked myself at his ignorance, I asked how could he not know? He replied "Americans aren't taught anything OUTSIDE of their country, why should we? We're the greatest country in the world"... 🤦🏾♀️
9:12 James VI King of Scots. He was James I of England and Ireland from 1603 to 1625, and wanted to merge his kingdoms into one (a noble idea, despite the kingdoms not being happy about this). An easy slip for the person making the video, but King James I of Scots was a few hundred years earlier ( 25 July 1394 - 21 February 1437 ). Thank you for making your own video on this subject, it's a pleasure to watch content that's educational and entertaining at the same time !
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, however, people there are allowed to choose to be Irish citizens rather than British. In my first year at university one of my flatmates was a girl from Belfast who had an Irish passport not a British passport. This wasn't that uncommon in that city (Liverpool), a lot of students were Northern Irish and many were Irish citizens not British citizens. It often split on religious lines, Catholics were more likely to be Irish citizens and Protestants were more likely to be British citizens.
The St George's Cross of England was rather hijacked some years ago by a number of right-wing organisations, but lefties like me fought back in a 'Reclaim the Flag' campaign. A lot of English people don't know, however, that the St George's Cross - with or without the arms of whichever Diocese you're in in one corner - has long been authorised to fly from Church of England churches. (The UK has two 'Established' Churches, I.e. official state churches, an Episcopalian Church ( the Church of England) for England, and a Presbyterian Church, the Church of Scotland, for Scotland. No Church is Established for Wales or Northern Ireland. ) Do not forget an even more interesting flag, the Royal Standard, which exists in an official English form and an official Scottish form. This is a combination of the ancient Royal Arms of England, Scotland , and Ireland. It can only be flown over a building if the Queen is actually present inside. ( And that's how you know she's there.) It can never be flown at half-mast, because in law we always have a monarch, another one taking over the minute one dies. And there is a Royal flag for Wales. The Queen's son, Charles, is Prince of Wales. Now, members of the Royal Family can use the Royal Standard 'differenced', I.e. with another symbol on it. Prince Charles's "difference' is a plain white 'label', which looks rather like a washing-line, going across the top. But in addition, his flag has the ancient arms of the Princes of Wales on a small shield in the middle, surmounted by a Princely Crown. Northern Ireland has had a flag - the blood-red right hand of Ulster in the middle of the St George's Cross - but this only appeals to one side of the sectarian divide, so I think has been officially discontinued. Many parts of the UK have their own flags, such as St Piran's Cross for Cornwall, which thinks of itself as a separate nation. The Isle of Man has the 'Three Legs of Man', and the Channel Isles have their own flags. Many areas have recently adopted flags, including the Black Country where I live, where we love our Black Country Flag.
st geoges cross was adopeted by the english from genoa ,the english king payed the doge for english merchent ships to fly the genoise flag in the med thus becoming under the protecton of the genoise fleat
Before 1707 Scotland and England were completely separate countries who just happened to share a king, but had totally separate parliaments and governments. In 1707 they were united into "The United Kingdom of Great Britain". Scotland and England stopped being independent countries. England and Scotland are part of the UK like Texas and California are part of the US.
@@hayee Cool yeah it is interesting. I also have Scottish and Welsh in my family, so I think that’s why I also see the Union Flag as representing me more than if I only had family from one of the countries
Great Britain is the name of an island; the largest of the British Isles. However, it has also been used (semi) informally to refer to the countries on it in the same way as we might refer to the US as 'America'. For a hundred years or so, it was also adopted as the name of a nation state but that is separate to the geographic usage. In practice, it isn't confusing because it is usually very clear from context whether you're talking about 'Great Britain' as a grouping of countries (for example, for the purposes of a modern treaty which sometimes need to distinguish England, Scotland and Wales from Northern Ireland for legal reasons), as an island (for example when talking about sea currents or physical location), or as a historical nation state (when talking about historical events). It probably feels confusing because you're learning about it from videos that try to discuss all these things at the same time :) It is commonly referred to by others as the 'British flag' btw, as the official term for people who are citizens of the UK is 'British'. This isn't without controversy from (especially) Irish nationalists who view 'Britain' as synonymous with Great Britain, and mostly England. This isn't a controversy to be taken lightly either, as we spent several decades (up until the late 1990s) in an effective civil war over issues of Irish sovereignty and religious and national identity. I'd refer to it as the 'UK flag' unless you know enough about the history of these islands, and especially the Troubles, to avoid saying something contentious (to put it mildly). Last bit of colour: there is in fact a 'Little Britain'. These days it is more commonly called Brittany, and it is part of France. It's a Celtic region, but with Celts who moved there from Wales and Cornwall rather than from mainland Europe. They speak a language that's similar to Welsh or Cornish called Breton.
@@stevenbreach2561 There was a mass migration from Great Britain to Brittany in ~6th century. You can see this in the language: Breton is a Brittonic Celtic language (along with Welsh and Cornish), which is a subgroup of the Insular Celtic languages. These differ from the Continental Celtic languages in ways that make it much more likely that Breton comes via Wales/Cornwall than the other way around.
Great Britain is NOT, contrary to popular belief about the largest island. It's actually in comparison to Brittany in Northern France, which was much smaller.
just wanted to explain, the UK's full name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern Ireland", you seemed to think they are two separate things.
Remember from your previous video, you’re “British” if you’re from anywhere within the UK or it’s dependencies and territories. So the Union Jack represents the UK and it’s dependencies and territories.
Just for clarity as far as I know "British" is generally assumed to mean nationality from "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" (for short UK) or dependencies and territories. Great Britain is a purely geographical term for the big island off the coast of France plus the smaller islands naturally associated with it. Ireland is the smaller island to the west of Great Britain of which the northern part remains part of the UK (with a troubled and violent contest between the remain with UK and join Republic of Ireland groups). The British Isles is the entire group of islands which is purely a geographic term and includes multiple countries.
It relates to the Act of Union in 1801 between the kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland (Wales is a princapality) The flags are those of each countires patron Saint Geroge Andrew and Patrick
Wow, he learned something most kids would know about when they're 12 in Denmark. In music we even learned about britsh sailor songs so was always singing about union jacks and jolly Rodgers. Also, let me teach you something as always Tyler. You flag is called The stars and stripes. Again something you learn as a kid here. Just not to offend any septic when you tell them the flag has no name. Wow! 😂
This is a turning point for Britain it won't be called the Union Jack anymore as N Ireland will soon join Ireland Scotland will soon be Independent, so a new flag for England and Wales will be needed.
I am Welsh, this is my flag 🏴 a video about devolution & the different uk political systems would baffle you even more, theres UK parliament, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland is a tricky one again as they do have their own devolved powers and government but its completely different again.
What I always found strange was that the English St George was supposed to have slain a dragon. He was also said to be from Cappadocia (Turkey). Scotland's St Andrew from Galilee. Ireland St Patrick from Roman Britain. Wales is the one who's St was from its own country, St David.
Because saints are admired for their actions not their location, other countries also celebrate these saints, I worked with a guy who used to be in the Bulgarian Navy and he said they all celebrate at George's Day in Bulgaria as part of their military day
When the Union Jack was designed Wales and England were already considered one nation of sorts so they only included the English flag, as a designer myself I'm guessing the flag designers wouldn't have been overly enamoured about including the Welsh flag anyway, the other 3 joined pretty naturally, the Welsh flag would have made it a little more difficult! As a Welshman who actually prefers the term British to Welsh I've never been concerned about our lack of representation on the Union Jack.
I'm Welsh and Wales is NOT part of England and thankfully never will be!! no Welsh symbol should ever be desecrated by being associated with the butchers apron!! also Welsh NOT British thanks!!
Great Britain is a geographical term that refers to the island that includes England, Wales, and Scotland. United Kingdom is a political term that refers to the independent country that includes all of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A couple of decades ago I watched the World Cup for the first time and England was playing and I couldn't understand why their fans were waving a white flag with a red cross and not the Union Jack. That's when I figured out that the UK is actually four countries. I always assumed England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland were just regions not countries. To quote Ted Lasso “How many countries in this country?”
With your confusion over the 4 nations that make up the United Kingdom; they are not independent sovereign nations working together. England is the main govenment and has a large amount of control, Hence being able to force Scotland, Wales and Northen Ireland out of Europe when it was primarily England that voted for it. Scotland, Northen Ireland and Wales have a devolved government, so they are given a budget and the power to govern themselves and make laws that do not affect the other countries in the union. Hope that helps some.
I'm from England and can tell you that almost all of us will say the Union Jack is our flag. The only time we really use the England flag is when England football team are playing in the World Cup or Euros, and maybe on St George's Day in April. The Scottish however want independence from us so they may be more precious over their Scottish flag. On another note, you do have a nickname for your flag, The Star Spangled Banner or as we in the UK call it The Stars and Stripes 😊 LOVE your videos, they really make me chuckle 😂
It is true that we English are very proud of the Union Jack, and that we often fly it instead of St. George's Cross. Maybe that contributes to the misconception that it's the English flag. (Although, of course, every English person is aware that it represents the UK, or Britain, and not England specifically.)
Except the Irish part is completely manufactured, and, as the video says correctly, is rejected by all in Ireland as having ever represented St Patrick or Ireland. Simply British propaganda...
@@spencerburke Ah the first triggered Irishman of 2024. I'd say the 'England Bad' person from the RoI is easily the most triggered of the whole of the British Isles but the Scot Nationalists are rapidly catching you up.
The Union Jack is the flag of the UK and Northern Ireland which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each constituent country has its own flag which are mainly used for sports like when each nation has their own team in the World Cup.
As has already been said we are familiar with the different flags. At the Olympics you will see the Union Flag flown because we enter as a British Team with all the countries of the UK sending athletes to represent the UK. In some sports though the individual countries send separate teams so you will see you will see the English Cross of St George or the Welsh Dragon or even the St Andrews Saltire in Rugby or Football tournaments.
There are also flags for Cornwall and Isle of Mann, The Cornish and Welsh share a similar Brythonic Celtic heritage and are the original Britons. I have a mix of English and and Celtic ancestry. and yes our history is complex lol
I think you’re amazing and found that what you were doing was gaining a sense of knowledge and an understanding of our English flag, so good for you….. Our flag seems to be confusing the hell out of the English people too and we seem to be loosing our history and more important, our identity. Thank you for a very interesting detailed search on this it was very enlightening.
Great Britain is geographical entity - an island. The United Kingdom is a political entity of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. The British Isles is an archipelago consisting of Great Britain, Ireland, The Isle of Man, The Hebrides, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, and the Scilly Isles.
once again your wrong the Union is Scotland England nothing to do with Wales or Ulster or Ireland after 1923 hence no Wales or Ulster in the flag just Ireland England Scotland in their English arrogance they claim Wales isn't a country
@@32ewing he said 'United Kingdom', not 'Union'. The full name is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. Great Britain is the Island containing most of England, Scotland and Wales. So the OP was correct.
be a bit hard for Ulster to be part of the UNION considering it only existed after Irish independence in1923 and the Union was 1707 after a shotgun wedding 2 years after the Scottish Alien act of 1705 better the Welsh or Ulster is in the Union flag not very UNITED KINGDOMS BUT THE IRISH REPUBLIC STILL IS IN THE FLAG THEY NEED A FLAG UPDATE PS ULSTER ISN'T A COUNTRY IT'S AN OCCUPIED 🇬🇧 ZONE JUST LIKE THE WEST BANK
England,Scotland, Wales and northern Ireland are nations with their own national identity but they are sovereign countries Note: Wales isn't on the flag because when the act of union was signed in 1707 Wales was a part of england (it isn't anymore of course)
It might help you if the information comes from a British source as he already got it incorrect, Union flag, Union Jack when on a sea vessel. That's where Jack tar a name for seamen comes from. Don't worry few here in England know these facts either. You should check out your own flag, it's a fascinating history, also what it means when it has a fringe on it, very interesting. Well done for wanting to learn new stuff. 👍🏴
The "flag versus jack" debate is apparently not as clear cut as that. Both BBC's "QI" and "More or Less" on the radio looked into it and found that the terms had been used pretty much interchangeably for 200 years - even in official documents, treaties and legislation. So it's a right old muddle (like most things British constitutional!). 😄
It's the Union Jack everywhere not just on a ship. Where do you get this gibberish from? Because if you'd done any research, for example reading the Flag Institute or the UK Parliament documents you'd know that this myth about being the Union Jack on a ship only is completely wrong. Stop disseminating incorrect information. I'm British too so don't try that one.
@@markj66- Yes, such an OLD story/myth about it being called the Union Jack only when flown from a 'flagstaff' and still being 'peddled' about. Even Winston Churchill called it the Union Jack whenever or wherever being flown. It irks me that just by doing basic checking, this story would be put to rest!!!
Tyler, there is an error on his video. The British flag is called 'The Union Flag'. It is only called 'The Union Jack' if it is on a ship, because on ships flags are called jacks.
As Brits we usually think of the Union Flag (really it's only the Jack if flown on a ship), as separate countries we use the separate flags when participating in sports etc. Or we'll often use both at the same sporting events. In these we do participate as separate countries, except for the Olympics lol.
It excludes wales for 2 reasons. Firstly, the 3 crosses represent st George, St Patrick & St Andrew - there is no saint on the welsh flag. Secondly the welsh flag came about after the union flag. To fit wales on, youd need to use the cross of st David, not the dragon. The flag would be a yellow cross on a black background.
For clarity, The U.K. is the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland. The Flag of the U.K. is the Union Flag, it is only the Union Jack when on a flag pole or more specifically flown from a Royal Navy ship (or shore base) on its Jack staff (a amall verticle flag pole on the bow of the ship). The flag of the Royal Navy is The White Ensign which is the cross of Saint George with the Union Flag in the upper canton (upper left quadrant) but as a ship is making headway it will appear in the upper right quadrant.
The Scottish flag is sometimes referred to as the Saltire. When I moved up here, I found a lot of folk when shopping at the supermarket (grocery store) had a habit, being "If it has the Jack, put it back!" meaning they would not purchase any UK products, but only those products displaying the Saltire. This was done in the name of Scottish independence.
Independence - and economic regression? They don't understand that Scotland is far more dependent on trade with the rest of the UK than vice-versa, and that their boycott would simply mean less external demand for Scottish products? 'Benefits in trade' aren't inconsequential.
@@mattperson7293 Not sure how you separate the ironic votes from the rest, but there is a big difference between a policy designed to deliberately injure trade and a policy designed to increase freedom to trade. Isn't that obvious?
My understanding is that it is the flag of the Union of Scotland England and Ireland. As Wales was conquered by the English their flag was not part of the UNION flag. You will also notice the diagonal red crosses are offset, one for Ireland and one for the Channel Islands.
To update you: Wales was conquered by the English in 1283 and so has long been considered merely a 'province', and a province of England at that. At 9:21 you can see the welsh flag 'chained' to the English one. Scotland was an independent country (although it had been temporarily invaded by the English many times). Ireland was independent but slowly fell under English domination c1100 through 1500 and the English eventually forced the Irish to accept the English King as their own. In 1603 the English royal family died out and the closest cousin was James VI of Scotland, becoming James I of England and Ireland as well. All three kingdoms were technically separate but had the same king. (Imagine being governor of both Maine and New Hampshire, you can't use funds from one to spend in another and have to deal with 2 separate state law systems). In 1707, England and Scotland were abolished as separate entities (the act of Union) to create Great Britain (remember Wales was just a province of England). And then in 1800 Ireland was merged with GB to create the UK. It was in about 1890 that Wales was finally reaccepted as a 'nation' within the union in law, but the flag didn't change.
The island of Man in the Irish Sea has it's own flag and distinct language (now moribund) too, three legs for the founding peoples, Irish, Norse and Briton
Great Britain is the name of the island which includes England, Scotland and Wales. It was so named to distinguish it from "Little Britain" which is now part of France. The formal name of the UK is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". The term "Britain" is an abbreviation. Wales is not represented is that legally it became part of England in the 13th century.
What do kids spend their time doing in your schools? I could recite all the USA states and capitals, make up of the USA flag, most of the Presidents and knew of general current events in most of the major developed countries. This was when I was in 'high school', aged 11, in the UK!
Each of the UKs nations also has non-religious flags, like the Lion Rampant for Scotland, the Three Lions for England, the Welsh Dragon (the religious St.Davids flag is a yellow cross over a black field) and N.Ireland has the Ulster Banner.
As an Englishman/Brit. Which flag I would say is “my” flag would depend on what you’re asking. If you asked what is my flag is as a Brit? I would say the Union Jack. If you asked what my flag is as an Englishman? I would say the St George. As for Great Britain vs United Kingdom, that’s quite simple, if you’re including Northern Ireland it’s the UK, if you’re not including Northern Ireland, it’s GB. And we use the Union Jack for both. Also, If you’re including The rest of Ireland and the small coastal islands all around the rest of Britain, it’s The British Isles.
Wales was captured as a principality of England in the 13th century. This is why it doesn't have an individual representation. The first born of the British monarch is always the Prince of Wales...
The full title of the UK is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britian ans Northan Island' . The reason Wales is not on the Union Flag is because Wales is a Principality not a Kingdom.
I read that Wales isn't represented because, while England, Scotland and Ireland were Kingdoms, Wales was a Principality. The Scottish flag's background was originally sky blue, but it looked washed-out, so they made it dark blue instead. The red Irish Saltire is offset rather than being bang in the middle of the white Scottish Saltire (that's how you tell if the flag is being flown upside-down, when the broad white stripe in the top-left crooner is under the red stripe) The Union Flag is often called the Union Jack, but a jack is a flag flown at the stern of a ship, on the jack staff. A ship carries its own national flag at the main masthead, but when it visits another country, it flies the host country's flag on the jack staff as a courtesy. Some counties' Jacks are quite different from the national flag. They reckon that the flag is one of the hardest to make, because each cross is individually sewin on, not printed.
I am from Wales and though we are not reprisented on the UNION JACK we are all still British, also we are proud to have our own flag
Wales is now little more than an extension of England, a major location of English holiday homes. You are grouped as England and Wales as you have no independent opinion.
@@anushkasekkingstad1300 The entire population of Wales would like to know your location - to come and beat you for your rudeness.
Cymru am byth ! 😉🐉🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
@@anushkasekkingstad1300 They do have their own opinion. They're just grouped with England as England occupied them which is why they don't have their own courts and all that like Scotland and NI
@@MonTheWell1886 They even did as they were told and voted for brexit, along with England. They’re just English with pleasant accents.
I'm welsh and I don't blame them for not putting "the cool dragon," you said it yourself, on it, overshadowing everything else! The welsh flag is the coolest.
historically England had a white dragon, but yes the red dragon is super cool. but i am an Evans so biased.
I'm English and I don't see how the Welsh flag could be incorporated into the Union flag without it looking a mess.
Having said that, under no circumstances should the Welsh flag be messed with either, it's easily the best looking out of all of them.
Wales is irrelevant most people outside of the uk haven't even heard of it, that's probably why
@@rorymilsom1491 Touched a nerve there! did I?🤣
@@muttley00 what... why would I care that you think the welsh flag is cool? I just stated a fact that most people either haven't heard of Wales or think it's part of England.
The fact that you are going out of your way to learn makes you an open minded, forward thinking person. Good luck. S (UK National).
P.S. Asking questions doesn't make you dumb, it makes you smart. 🏴🇺🇸
Knowing lots of facts and stuff does not make you smart.
US education, seemingly to European eyes, specialises in students knowing historic dates and and being able recite by heart key quotes of US presidents.
That self evidently does not make those students 'smart'.
Collating and understanding data, interpreting information, comprehending it and being able to utilise that comprehension is what we equate to wisdom.
I love that you are looking into UK history, parliament and flags. This is a very interesting video. There is so much more to explore about this flag, how it is referred to. A lot of UK people refer to it as the Union Jack, but it used to only be called that when flown on a UK warship, and otherwise as the Union Flag. Interestingly, although many depictions make the flag look symmetrical, it is not, and it used to be a way for ships to display distress by flying the union jack/flag upside down. Yes, there is a correct way up!
Asking the right questions makes you smart, and you are doing a great job. I am learning lots from your channel. Keep making great content like this!
Just a last comment, what the UK is, ... as stated on my passport, I am from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Well said
@@gordonmurray3153 Yes but by acquiring facts and data like this lad is doing, he may follow it up by going into more detail. I knew as a child that The Battle of Hastings was in 1066. As I got older, my own interest (which this chap has) prompted me to ask questions thus learning its background and the circumstances surrounding it.
@@BloodyOffDoors and yet, you still don't know that the battle of Hastings wasn't at Hastings at all, but miles up the coast, near Battle.
That for instance, good king Harold Godwinson king of England didn't actually get shot in the eye by an arrow, that he was king for only 9months, the reason why William the Bastard duke of Normany invaded was because the previous king Edward, had made William his heir, not Harold. Harold's only claim to the throne of England was that his sister had married the old king. That the rightfull heir was busy in France at the time.
Imagine a brother of Camilla Parker Bowles(nee Shand), attempting to claim the throne of England in this day and age
And I'm Scottish, raised and educated in Scotland, yet I know this stuff.
Should kinda make you think.
I was taught when at school that the Union Jack was only called Union Jack when on war ships/ships representing Great Britain, When it's just being fluttered about by hand or when on flag poles it's just called Union Flag. I went to school in the 80's, I went to school in Scotland and England and I was told the same thing by both countries
Spot on!
First & Morris, that was true until 1908 when they made calling the Union Flag and the Union Jack synonymous. You can now call UK Flag the Union Jack even when it's not on a naval ship. "It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that 'the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag'."
Yes this is correct. I would also add that the full name of Union Flag is the Union Flag of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. With regard to the exclusion of Wales I believe that this because it is Principality rather than a Kingdom hence why Prince Charles’s title (amongst many) is Prince of Wales. I maybe wrong here but this is my understanding. I’m sure any Welsh person reading this will have strong views on this 😉
Technically true, but commonly called the Union Jack regardless.
Yeah but let's not confuse the Americans anymore.
The cross of St George is used in ‘England’ all the time. (Check out a cricket match) and we do recognise it as our flag
Just to confuse you further Tyler the ‘Union Jack’ has two names it’s also called the union flag 😂 The names depict its size and location of the flag. The ‘Union Flag’ was flown on land and the smaller ‘Union Jack’ was displayed on warships but over time the distinction blurred and many people also refer to the ‘Union Flag’ as the ‘Union Jack’
Your penny drop moment made me so happy! I love your wide eyed honest reactions.
I'm only half Welsh but I've concluded that the reason the Welsh flag is not represented on the Union Jack is because it, and Wales itself, is too awesome. If they put the dragon or any green on there then the rest of the UK would be jealous of the fact that they're not Welsh. A bit like how Americans, deep down, are jealous that they're not Canadian.......
You’ll see much more of the English flag later in this year when England plays the USA in the World Cup football qualifying round, Group B. November … Wales and Iran are in the same group.
is it coming home again🏴 😂😂😂🇨🇵🇪🇦🇩🇪🇮🇹
@@32ewing "The English and the French joined together in some kind of war effort". Dude...?
It was "The Crusades". The war between Christians and Muslims.
@@actionalex3611 The British and French have been allies at times but always been ani
@@tonys1636 I was pointing out that it seemed that he never heard about the crusades m8. lol
USA vs Iran will be fun!
'Jack' is/was a naval term for a flag and it was run up a 'jackstaff.' A staff is an olden word for a stick. Flags are run up a flagstaff or a flagpole. (The 'Union Jack' just means, the flag of the Union)
Hi from England 😁 I only think of the England flag when it’s sports related! Also I’d like to know how the Welsh feel about their flag not being part of the Union Jack, but I think that Welsh dragon is epic just as it is 🏴
Wales became a principality of England in the 17th century, it wasn’t until 2011 under ISO that it officially became a country.
Comment above, but also the Welsh flag began existence after the Union Jack came into existence.
And no, we won't put the Dragon in the centre because the centre indicates who is in charge and considering the British parliament is in England and England is the majority of the UK it's the st George cross which takes precedence
@@billydonaldson6483 And Cornwall, like Wales, was seperate - but is now only a Duchy.
Why would the Welsh dragon be in a
Flag of patron saints ?
St Davids cross is black & yellow .
Wales was regarded as a conquered country at the time the Union flag was created so they had no right to have their own flag incorporated into the union flag. All the excuses they give the Welsh as to why their flag is not on the union flag is simply to make the Welsh feel equal to Scotland and England. Then again England has been conquered many times over the millenia, the only country on the British isles not to be conquered is Scotland and that is the real reason the rest of the UK want Scotland to remain in the UK...the Scots are the best fighters and defenders.
If you are a soccer fan, England and Scotland have separate teams using their individual flags.
And the other nations don't? 🙄
The American flag does have a name, the "Star-Spangled Banner." The British and UK flag are the same because the two are interchangeable. "British" is the adjective referring to all the peoples of the United Kingdom. The "United Kingdom" is the name of the country itself. Much like how you call yourselves "Americans" of the United States of America, or just the United States. Same thing. It is the national identification for all the peoples of the United Kingdom.
Also called "Old Glory".
The US flag has no official name...all names used are nicknames only.
The UK flag is called the Union Flag or Union Jack.
British and UK aren't interchangeable both ways...Britain is a part of the UK but the UK is not a part Britain.
Britain or the full name Great Britain is just the name of the largest island of the British Isles and contains most but not all of the UK (Northern Ireland is on the Island of Ireland which is not part of Great Britain)
The UK is a country of countries.
@@stevenbalekic5683 Exactly. Great Britain and the United Kingdom are not the same thing. Great Britain = England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom = those three plus Northern Ireland.
The Stars & Stripes ?
To be fair lots of English people also don’t know Saint George was a Greek/Turkish/Palestinian who never came to England, yet use the St.George flag as a weapon of nationalist pride. If you don’t know, you don’t know. He gets credit for educating himself.
I am from Scotland and the country has 2 flags. The St. Andrews Cross which you see in the video and the Lion Rampant which is a red lion bordered by red fencing on a yellow background.
'British' is the only useable adjective to use for the whole of the UK. 'Great Britain' is different from the UK, but 'Britain' is not, because it is a colloquial term - a very useful one.
Wrong in a Big Way, because British excludes Northern Ireland, the correct wording is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
@@Rabmac1UK You really miss the point (in a big way). 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' cannot be used as an adjective ("I am United-Kingdom-of-Great-Britain-and-Northern-Irelandish" just doesn't work). So 'British' is - as I said - the only useable adjective. We've never tried 'UKish" - and it wouldn't catch on.
Great Britain (not Britain) excludes Northern Ireland, by the way, if you really want to be pedantic. 'British' is a colloquialism.
@@Rabmac1UK NI Unionists call themselves British.
@@petergriffin3194 Indeed so, and they ARE British. My comment was an overstatement, I apologise
@@pabmusic1 Ok and I will apologise to you too. They ARE British. My comment was pedantic. God Bless the Union
The American Flag does have a nickname. It's called "Old Glory" and has been since the early 1800s. I'm not sure about today but I was not taught "flag history" in school. My father, Uncles, Grandfather, etc. were in the Army and Navy and that is who I learned it from. They taught us about all the flags.
I thought "Stars and Stripes" when he said that.
@@franl155 2:40 - _"the usa flag doesn't have a name"_ ?
as a stupid european, i had assumed that it had at least one name : "the stars and stripes" and/or also "star spangled banner"
@@Anson_AKB yeah me too, the lyrics of the US national anthem refers to their 'Star Spangled Banner'.
Apparently, many Americans have no idea about either the words or the story behind their own national anthem, famously would struggle to find the USA on map, of America.
@@gordonmurray3153 that's just a lie. We aren't that stupid. We know a decent amount of our history even if our education system glosses over history and Geography.
@@Anson_AKB The stars and stripes, and star spangled banner is more of just nicknames then anything rather than an official name.
The original English flag like the Welsh flag had a dragon on it. Only in Englands case it was a white dragon not red. This was the flag flown by the English army of King Harold when he defeated the Viking army of the formidable King Harald Hadrada at Stanford Bridge in Yorkshire. After this victory King Harold learned that another Viking army had landed at the other end of the country in Sussex. So King Harold had to march his exhausted army all the way down the country to meet the new threat of William the bastard, Duke of Normandy at Hastings.
This battle lasted all day and just before dark when it would have ended, Harold was hit on the eye with an arrow and all was lost. After this battle William became King and it was his Norman descendants that changed the flag to the cross of St George during the crusades around 3 hundred years later.
Don't confuse him anymore it's Stamford bridge 😁
you mean the original British flag, because the white dragon represented the Anglo-Saxons, which were and still are nothing more than invaders and occupants - England wasn't even a thing back then
@@lilithiaabendstern6303
No, I mean the original English flag of the white dragon, which is even referenced in early welsh confirming it as the flag of the English, from around the 5th century onwards. It was last flown by King Harold Godwinson at both the battle of Stanford bridge and at Hastings in 1066.
The English are no more foreign invaders than the Welsh or the Scots.
All are descended from indo Europeans who first arrived here during the iron age and we know them as the Celts or Brithonic peoples . However, they drove out the original people who arrived after the ice age and built Stonehenge.
English DNA contains 70% of Brithonic dna as does south Wales and Southern Scotland. The North of Scotand and the North of Wales is predominantly Irish DNA. The Irish invaded all along the east coast of Britain from Cornwall to Scotland. Even the name 'Scotland', comes from the Irish Scoti tribe who invaded and drove out the older pictish peoples. Irish dna, as well as the similarities between their languages, reveals that they originated in the Middle East.
Golden Dragon on a red background. After Senlac, Edgar Ætheling was elected king by the Witenagemot and lasted a couple of months.
@@petergaskin1811
The original English flag is a white dragon an a red background and is described in both The Historia Britonum, written around 828 and The History of the Kings of Britain a medieval text. The golden 'dragon' that you mentioned is actually not a dragon but a Wyvern, and is claimed to be the flag of Wessex. Though it was only registered as such in 2011.
To complicate things for you a bit more, Northern Ireland has it's own flag as well.
A red cross, like the English one, with a red hand in the middle of it.
The Red Hand of Ulster, or Ulster Banner, was tied to the Northern Irish Parliament. So when it ended, the Ulster Banner lost its official footing.
But it is still the most beautiful and symbolic of the home country flags
Oh yes. The Red Hand of Ulster. That wasn’t mentioned. But then I think that just might confuse the poor guy more than he already is!
@@patricialewis1464 Should hear him on the subject of the British Isles, UK, Ireland, NI, Great Britain LOL
And Brexit. He had really no idea at all.
But kudos to him for educating himself.
Its, not it’s
How would modern American's be expected to know what the Cross of St George flag looks like. It has only been about since the 13th century and featured on flags in over 12 countries worldwide and used by 6 states in the USA 🤭.....
😅🤣😂
how many Americans know what the Stars and Stripes represent on their own flag.?
@@elainepinchess2961 Or who wrote it?
@@mairiconnell6282 or that it was wrote whilst Washington was burnt by the British in 1812.
It was a song of deviance at a time of great humuiliatiin.
@@elainepinchess2961 it was the red stripes in the American flag that George Washington incorporated into from the union Jack flag !!!
Wales was always considered part of the Kingdom of England's flag, because it is a principality to the Kingdom of England, which is why the first-born son of the English monarch is the Prince of Wales. The Union flag is only a union of former separate kingdoms' flags
Wales/Cymru has not been a principality for a long time by now.
It’s much more simple than that: when the flag for England was settled upon, King Henry VIII had passed laws incorporating Wales into England. Nothing to do with it being a supposed “principality” at all. The current Welsh flag is much more recent than that. If we are going back to patron saints, then the flag of the patron saint of Wales (St. David) would have to be used. I understood this to be a yellow cross on a black background. I think it might be tricky to incorporate this into the Union Flag. Of course, we are omitting the issue of Cornwall, too, whose incorporation into England is contested by some, and which happened much earlier than the 1500s.
@@davidstretch5614 The fact that Wales was a principality to England is exactly how and why the Welsh Tudors formally annexed Wales. The fact the Prince of Wales is still a title (albeit ceremonial) means the Principality of Wales still exists, at least ceremonially.
@@TheJthom9 the reason the Tudors might have annexed Wales might be connected with it being a “principality”, but I think the main reason was to extend their power over that part of Great Britain (ie, the “principality” argument was a convenient pretense). The fact that there is still a tradition of the eldest male child of the monarch being called “prince of wales” is merely one of tradition and does not imply the continued existence of an entity called a “principality”.
@@davidstretch5614 Principality explains entirely the pretext of the relationship between England and Wales to this day and is the fundamental premise for this union and the legal entity of England and Wales. It is no different to how Scotland is still technically considered a separate kingdom to England because they were unified as separate kingdoms. Queen is monarch of England (including Wales) and Scotland separately as well as together as the UK, so if Scotland secedes, it would revert back to being the Kingdom of Scotland; in the same way that, if Wales secedes, it would revert back to being the Principality of Wales with the Prince of Wales as Head of State (unless it wanted to be a republic). England and Wales have a unique relationship within the UK which is entirely explained by Wales's historical status. Wales has no royal or legal relationship with Scotland, for example, for the same reason. If otherwise, Wales would be just an arbitrary constituent country, which is just not the case.
Basically the Union Jack (strictly speaking Union Flag, unless flown on a ship) is the flag we in the UK think of as representing us when we are identifying as 'British'. However, on occasions when our identification is more specific- for example most sporting events (though not in the Olympics) people from the constituent nations identify with the flag of their nation. So, for example, when England is playing in international football (soccer) matches then everywhere (homes, businesses, cars etc) sprouts the red and white cross of St George in support.
Yes the United Kingdom is a unique case in world political geography and is often referred to as “a country of countries”.
Going forward, now you seem to be getting a grasp on the England/Great Britain/UK thing, it may help to add 'of' at the end whenever you think of the United Kindom. Hopefully it will remind you of the full title - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and help to remind you of which countries belong to which part. Just a thought! 😊
No, he's not really. He still doesn't understand the difference between Britain and Great Britain.
He is still learning, easy to be critical when you were born here. Bet you wouldn't know his countries history. Ease up .
@@neuralwarp what about the British isles?
After the act of Union in 1707, the actual name of the country was Great Britain. You’re right, today Great Britain isn’t a country just the name of the island and the United Kingdom is the name of the country. However in 1707 the country was called Great Britain
@Tyler Rumple. You may already know this. Care must be taken when hoisting and displaying the Union Flag of the United Kingdom. The wider stripe of the Saltaire Cross of St. Andrew (Scotland) should always be in the top left - hand corner when the flag is flown "landscape" style (as in your video at 14:53). The flying of the Union Flag with the thin stripe in the top left - hand corner (inverted/upside down) is apparently an old Naval distress signal from the days of sailing ships, when "Britannia ruled the waves"! Stay safe and well.
Top left or closest to the flagpole. It's accepted that the back of a flag will show a mirror image of the flag.
Also not mentioned in the video or the comments ive seen so far - the Saltire of st. patrick is offset on the diagonal within the white area of the scottish saltire. This means there is a slightly broader white bit above the diagonal in the top left of the flag. This means that when flying the flag you have to pay attention to fixing it the right way up. This means that you can also signal distress by flying the flag upside down
We picked up the St George’s Cross when Venice and Genoa both had powerful navies - the patron saint of Genoa was St George, and English ships ‘adopted’ the Génoise flag as protection; nobody attacked Génoise ships! And so it became the English naval flag…
Doesn't the Cross of St. George date back further than that, to the times of the Knights Templar?
@@mintyfrompolo oh yes, probably. But it seems to have been picked up as the symbol of Genoa - St George their patron saint - and because of the power of the Genoese navy, was used by English boats as a defence. I think the English flag/emblem might have been the royal standard of the time - like the French had the fleur-de-lyse.
@@michaels640 l've got vague recollections of seeing that there's somewhere in the Middle East who has St George and the Dragon in their history too. One of those places you'd never think would had a connection.
@@mintyfrompolo 😂😂😂
You're not the only American to not know about the English flag. In Stargate: Atlantis, every character has a flag on their uniform to represent where they come from. Canadians have the Canadian flag. Americans have the Stars and Stripes, Japanese have the Japanese flag, Scottish have the Scottish flag, and the English characters have the Union Flag.
Really bugs me.
You are correct that Great Britain is the name of a geographic island and not a country, but in the same way that 'The United States of America' can be referred to as 'USA,' 'US,' 'The States' or 'America' for short, 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' can be referred to as 'The United Kingdom,' 'UK,' 'Great Britain,' 'Britain,' or 'GB' for short also.
Even though Northern Ireland is part of the island Ireland and not Great Britain the island, it is similar to calling the US as 'America' even though the US does not include all of the Americas.
Also a fun fact, the word Britain comes from the Roman Britannia, meaning land of the Britons, and the French region of Brittany is named from the same root, as they were also Britons, and still speak the Breton language, the only Celtic language still in use in mainland Europe.
Indeed, and the Breton language is a close cousin of the Cornish language.
The reason why Wales isn't included on the Union Jack is because the Union Jack is a flag combining the flags of the kingdoms within the United Kingdom, and Wales isn't a kingdom it is a principality. Wales never had a Act of Union like the 1707 Scottish one, or the 1801 Irish one.
I refer to myself as English and British ,just as you might say you are a Texan and an American. United Kingdom = United States. It’s common for all nations within the United Kingdom’s to fly their own national flag alongside the Union Jack. Wales didn’t get their flag incorporated in the Union Jack because Wales was a part of England when the flag was created. It has since gained its own devolved parliament and is very proud of the Welsh Dragon.
Em nope?? England is an actual country with actual history and tribal origin Texas is just a state in america britain is the sovereign state scotland england wales and ireland are countries every americanas idenity themselves with beign americand scots and many welsh dont, even etncity wise they are difrence
@@francoisdaureville323 Wales is a Principality.
@@francoisdaureville323 you don’t understand a simile ?
@ Francois D’aureville . The UK is the sovereign state made up of four regions. Those regions all happen to have had independence and ‘Country’ status in the past and just to confuse it slightly some have a Devolved government today. It is interesting - people in England never really refer to themselves as English, we are British from the UK, but I think that is different in the other regions. Scottish from Uk, etc, similarly to Scots American?
The reference to Texas is interesting too as it was an independent country for a short while in the past, so not really that different to our reference.
@@bq6476 the only people who think that are english people every welsh scottish etc.. ive meet identify themselves as scottish or welsh isnt their fault that english people lost their identity already as a french person who lives in england today that is sad you know the uk isnt going to last right??? Scotland and n ireland are making sure of that, you really are comparing a state like texas that was just part of México and then USA with actually historic states like england or scotland????
People from wales are referred to as Welsh. It’s a bit better than saying wales people lol
The 'X' shape is known as a 'saltire'.
And yes - flags and standards were invented specifically as a means to identify armies (& navies) in war. That's their reason to exist..
You might be interested in "Trooping the colour." It is a process of running the regimental flag (colour) past the troops to make sure that they had all seen it up close. That enabled them to find their people easily during a battle. It is now a famous ceremony in the UK performed every year on the Queen's "official" birthday.
I'm English, I think of the Union Jack as my flag. Except when England are playing in the Euro or World Cup football (or other international sports for that matter), then my flag is briefly just England.
Why? Maybe thats the reason england will look like south asia in the next 50 Years?? Because english people hate themselves????
I'm English, I think of the Cross of Saint George as my flag. Except when at, or in preparation for, war or similar conflict when our armed forces, formed of men and women from throughout the UK, are united against a common enemy. It galls me that on official documents there is no option to state England or English as my nationality or place of birth. Being forced to use the options of United Kingdom or Great Britain always seems incorrect to me.
As for the 'United Kingdom' and/or 'Great Britain', yes differences exist and are known by the populations of both, yet there is a blurred perception of both and almost an acceptance that they are the same thing. Even to the extent that the sticker which is compulsory to attach to our vehicles when travelling abroad used to read GB but has recently been changed to UK.
@@kevinwhitmill2599 yep exactly the same if there is no box for English or England I make one and tick it 😁
The Scottish flag is also known as the Saltire. It generally, these days, is only used on sporting occasions, like football (soccer).
The English flag is still used for the same sporting events, .and since a lot of sporting contests concern bits of the Union, they tend to be seen in Britain more often than the Union Flag.
The Saltire is also flown on many Govt buildings up here.
The Union Jack evolved over time exactly as the Stars and Stripes did. As more (nation)states joined , they were added to the flag, just as each American state had a star added to old glory.
It's amazing how many Americans don't know the Union Jack used to be incorporated into their flag, even through the revolution they flew the Union Jack on their flag.
It used to look like the typical red and white stripes but instead of the blue and stars it was a union Jack
"Joined" 😀 What absolute bollocks!
@@buchanfoulsham6314 yes joined, some defeated, some willingly.
" Old Glory " is a ripoff of the flag of The East India Company.
Actually the Union flag only incorporates England and Scotland, And I suppose Northern Ireland since their flag is basically the english flag with the red hand of ulster, however Wales is not.
Roast potatoes are an essential part of what is known as a “roast dinner” which is a joint of meat, beef, pork, lamb or chicken and roast potatoes plus some other vegetables. To make the perfect roast potatoes you peel the potatoes first cut them into medium size pieces, boil them for about 7 minutes then you drain them and shake them to toughen the surface and put them in a pan with oil (the best option is goose fat) and bake them in the oven until golden brown. They taste absolutely delicious.
Especially with gravy!!! 😊
Back in the day we were taught about the flag (sorry The Flag) in junior school. Note too that the diagonal white bands on the Union flag vary in thickness, there is a right way up and a wrong way up. In days gone by, it could be flown upside down to indicate distress (though good luck with spotting the difference at a distance). There are urban myths about aircraft getting upside down flags painted on their fuselages by folk who were clearly never in the Scouts. Also don't get confused between Political boundaries and Geographic ones. In geographical terms the British Isles include Ireland, whereas Great Britain refers to the biggest island made up of England, Scotland and Wales. This being YT, if any of that is wrong someone will likely shout.
King James the First of England, who was also James the Sixth of Scotland, considered a selection of possible configurations of the flag. Some had literally the two flags of England and Scotland stitched together, others had a pattern derived from a number of smaller flags. Pity they dropped that idea, Wales could have been easily fitted in: Red, White, Blue.....and Green. In theory it is United Kingdoms, but let's not start on that - two Kingdoms, one Principality and a Province, plus a lot of other bits.
The flag should only be called the 'Union Jack' when it is flown from the jack staff on the bow of a war ship. The US navy also has a 'Jack', the flag with just the stars, flown from the jack staff of navy warships. The first flag of British America was a variation of the East India Company's red and white striped flag.
There was no British East India co in America. It was original called ‘.The British Virginia Company of North America.
@@Stand663 Agreed, however the 'Cambridge Flag' is almost the same as the EIC flag.
@@frankmitchell3594 The British came to trade . The natives showed them how to grow tobacco, potatoes and corn in return the natives asked the British for protection against bigger rival tribes. They even showed what plants and berries were medicinal and what was edible. They also showed the new arrivals how to store food throughout the winter. Virginia itself the first settlement was named after Elizabeth I, the virgin Queen.
@Frank Mitchell - FYI: Sorry you are incorrect about the Union 'Jack' only being referred to it that way when on a 'jackstaff'. That is a long outdated story and the UK adopted and legally accepted the terminology Union Fag AND Union Jack, wherever and whenever flown (for well over a hundred years).
Thus: The Union Jack or Union Flag is the de facto national flag of the United Kingdom. The Flag Institute (a membership-run vexillological charity) states "the national flag of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories is the Union Flag, which may also be called the Union Jack." The institute has further stated:
It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908, a government minister stated, in response to a parliamentary question, that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag of the United Kingdom".
Also, Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945, referred to the flag of the United Kingdom as the Union Jack. Even in March 1899 he wrote to his mother referring to the Union Jack as the flag of Great Britain... Cheers 👍🇬🇧
The Union Jack appears in the corner of our Australian flag. We also have the southern cross constellation and the Commonwealth star. However I never knew the Union Jack was made up of the flags from Ireland Scotland and England either! Makes perfect sense, very cool.
@@liamloxley1222 haha yeh I also asked around at work and no one else knew.. I’m not keen on the Union Jack on our flag anyway 😆
@@Dr_KAP Union FLAG. (Not Jack)
@@lovepeace5845 - An OLD story over 100 years out of date. It is the Union Flag OR Union Jack whenever or wherever flown. Confirmed during a Parliamentary Question in 1908 ! Even Winston Churchill always called it the Union Jack...
@@Dr_KAP Proper right too. Having another country’s flag on your flag is like your wife having a photo of her ex on the mantelpiece.
@@Dreyno have you seen the state flag of Hawaii?
James the First, (James the Sixth of Scotland) inherited the throne of the childless Elizabeth the First of England.
He was the son of Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth's cousin and the nearest living relative.
Ask any Hawaiian what the state flag looks like! Btw, you said you're not trying to sound dumb but boy you sure are making a good job of it! 'History is interesting, who knew?' Bloody hell, only an American would say that!
Thank you someone said it. OMG!!!
I'll second that!🙄
Third
It, minus the cross of St Patrick, was the flag we fought against during the revolution. It was also incorporated into our very first national banner called the Grand Union Flag. The thirteen red & White Stripes representing the colonies and the Jack representing our ever more reluctant union between America and the Crown.
There is one flag you did not look at and that is welsh flag 🏴
That's quite a complicated issue because there were many variations. In 1959 the Queen gave her seal of approval to the use of the people's choice of the Red Dragon (Draig Goch).
I have only been watching your videos for a week and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy them. I watch them every day and usually watch several of them one after the other. I have learned some things about America aswell and like your America verses Britain comparisons.
I would love to meet you. You seem like a very nice guy and I would enjoy talking to you for hours on American and British culture differences.
Good work on the videos my friend.
The UK flag is called the Union Jack. It was designed by King James I (James VI of Scotland) in 1606 representing the flags of Scotland, England and Ireland and remains unchanged. A Jack is the flag flown on the mast or bow (pointy end) of a ship. The Union jack is still included in the flag of several countries and ironically, on the Flag of the US state of Hawaii.
The US flag is called the 'Stars and Stripes' or 'Star spangled banner' designed in 1776. Since then, there have been 27 different versions. Today there are 50 stars representing the 50 states and 13 stripes representing the 13 original colonies. 👍
wrong the Union flag was only England and Scotland Union Jack is a naval flag for SHIPS the so called UNION only can't after the Scottish alien act of 1705 after Scotland refused to join a UNION Scottish ships were hijacked crew kidnapped thrown in jail and cargo STOLEN and Scots were arrested on sight if they entered England after two years of this bullshit trying to bankrupt Scotland and blackmail them into a Union no one voted to join England
just 12 Scottish lords bought off with English gold to sign the agreement while crowds rioted outside against the Union in the streets of Edinburgh
@James Codling It is acceptable to use both - as per decree in Parliament, over a century ago.
and american flag is also called ole glory
the St Patrick cross was added in 1800 not as you said prior to this the Union Flag was the Cross of St George and the Saltire of Scotland
@James Codling- Not true, you are about 200 years out of date! Both Union Flag OR Union Jack are accepted terminology wherever and whenever flown (not just from a 'flagstaff'). Check the Flag Institute for all the legalities...
An American friend was shocked that Fiji is actually a country, not just bottled water. Shocked myself at his ignorance, I asked how could he not know? He replied "Americans aren't taught anything OUTSIDE of their country, why should we? We're the greatest country in the world"... 🤦🏾♀️
9:12 James VI King of Scots. He was James I of England and Ireland from 1603 to 1625, and wanted to merge his kingdoms into one (a noble idea, despite the kingdoms not being happy about this). An easy slip for the person making the video, but King James I of Scots was a few hundred years earlier ( 25 July 1394 - 21 February 1437 ). Thank you for making your own video on this subject, it's a pleasure to watch content that's educational and entertaining at the same time !
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, however, people there are allowed to choose to be Irish citizens rather than British. In my first year at university one of my flatmates was a girl from Belfast who had an Irish passport not a British passport. This wasn't that uncommon in that city (Liverpool), a lot of students were Northern Irish and many were Irish citizens not British citizens. It often split on religious lines, Catholics were more likely to be Irish citizens and Protestants were more likely to be British citizens.
The St George's Cross of England was rather hijacked some years ago by a number of right-wing organisations, but lefties like me fought back in a 'Reclaim the Flag' campaign. A lot of English people don't know, however, that the St George's Cross - with or without the arms of whichever Diocese you're in in one corner - has long been authorised to fly from Church of England churches.
(The UK has two 'Established' Churches, I.e. official state churches, an Episcopalian Church ( the Church of England) for England, and a Presbyterian Church, the Church of Scotland, for Scotland. No Church is Established for Wales or Northern Ireland. )
Do not forget an even more interesting flag, the Royal Standard, which exists in an official English form and an official Scottish form. This is a combination of the ancient Royal Arms of England, Scotland , and Ireland. It can only be flown over a building if the Queen is actually present inside. ( And that's how you know she's there.) It can never be flown at half-mast, because in law we always have a monarch, another one taking over the minute one dies.
And there is a Royal flag for Wales. The Queen's son, Charles, is Prince of Wales. Now, members of the Royal Family can use the Royal Standard 'differenced', I.e. with another symbol on it. Prince Charles's "difference' is a plain white 'label', which looks rather like a washing-line, going across the top. But in addition, his flag has the ancient arms of the Princes of Wales on a small shield in the middle, surmounted by a Princely Crown.
Northern Ireland has had a flag - the blood-red right hand of Ulster in the middle of the St George's Cross - but this only appeals to one side of the sectarian divide, so I think has been officially discontinued.
Many parts of the UK have their own flags, such as St Piran's Cross for Cornwall, which thinks of itself as a separate nation. The Isle of Man has the 'Three Legs of Man', and the Channel Isles have their own flags. Many areas have recently adopted flags, including the Black Country where I live, where we love our Black Country Flag.
st geoges cross was adopeted by the english from genoa ,the english king payed the doge for english merchent ships to fly the genoise flag in the med thus becoming under the protecton of the genoise fleat
And in Kent, we have white horse on a red background and our motto "Invicta".
Before 1707 Scotland and England were completely separate countries who just happened to share a king, but had totally separate parliaments and governments. In 1707 they were united into "The United Kingdom of Great Britain". Scotland and England stopped being independent countries. England and Scotland are part of the UK like Texas and California are part of the US.
I’m English and I think of both the St George’s Cross and Union Flag as my flags 🏴 🇬🇧
Wooptie dooo. UK still sucks.
I only think of Y Ddraig Goch as my flag. Odd how we live on one island and see things so differently.
@@hayee Cool yeah it is interesting. I also have Scottish and Welsh in my family, so I think that’s why I also see the Union Flag as representing me more than if I only had family from one of the countries
@@hayee Not really, I only see St George's cross as my flag so I understand your view point.
You are wrong, I knew about these flags. So don't say Americans do not know about this flags. It is you who doesn't know about these flags
Great Britain is the name of an island; the largest of the British Isles. However, it has also been used (semi) informally to refer to the countries on it in the same way as we might refer to the US as 'America'. For a hundred years or so, it was also adopted as the name of a nation state but that is separate to the geographic usage. In practice, it isn't confusing because it is usually very clear from context whether you're talking about 'Great Britain' as a grouping of countries (for example, for the purposes of a modern treaty which sometimes need to distinguish England, Scotland and Wales from Northern Ireland for legal reasons), as an island (for example when talking about sea currents or physical location), or as a historical nation state (when talking about historical events). It probably feels confusing because you're learning about it from videos that try to discuss all these things at the same time :)
It is commonly referred to by others as the 'British flag' btw, as the official term for people who are citizens of the UK is 'British'. This isn't without controversy from (especially) Irish nationalists who view 'Britain' as synonymous with Great Britain, and mostly England. This isn't a controversy to be taken lightly either, as we spent several decades (up until the late 1990s) in an effective civil war over issues of Irish sovereignty and religious and national identity. I'd refer to it as the 'UK flag' unless you know enough about the history of these islands, and especially the Troubles, to avoid saying something contentious (to put it mildly).
Last bit of colour: there is in fact a 'Little Britain'. These days it is more commonly called Brittany, and it is part of France. It's a Celtic region, but with Celts who moved there from Wales and Cornwall rather than from mainland Europe. They speak a language that's similar to Welsh or Cornish called Breton.
Bullshit,the Breton Celts moved from Brittany to Cornwall and West Wales
@@stevenbreach2561 There was a mass migration from Great Britain to Brittany in ~6th century. You can see this in the language: Breton is a Brittonic Celtic language (along with Welsh and Cornish), which is a subgroup of the Insular Celtic languages. These differ from the Continental Celtic languages in ways that make it much more likely that Breton comes via Wales/Cornwall than the other way around.
Great Britain is NOT, contrary to popular belief about the largest island. It's actually in comparison to Brittany in Northern France, which was much smaller.
just wanted to explain, the UK's full name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and northern Ireland", you seemed to think they are two separate things.
Remember from your previous video, you’re “British” if you’re from anywhere within the UK or it’s dependencies and territories. So the Union Jack represents the UK and it’s dependencies and territories.
Just for clarity as far as I know "British" is generally assumed to mean nationality from "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" (for short UK) or dependencies and territories. Great Britain is a purely geographical term for the big island off the coast of France plus the smaller islands naturally associated with it. Ireland is the smaller island to the west of Great Britain of which the northern part remains part of the UK (with a troubled and violent contest between the remain with UK and join Republic of Ireland groups). The British Isles is the entire group of islands which is purely a geographic term and includes multiple countries.
It relates to the Act of Union in 1801 between the kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland (Wales is a princapality) The flags are those of each countires patron Saint Geroge Andrew and Patrick
Wow, he learned something most kids would know about when they're 12 in Denmark. In music we even learned about britsh sailor songs so was always singing about union jacks and jolly Rodgers. Also, let me teach you something as always Tyler. You flag is called The stars and stripes. Again something you learn as a kid here. Just not to offend any septic when you tell them the flag has no name. Wow! 😂
This is a turning point for Britain it won't be called the Union Jack anymore as N Ireland will soon join Ireland Scotland will soon be Independent, so a new flag for England and Wales will be needed.
I am Welsh, this is my flag 🏴 a video about devolution & the different uk political systems would baffle you even more, theres UK parliament, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland is a tricky one again as they do have their own devolved powers and government but its completely different again.
You'll see more of the England flag in next year's football World Cup in which they'll be playing the USA amongst other countries.
What I always found strange was that the English St George was supposed to have slain a dragon. He was also said to be from Cappadocia (Turkey). Scotland's St Andrew from Galilee. Ireland St Patrick from Roman Britain. Wales is the one who's St was from its own country, St David.
Because saints are admired for their actions not their location, other countries also celebrate these saints, I worked with a guy who used to be in the Bulgarian Navy and he said they all celebrate at George's Day in Bulgaria as part of their military day
There is 9 or 10 countries that have adopted St George as its patron saint Fact !! So he does not have to be English !!
There is also the Royal flag of Scotland, which is a standing red lion on a yellow background.
When the Union Jack was designed Wales and England were already considered one nation of sorts so they only included the English flag, as a designer myself I'm guessing the flag designers wouldn't have been overly enamoured about including the Welsh flag anyway, the other 3 joined pretty naturally, the Welsh flag would have made it a little more difficult! As a Welshman who actually prefers the term British to Welsh I've never been concerned about our lack of representation on the Union Jack.
I'm Welsh and Wales is NOT part of England and thankfully never will be!! no Welsh symbol should ever be desecrated by being associated with the butchers apron!! also Welsh NOT British thanks!!
@@danielwatts691 If you're Welsh you're British whether you like it or not.
Why such a dick?
Great Britain is a geographical term that refers to the island that includes England, Wales, and Scotland. United Kingdom is a political term that refers to the independent country that includes all of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A couple of decades ago I watched the World Cup for the first time and England was playing and I couldn't understand why their fans were waving a white flag with a red cross and not the Union Jack. That's when I figured out that the UK is actually four countries. I always assumed England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland were just regions not countries.
To quote Ted Lasso “How many countries in this country?”
With your confusion over the 4 nations that make up the United Kingdom; they are not independent sovereign nations working together.
England is the main govenment and has a large amount of control, Hence being able to force Scotland, Wales and Northen Ireland out of Europe when it was primarily England that voted for it.
Scotland, Northen Ireland and Wales have a devolved government, so they are given a budget and the power to govern themselves and make laws that do not affect the other countries in the union. Hope that helps some.
I'm from England and can tell you that almost all of us will say the Union Jack is our flag. The only time we really use the England flag is when England football team are playing in the World Cup or Euros, and maybe on St George's Day in April. The Scottish however want independence from us so they may be more precious over their Scottish flag.
On another note, you do have a nickname for your flag, The Star Spangled Banner or as we in the UK call it The Stars and Stripes 😊 LOVE your videos, they really make me chuckle 😂
It is true that we English are very proud of the Union Jack, and that we often fly it instead of St. George's Cross. Maybe that contributes to the misconception that it's the English flag. (Although, of course, every English person is aware that it represents the UK, or Britain, and not England specifically.)
Legally speaking, Wales was considered to be a part of England until 1967 and as such is represented by the Cross of Saint George.
The Union Flag - or Union Jack - is a composite of the crosses of the patron saints of Scotland, England and Ireland. It is no more complex than that.
Except the Irish part is completely manufactured, and, as the video says correctly, is rejected by all in Ireland as having ever represented St Patrick or Ireland.
Simply British propaganda...
@@spencerburke Ah the first triggered Irishman of 2024. I'd say the 'England Bad' person from the RoI is easily the most triggered of the whole of the British Isles but the Scot Nationalists are rapidly catching you up.
The Union Jack is the flag of the UK and Northern Ireland which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each constituent country has its own flag which are mainly used for sports like when each nation has their own team in the World Cup.
As has already been said we are familiar with the different flags. At the Olympics you will see the Union Flag flown because we enter as a British Team with all the countries of the UK sending athletes to represent the UK. In some sports though the individual countries send separate teams so you will see you will see the English Cross of St George or the Welsh Dragon or even the St Andrews Saltire in Rugby or Football tournaments.
There are also flags for Cornwall and Isle of Mann, The Cornish and Welsh share a similar Brythonic Celtic heritage and are the original Britons. I have a mix of English and and Celtic ancestry. and yes our history is complex lol
England, Scotland, Ireland * Wales, each has there own flag love from uk 🇬🇧 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I think you’re amazing and found that what you were doing was gaining a sense of knowledge and an understanding of our English flag, so good for you….. Our flag seems to be confusing the hell out of the English people too and we seem to be loosing our history and more important, our identity. Thank you for a very interesting detailed search on this it was very enlightening.
Great Britain is geographical entity - an island. The United Kingdom is a political entity of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. The British Isles is an archipelago consisting of Great Britain, Ireland, The Isle of Man, The Hebrides, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, and the Scilly Isles.
once again your wrong the Union is Scotland England nothing to do with Wales or Ulster or Ireland after 1923 hence no Wales or Ulster in the flag just Ireland England Scotland in their English arrogance they claim Wales isn't a country
@@32ewing No doubt you will wish to contact Google and Wikipedia to have them amend their definitions.
@@32ewing he said 'United Kingdom', not 'Union'. The full name is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. Great Britain is the Island containing most of England, Scotland and Wales. So the OP was correct.
be a bit hard for Ulster to be part of the UNION considering it only existed after Irish independence in1923 and the Union was 1707 after a shotgun wedding 2 years after the Scottish Alien act of 1705 better the Welsh or Ulster is in the Union flag not very UNITED KINGDOMS BUT THE IRISH REPUBLIC STILL IS IN THE FLAG THEY NEED A FLAG UPDATE PS ULSTER ISN'T A COUNTRY IT'S AN OCCUPIED 🇬🇧 ZONE JUST LIKE THE WEST BANK
@@DraconimLt FTQ and her peadophile tax dodging trillionaire £5000 uk heating bills regime 🏴🏴🇮🇪
England,Scotland, Wales and northern Ireland are nations with their own national identity but they are sovereign countries
Note: Wales isn't on the flag because when the act of union was signed in 1707 Wales was a part of england (it isn't anymore of course)
It might help you if the information comes from a British source as he already got it incorrect, Union flag, Union Jack when on a sea vessel. That's where Jack tar a name for seamen comes from. Don't worry few here in England know these facts either. You should check out your own flag, it's a fascinating history, also what it means when it has a fringe on it, very interesting. Well done for wanting to learn new stuff. 👍🏴
The "flag versus jack" debate is apparently not as clear cut as that. Both BBC's "QI" and "More or Less" on the radio looked into it and found that the terms had been used pretty much interchangeably for 200 years - even in official documents, treaties and legislation. So it's a right old muddle (like most things British constitutional!). 😄
It's the Union Jack everywhere not just on a ship. Where do you get this gibberish from? Because if you'd done any research, for example reading the Flag Institute or the UK Parliament documents you'd know that this myth about being the Union Jack on a ship only is completely wrong. Stop disseminating incorrect information. I'm British too so don't try that one.
@@markj66- Yes, such an OLD story/myth about it being called the Union Jack only when flown from a 'flagstaff' and still being 'peddled' about. Even Winston Churchill called it the Union Jack whenever or wherever being flown. It irks me that just by doing basic checking, this story would be put to rest!!!
Tyler, there is an error on his video. The British flag is called 'The Union Flag'. It is only called 'The Union Jack' if it is on a ship, because on ships flags are called jacks.
As Brits we usually think of the Union Flag (really it's only the Jack if flown on a ship), as separate countries we use the separate flags when participating in sports etc. Or we'll often use both at the same sporting events. In these we do participate as separate countries, except for the Olympics lol.
It excludes wales for 2 reasons.
Firstly, the 3 crosses represent st George, St Patrick & St Andrew - there is no saint on the welsh flag.
Secondly the welsh flag came about after the union flag.
To fit wales on, youd need to use the cross of st David, not the dragon. The flag would be a yellow cross on a black background.
And don’t forget to mention, Wales has its own saint - Saint David.
For clarity, The U.K. is the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland. The Flag of the U.K. is the Union Flag, it is only the Union Jack when on a flag pole or more specifically flown from a Royal Navy ship (or shore base) on its Jack staff (a amall verticle flag pole on the bow of the ship). The flag of the Royal Navy is The White Ensign which is the cross of Saint George with the Union Flag in the upper canton (upper left quadrant) but as a ship is making headway it will appear in the upper right quadrant.
The Scottish flag is sometimes referred to as the Saltire.
When I moved up here, I found a lot of folk when shopping at the supermarket (grocery store) had a habit, being "If it has the Jack, put it back!" meaning they would not purchase any UK products, but only those products displaying the Saltire. This was done in the name of Scottish independence.
Independence - and economic regression? They don't understand that Scotland is far more dependent on trade with the rest of the UK than vice-versa, and that their boycott would simply mean less external demand for Scottish products? 'Benefits in trade' aren't inconsequential.
@@nemo6686 That didn't stop England voting for Brexit ironically.
@@mattperson7293 Not sure how you separate the ironic votes from the rest, but there is a big difference between a policy designed to deliberately injure trade and a policy designed to increase freedom to trade. Isn't that obvious?
I also always wondered why it is like this like school never taught us this so you can’t call us dumb for that
It is my understanding that Wales was considered a principality of England and therefore the flag with the flag with the dragon is a modern invention.
Our flag is also known as Old Glory and The Stars & Stripes.
My understanding is that it is the flag of the Union of Scotland England and Ireland. As Wales was conquered by the English their flag was not part of the UNION flag. You will also notice the diagonal red crosses are offset, one for Ireland and one for the Channel Islands.
To update you: Wales was conquered by the English in 1283 and so has long been considered merely a 'province', and a province of England at that. At 9:21 you can see the welsh flag 'chained' to the English one. Scotland was an independent country (although it had been temporarily invaded by the English many times). Ireland was independent but slowly fell under English domination c1100 through 1500 and the English eventually forced the Irish to accept the English King as their own. In 1603 the English royal family died out and the closest cousin was James VI of Scotland, becoming James I of England and Ireland as well. All three kingdoms were technically separate but had the same king. (Imagine being governor of both Maine and New Hampshire, you can't use funds from one to spend in another and have to deal with 2 separate state law systems). In 1707, England and Scotland were abolished as separate entities (the act of Union) to create Great Britain (remember Wales was just a province of England). And then in 1800 Ireland was merged with GB to create the UK. It was in about 1890 that Wales was finally reaccepted as a 'nation' within the union in law, but the flag didn't change.
The island of Man in the Irish Sea has it's own flag and distinct language (now moribund) too, three legs for the founding peoples, Irish, Norse and Briton
Manx isn't completely dead: it's been revived and a few people actually do speak it.
Fastyr mie :)
Great Britain is the name of the island which includes England, Scotland and Wales. It was so named to distinguish it from "Little Britain" which is now part of France. The formal name of the UK is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". The term "Britain" is an abbreviation.
Wales is not represented is that legally it became part of England in the 13th century.
I'm English yet I know the flag of USA as "Old Glory"
What do kids spend their time doing in your schools? I could recite all the USA states and capitals, make up of the USA flag, most of the Presidents and knew of general current events in most of the major developed countries. This was when I was in 'high school', aged 11, in the UK!
Each of the UKs nations also has non-religious flags, like the Lion Rampant for Scotland, the Three Lions for England, the Welsh Dragon (the religious St.Davids flag is a yellow cross over a black field) and N.Ireland has the Ulster Banner.
As an Englishman/Brit. Which flag I would say is “my” flag would depend on what you’re asking. If you asked what is my flag is as a Brit? I would say the Union Jack. If you asked what my flag is as an Englishman? I would say the St George.
As for Great Britain vs United Kingdom, that’s quite simple, if you’re including Northern Ireland it’s the UK, if you’re not including Northern Ireland, it’s GB. And we use the Union Jack for both.
Also, If you’re including The rest of Ireland and the small coastal islands all around the rest of Britain, it’s The British Isles.
Wales was captured as a principality of England in the 13th century. This is why it doesn't have an individual representation. The first born of the British monarch is always the Prince of Wales...
The full title of the UK is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britian ans Northan Island' . The reason Wales is not on the Union Flag is because Wales is a Principality not a Kingdom.
Look into why Wales doesn’t get represented on the flag. There’s a story there too.
I read that Wales isn't represented because, while England, Scotland and Ireland were Kingdoms, Wales was a Principality.
The Scottish flag's background was originally sky blue, but it looked washed-out, so they made it dark blue instead.
The red Irish Saltire is offset rather than being bang in the middle of the white Scottish Saltire (that's how you tell if the flag is being flown upside-down, when the broad white stripe in the top-left crooner is under the red stripe)
The Union Flag is often called the Union Jack, but a jack is a flag flown at the stern of a ship, on the jack staff. A ship carries its own national flag at the main masthead, but when it visits another country, it flies the host country's flag on the jack staff as a courtesy. Some counties' Jacks are quite different from the national flag.
They reckon that the flag is one of the hardest to make, because each cross is individually sewin on, not printed.
It is called the Union Flag and only called the Union Jack when flown on a ship by Her Majesty's Navy.