IDENTIFYING SYMBOLS OF THE FOUR NATIONS

England

Flag – St. George’s Cross

Plant – Rose

Colour (as typically worn by sports teams) – White

Patron saint – St. George

Saint’s day – 23 April

Wales

Flag – Dragon of Cadwallader

Plant – Leek / Daffodil (there is some disagreement among Welsh people as to which is the real national plant, but the leek is the most well-known)

Colour (as typically worn by sports teams) – Red

Patron saint – St. David

Saint’s day – 1 March

Scotland

Flag – St. Andrew’s Cross

Flag – Lion rampant 

Plant – Thistle

Colour (as typically worn by sports teams) – Blue 

Patron saint – St. Andrew

Saint’s day – 30 November

Ireland

Flag – St. Patrick’s Cross

Flag – Republic of Ireland

Plant – Shamrock 

Colour (as typically worn by sports teams) – Green

Patron saint – St. Patrick

Saint’s day – 17 March 

NAMES AS SIGNS OF NATIONAL IDENTITY

The prefix ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ in surnames (such as McCall, MacCarthy, MacDonald) is always either Scottish or Irish. The prefix ‘O’ (as in O’Brien, O’Hara) is distinctly Irish. A very large number of surnames (for example, Davis, Evans, Jones, Lloyd, Morgan, Price, Rees, Williams) suggest Welsh origin (although many of these are found throughout England). The most common surname in both England and Scotland is actually ‘Smith’.

First names can also be indicative. The Scottish form of ‘John’ is ‘Ian’ and its Irish form is ‘Sean’ (although all three names are common throughout Britain). There are also nicknames for Scottish, Irish and Welsh men. For example, an English, Welsh or Irish person might refer to and address a Scottish friend as ‘Jock’, whatever his first name is. Irishmen are called ‘Paddy’ or ‘Mick’ and Welshmen are known as ‘Dai’ or ‘Taffy’. If the person is not a friend the nickname can sound rather insulting.