Saturday 1 March 2014

St David's daffs

When I was but an itsy-bitsy Brussel Sprout, one of the tests I had to pass concerned the Union flag (which is the correct name for the flag of the United Kingdom, although it is more commonly called the Union Jack on account of it being flown from a jack staff on ships of the Royal Navy) and the various saints’ flags that have been used to make it up.  I still remember that today, 1st March, is St David’s Day.  David is the patron saint of Wales, the first of the other British countries to join with England and start creating the United Kingdom.  Although I somehow doubt that it was a peaceful conjunction as I’m pretty sure there were various shenanigans along the way. 

I am also pretty sure that at some time or other I have put up a post explaining how the Union Jack is made up of the flags of St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland) and St Patrick (Ireland).  Poor old David never got a look in! 

So, just for clarification, St George’s flag is white with a red, upright cross; St Andrew’s is blue with a white diagonal cross; and St Patrick’s is white with a red diagonal cross.  And I don’t have the foggiest idea what St David’s flag looks like, always assuming he has one.  And the four countries each have their national flowers: the red rose of England, the Scottish thistle, the shamrock for Ireland, and for Wales, the daffodil. 

And, in honour of that Welsh saint, here is a picture of daffodils in Withdean Park, though I have to confess it was taken almost three years ago.


4 comments:

The Broad said...

Happy St. David's Day, BP. I just bought some daffs a couple hours ago -- in remembrance of my late mother-in-law who would have been 101 today...

Brighton Pensioner said...

Thanks, B. I bought the OB a bunch of daffs at Sainsbury's yesterday, tight buds which are already swelling.

joeh said...

Well now I know several things I did not know yesterday.

Thank you.

Brighton Pensioner said...

As my old granny used to say, you learn something new everyday, die and forget the lot.