Would you like to learn the UK national anthem?

God Save the Queen

God Save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God Save the Queen!

Send her victorious

Happy and glorious,

Long reign over us,

God Save the Queen!

The anthem originated as a patriotic song in London, England, in 1745. Neither the author nor composer is known.

Say what you know about the national anthem of your own country?

Read and translate the text.

NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF UK

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross on a white background is the cross of 1st George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross on a blue background is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross on a white background is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The Welsh flag, called the Welsh Dragon, represents a red dragon on a white and green background.

St. George's Day falls on 23 April and is regarded as England's national day. On this day some patriotic Englishmen wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose is the national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses (15th century).

St. Andrew's Day (30 November) is regarded as Scotland's national day. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland, thistle was first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The Order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood. It was founded in 1687, and is mainly given to Scottish noblemen (limited to 16 in number).

St. Patrick's Day (17 March) is considered as a national day in Northern Ireland and an official bank holiday there. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. According to the legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish.

St. David's Day (1 March) is the church festival of St. David, a 6th -century monk and bishop, the patron saint of Wales. The day is regarded as the national holiday of Wales, although it is not an official bank holiday.

On this day, however, many Welshmen wear either a yellow daffodil or a leek pinned to their jackets, as both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

The Royal Coat of Arms

The four quarters of the shield contain two repetitions (the first and the fourth gules) of the arms of England, three golden lions passant. The second quarter represents the red rampant lion of Scotland on a gold background. This lion is surrounded by a frame with the inset fleurs-de-lis and other decorations. The third quarter represents a silver-stringed gold harp on a bright blue field symbolizing Ireland. Wales is not represented on the shield.

The shield is encircled with the blue Garter, carrying in gold the motto "Honi Soit Qui Mai Y Pense" ("Shame on Him Who Thinks Evil of it") -the words of Edward III (1312 - 1377) said in 1348 at the ball.

On the top of the whole rests the imperial state crown - gold, red, enriched with precious stones, and with an ermine headband.

All this is supported by a rampant crowned lion and a rampant unicorn. The !ion has been used as a symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy for many centuries. The unicorn, a mythical animal that looks like a horse with a long straight horn, has appeared on the Scottish and British royal coats of arms for many centuries, and is a symbol of purity.

Beneath the coat of arms is the royal motto in gold letters on a white scroll: "Dieu et Mon Droit" ("God and My Right" [Hand]) - the battle call of Richard I "Coer de Lion" (1157-1199) when he led his army in the battle of 1198.

 

NOTES:

upright -* вертикальный

background - фон, основание

patron saint - святой покровитель

dragon - дракон

pin - прикалывать булавкой

thistle - чертополох

knighthood - рыцарское достоинство

nobleman - аристократ

bank holiday - большой праздник

shamrock — трилистник

the Trinity - рел. Троица

church festival - церковный праздник

monk - монах

bishop - епископ

daffodil - нарцисс

leek - лук-порей

shield - щит

gules - (геральд.) красный цвет

passant - идущий с поднятой правой передней лапой (о геральдическом животном)

rampant - стоящий на задних лапах (о геральдическом животном)

fleur-de-lis - ирис, геральдическая лилия

string - струна

harp - арфа

garter - подвязка

motto - девиз

ermine - горностай

unicorn - единорог

horn - рог

beneath - внизу, под

scroll - свиток, манускрипт

11.   Complete the sentences with the missing words:

1. The national flag of the UK consists of... crosses.

2. The patron saint of England is .... His flag represents an upright red cross on ... field.

3. St. Patrick is the patron saint of .... His red diagonal cross is ... background.

4. St. Andrew's flag represents a white diagonal cross on a ground.

5. England's national day is ....

6. The Welsh flag is called the Welsh ....

7. St. David, the patron saint of Wales, was a 6th century ....

8. The lion on the royal coat of arms is a symbol of national ... and of the British ...

9. The unicorn, a mythical animal, is a symbol of...

10. Beneath the coat of arms is the royal motto in gold letters, the battle call of...

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