The national symbols of England are things which are emblematic, representative, or otherwise characteristic of
England or
English culture. Some are established, official symbols; for example, the
Royal Arms of England, which has been codified in
heraldry. Other symbols may not have official status, for one reason or another, but are likewise recognised at a national or international level.
The national
flag of England, known as St George's Cross, has been England's
national flag since the 13th century. Originally the flag was used by the maritime state the
Republic of Genoa. The
English monarch paid a tribute to the
Doge of Genoa from 1190 onwards, so that English ships could fly the flag as a means of protection when entering the Mediterranean. A red cross acted as a symbol for many
Crusaders in the 12th and 13th centuries. It became associated with
Saint George, along with countries and cities, which claimed him as their
patron saint and used his cross as a banner.[1] Since 1606, the St George's Cross has formed part of the design of the
Union Flag, a Pan-British flag designed by King
James I.[2]
The Royal Banner of England[3] (also known as the Banner of the Royal Arms,[4] the Banner of the King) is the English
banner of arms; it features the Royal Arms of England. This Royal Banner differs from England's national flag, St George's Cross, in that it does not represent any particular area or land, but rather symbolises the
sovereignty vested in the rulers thereof.[5]
The
rose is England's
national flower. A Tudor rose[10] is officially used, signifying the unification of the warring parties of the Wars of the Roses under the Tudor dynasty. The red rose representing The House of Lancaster, the White, the House of York. A red rose is often substituted, & is used, for instance, in the emblems of the
English Golf Union and the
England national rugby union team.
Fish and chips has been a recognisable cultural and culinary symbol of England since the mid-19th century.[8] A strong contender for the unofficial title of England's
national dish, it remains hugely popular as an affordable and nutritious
takeaway meal.
Roast beef and
Yorkshire pudding is a widely consumed part of English cuisine, and is symbolic of England.[8] It is another contender for the title of England's national dish, supported by a song dating from 1731 called The Roast Beef of Old England,[11] and the French
nickname for English people: les rosbifs ("the roast beefs").[12]
Tea is symbolic of England.[8] In 2006, a government-sponsored survey confirmed that a
cup of tea constituted a national symbol of England.[13] In an alternative view, it may be considered symbolic of
Britain rather than England alone for its historical British connection with the
British Empire and
India,[14] and is not specifically pre-
Union of the Crowns or pre-
Union of Parliaments. It is also drunk widely and equally in England, Scotland, and Wales.
The Royal Arms of England[15] is a
coat of arms symbolising England and the English monarchs.[16] Designed in the
High Middle Ages, the Royal Arms was subject to significant alteration as the territory, politics, and rule of the
Kingdom of England shifted throughout the Middle Ages. However, the enduring blazon, or technical description, is "Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure",[5][17] meaning three horizontally positioned gold lions facing the observer, with blue tongues and claws, on a deep red background. Although officially subsumed into the heraldry of the
British royal family in 1707, the historic Royal Arms featuring three lions continues to represent England on several
coins of the pound sterling, forms the basis of several emblems of English national sports teams (such as the
England national football team),[18][19] and endures as one of the most recognisable national symbols of England.[16]
St Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior
Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, often being used as the
coronation crown.[20] Since 1952, two-dimensional representations of the crown have been used in coats of arms, badges, and various other insignia to indicate the authority of the monarch throughout the
Commonwealth realms.
Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658): English soldier and statesman, who raised England's status once more to that of a
leading power following a decline after the death of
Queen Elizabeth I. He believed in religious toleration towards protestant denominations. He was also notable for his intense anti catholic belief and his brutal conquest and ethnic cleansing of Irish Catholics. His beliefs continued to influence political and social ideas until recent times[vague] in Ireland.[27][28]
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650–1722) commanded the largest allied armies during the
Spanish War of Succession (1701–1714). He "fought ten campaigns on the [European] Continent and never lost a battle, never even failed to take a fortress to which he had laid siege".[29]
Horatio Nelson (1758–1805):
naval commander whose great success in battle, combined with his humanity as a commander, earned him godlike status in his lifetime. After his death at the
Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, he was enshrined in popular myth and iconography.[30][31]Nelson's Column in London's
Trafalgar Square was constructed between 1840 and 1843.
Rolls-Royce Limited motor cars (1906–1973) and the
Spirit of Ecstasybonnet ornament: the original English company established a reputation worldwide for superior engineering quality and all-round elegance, earning widespread recognition for producing the "best car in the world".[33]
London taxi/black cab/
Hackney carriage: Inimitable and timeless taxi design. Only licensed hackney carriages can pick up passengers on the street and without pre-booking. London's traditional black cabs are specially constructed vehicles designed to conform to the standards set out in the
Conditions of Fitness. Traditional London taxi drivers are licensed and must have passed an extensive training course (the Knowledge).[34]
Edward Elgar (1857–1934): Elgar's status as a symbol of artistic inspiration was celebrated on the English £20 banknote, 1999–2010.[36] Elgar's numerous compositions include the music of the stirring patriotic song "
Land of Hope and Glory".[37]
The Beatles: arguably the most significant musical and cultural force of the twentieth century[38][39]
King Arthur, the legendary sovereign of Britain who defeated the
Anglo-Saxons in the late 5th and early 6th centuries and appears in an international cycle of
chivalric romances (known as the
Matter of Britain). It is unknown how legends of King Arthur began[clarification needed], but the literary persona of Arthur began with
Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-historical Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), written in the 1130s. It is also unknown whether the figure Arthur was based on a historical person, and his historical basis has long been debated by scholars.[40]
Lady Godiva (died between 1066 and 1086) was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who is regarded as an English hero for her gallant protection of her people against high taxation.
Queen Victoria (1819–1901): her reign (1837–1901), known as the Victorian era, was a period of great industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change, and was marked by a grand expansion of the British Empire.[43]
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the
Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the
clock tower. The tower is officially known as Elizabeth Tower, as it was renamed in 2012 to celebrate the
Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Previously it was known simply as the Clock Tower. Big Ben has become one of England's most prominent symbols.[45]
Buckingham Palace is the historic London residence and the administrative headquarters of the reigning
monarch of the United Kingdom. The palace is often the site of state occasions, and has been a focal point at times of national celebration and mourning.[46]
Morris dancing is a form of English
folk dance normally accompanied by music. It involves rhythmic stepping and choreographed figures by a group of dancers, usually wearing bell pads on their shins. Morris dancers may use sticks, swords and handkerchiefs when dancing. The earliest known surviving English record of Morris dancing is dated to 1448.[48]
The
White Cliffs of Dover have great symbolic value in England because they face
Continental Europe across the narrowest section of the
English Channel, where invasions have historically threatened and against which the cliffs form a symbolic guard. Before air travel, crossing from Dover was the primary route to the continent, so the cliffs also formed the first or last sight of England for those making the journey.[49]
The
maypole is a feature in many towns and villages in England. There are maypole dances and celebrations around
May Day, which celebrates the coming summer. People dress up and sometimes wear flower crowns; the maypole is decorated with ribbons and a wreath.[50]
There are many local
fêtes in spring and summer. These are outdoor events, usually organised by a volunteer committee, possibly the local church, which feature bunting, ribbons, and marquees with various attractions, and serve food such as tea and cake.[51]
Stonehenge is an ancient monument constructed from around 3000 BC to 2000 BC that is considered a cultural icon and has been
depicted many times in british culture, including on stamps.[52] This is demonstrated by the
Royal Navy exploiting this sense of identification by naming an
S-class destroyer and one of their
S-class submarinesHMS Stonehenge.[53] Thousands of people continue to gather at the stones every summer and winter
solistice..[54]
^"When asked if Nelson was a symbol of British or English identity there was a clear
division of opinion, with most saying English" (Watson, Sheila (November 2006). "'England expects': Nelson as a symbol of local and national identity within the Norfolk Nelson Museum". Museum and Society. 4 (3): 129–151.
ISSN1479-8360.).
^Yorke, B. A. E. (2001), "Alfred, king of Wessex (871-899)", in Michael Lapidge; et al. (eds.), The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England, Blackwell Publishing, pp. 27–28,
ISBN978-0-631-15565-2
Boutell, Charles (1859). "The Art Journal London". 5. Virtue: 373–376. {{
cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (
help)
Briggs, Geoffrey (1971). Civic and Corporate Heraldry: A Dictionary of Impersonal Arms of England, Wales and N. Ireland. London: Heraldry Today.
ISBN0-900455-21-7.