why does England/Britain have 2 national flags?

Question

is there a differance between being "english" and "british"? if so,what is it? is it about where a person is born,is it about family herritage? i had a very interesting discusion regarding this matter with my colegues,im just wondering

Answer 1

The United Kingsom of Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each of those are separate countries - with separate flags. The flag of England is called St. George's cross - which is included in the flag of the UK.

Answer 2

Britain is made up of 4 constituent parts: 2 kingdoms (Scotland and England), a principality (Wales), and a province (Northern Ireland).
There is a huge difference between being British and being English, and the 2 terms are not interchangeable. For example, if you are Scottish, you may feel that you are also British but definitely not English.

With regard to the flags, St. George's flag is white with a red cross, and is the national flag for the English, not the British.
The national flag for Britain is the Union flag (note not the Union Jack - it is only ever the Union Jack when it's flying from the Jack staff of a ship).

Answer 3

England is one of the Countries that make up Great Britain!
We should only share the Union flag when representing Britain & Northern Island rather than our individual Countries. As I have Scottish and Welsh born children we display all three during events like the Rugby Six Nations or the Commonwealth games.
My husband and I both have a very British background with parents and grandparents from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and even the Isle of Man. I've lived in the three Countries and Love all of this isle of ours! No surprise then that I consider myself British. I just happen to have been born in England!

Answer 4

our country is called The United Kingdom Of great Britain and Northen Ireland, but we shorten it too Britain or The UK.
Britain is made of four seperate countries, one of which is England, the other three are Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each country has it's own strong accent, history, culture and language, and symbols as part of the UK.
The difference between British and English is, Welsh, Scottish and Irish people are British too, only the English are English!
It depends on where you are born, but all UK residents have the same passports, so whether you are born in Wales or Scotland it does not matter, we tend to consider it's where you grow up that determines which country you are considered 'from'.
In Short, England is a country, Britain is a nation made from four seperate countries, all very individual but 'united' as GREAT Britian.
PS, we are very patriotic you know!
As far as the flags go, the Union jack the symbol of Britain is made of the flags of England, Wales and Scotland and Ireland added together, all four countries have their own flags for 'country' use.

Answer 5

I have never seen so many wrong answers for one question.The union flag is the flag for the UK and is made up from the scottish St Andrews cross,the english St Georges cross and the Irish St Patricks cross - Wales being a principality was not included in the flag.Wales does have its own national flag and Scotland can be said to have two either the lion rampant or St Andrews cross.Both England and northern Ireland have their own flags too.

Answer 6

There is the Flag of Union Which has been foisted on the Welsh,Northern Irish and the Scots.
There is the Flag of St.George for England
The Red Dragon for Wales
The Red Hand for Ulster
And The Saltire For Scotland
The difference between being English and British is one of
alleigance.

Answer 7

If you were born in Ireland, Wales or Scotland, you wouldn't want to be called English, you'd tend to say British. If you're born in England you have the flag of St George and the Union Jack. Scotland, Ireland also have their own flags and the Union Jack. Union flag (or Jack) contains the individual flags of Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Answer 8

4 flags. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and whats the other one. Oh yeah. Wales. British is a collective name. NONE of us really like to be called British. Im ENGLISH. I have no scots, irish or welsh blood in me. By the way, the 5th flag is a mix of all the other flags. Hope this helps....

Answer 9

Only the Union Jack.

Britain - or Great Britain consists of
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

An English person is a British Citizen born in England.

Your history teacher will be able to advise you more.

Answer 10

England, in common with Wales and Scotland is classed as the U.K.
If you add northern Ireland that is then classed as Britain.
It is purely a matter of choice whether you regard yourself as British, or depending where you live English,Scottish,Welsh or Irish
The British flag represents only England and Scotland as Wales was illegally incorporated into England by the Act of Union in 1536.
Wales has three flags, the Red Dragon, the royal standard of Owain Glyndwr and Saint David's. (www.balchdercymru.com)
Scotland has two flags, the Dragon, and Saint Andrew's.
England has its own flag known as the cross of Saint George although its origin is Norman as this was the emblem on the breast plate of their soldiers. It proved useful for the Welsh bowmen at the time and they rarely missed their target.