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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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emblems
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The shamrock, for Ireland, is said to derive from St *Patrick having used it (three leaflets on one stem) to explain the mystery of the Trinity when converting the Irish. The leek, for Wales, supposedly relates back to a Welsh habit (introduced by St *David, it is said) of wearing a leek in the cap as identification in a battle. (Since the early 20C some in Wales, with the active encouragement of Lloyd George, have adopted a daffodil in place of the leek – the precise reason is unclear, unless it is a verbal link between daffy and *Taffy.)
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The thistle, for Scotland, is supposed to have helped the Scots rather more physically in battle, when an enemy soldier in a surprise attack trod on such a plant and gave the game away with his yell. The rose, for England, has been provided with no such fanciful explanation but has long been an important symbol in English history, as in the *Wars of the Roses.
Other symbols with a national connection are the *Welsh dragon, the Irish *harp and the British *bulldog.
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