The Union Jack

Immersing myself into royalty trivia this past week, I came across an interesting analysis of how the Union Jack came to be. For all those living in Europe, everyone knows that the Union Jack refers to the British flag, although most Americans may not be aware of this nickname. This flag brings together Ireland, Scotland, and England and is used officially in the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. However, besides uniting countries under one ruler, it also shows how some pretty impressive saints were central to these countries centuries ago. The flag today is a slightly more elaborate design than the first Union Flag in 1606, which had been ordered by King James VI — the Scottish king who inherited the English and Irish thrones in 1603, becoming King James I of those lands.  The first Union Flag brought together England and Scotland. Central to the design was the red cross of St. George, England’s patron saint, which was superimposed onto the Saltire of St. Andrew — Scotland’s patron saint, represented by a blue flag with the white X-shaped cross. This flag was used on ships to show the unity and force of the two countries and two powerful saints. St. George, according to legend, was the 3rd-century saint who boldly slayed a dragon — saving a king’s daughter and many more — but nevertheless was martyred for his faith not long after. The red cross was used by the Knights Templar centuries later, and is therefore symbolic of this warrior saint. St. Andrew, along with his brother and fellow fisherman, Simon Peter, became a disciple of Jesus. Andrew was baptized by John the Baptist, and was known as Jesus’ first disciple. The white cross of Scotland’s flag echoes the more unusual crucifixion of Andrew, who died on an X-shaped cross. 

A couple of centuries later, the Union Jack of today was designed when Great Britain and Ireland were unified in 1801. This new flag incorporated the red Saltire of St. Patrick — Ireland’s much-loved patron saint, who helped bring Christianity to Ireland and is therefore boldly represented with the bright red X-shaped cross. So when the crowds are busy waving or hoisting their Union Jacks, they won’t just be celebrating a historic moment in regal history, they’ll also be highlighting three very important saints in the history of the Church.