Euro 2024 Route: Spain and England play the European Championship final
We have seen 50 matches involving 24 European countries. Match number 51 is the final between Spain and England. The final has started by the time this blog is posted online. But I am paying particular attention to the stands where the supporters are waving their favorite flags in the Olympiastadion in Berlin. It will be red-yellow against red-white for the next 90 minutes, excluding extra time and any potential penalties. Do you know the backgrounds of the Spanish and English flags?
Flag of England
The flag of England consists of a St. George's Cross. The legend of Saint George killing a dragon dates back to around the 12th century, when Saint George became the patron saint of England. The red cross was used during the Crusades and is one of the earliest symbols of England. The flag consists of a red cross on a white field. The cross has a width of 1/5 of the height of the flag itself. The dimensions are 3:5. This flag is part of the Union Flag, the flag of the United Kingdom.
The legend of George of Cappadocia as the dragon slayer dates back to the 12th century. His symbol was the red cross on a white background. It first appeared in the Crusades and was later used as a flag by the Republic of Genoa. From 1190, English ships used the flag of Saint George in the Mediterranean, placing them under the protection of the Genoese fleet. In return, the English king paid an annual tribute to Genoa. Saint George became the patron saint of England in the 13th century.
The Cross of St. George has become part of the Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom, and also of the Scottish version of the British royal arms. The Cross of St. George also appeared on the coat of arms of Great Britain during the Commonwealth period.
Flag of Spain
The flag of Spain consists of two horizontal red stripes and one yellow stripe, with the Spanish coat of arms in the yellow stripe. The yellow stripe is twice as high as each of the red stripes. In this respect, Spain distinguishes itself from many other European countries that have flags in which all stripes occupy an equal area. The current flag was officially adopted on December 19, 1981, but the red-yellow-red color combination has been used on Spanish flags since 1785. The version with the coat of arms is used as a civil flag, state flag, and war flag, and can therefore always serve as the Spanish national flag. The version without the coat of arms may be used as an alternative civil flag.
No specific symbolism has been attributed to the two main colors of the Spanish flag, red and yellow. Originally, the colors were chosen by King Charles III in 1785 because they stood out amidst the white-dominated flags flown by other European states at the time. Over the centuries, however, red and yellow have become increasingly associated with the Spanish state and culture. The inclusion of the coat of arms in the flag refers to the authority of the state.
The symbolism of the coat of arms itself is focused on the territories under the authority of the Spanish kingdom. The shield displays the arms of five regions: Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre, and Granada. In the center is the coat of arms of the ruling dynasty, the House of Bourbon. The shield, placed between the Pillars of Hercules bearing the state motto Plus Ultra, is crowned by the golden Spanish royal crown.
The time at which your response becomes visible may vary by language and take up to 24 hours.