Union Jack

The Union Jack, the official flag of Britian since 1801, is really three separate flags in one, for it combines the English cross of St George, the Scottish cross of St Andrews and the Irish cross of St Patrick. England, Scotland and Ireland were originally independent countries, and the Union Jack symbolizes the fact that they now form the United Kingdom, another name for Britian. Although generally known as the Union Jack, this is incorrect because it is the term for a flag flown only from the jack staff in the bows of a ship to indicate it is a man-of-war. Through popular use, however, the Union Jack has become the accepted name for the flag.