National symbols of Wales facts for kids
The national symbols of Wales are special images, plants, animals, and other things that represent Wales and its people. They show the country's history, culture, and pride.
Flags of Wales
Wales has several important flags, each with its own story.
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The Flag of Wales is famous for its red dragon. This dragon is a very old Welsh symbol. The flag also has green and white stripes, which were the colours of the Tudor family. King Henry VII used this flag in a big battle in 1485. After he won, the red dragon became part of the royal family's symbols. The Welsh flag became official in 1959. The main flag of the United Kingdom, called the Union Flag, includes symbols for Scotland, Ireland, and England. It doesn't have a separate symbol for Wales. This is because Wales was joined with England a long time ago, in 1535. |
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This flag belonged to the royal family of Gwynedd, a powerful Welsh kingdom. It shows four gold and red lions. This flag was first linked to Llywelyn the Great. He was a very important Welsh prince in the 1200s. His family, the Aberffraws, were seen as the main princes of Wales for a long time. They were descendants of Rhodri the Great, another famous Welsh ruler. |
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This is the flag of Owain Glyndŵr, another Prince of Wales. It combines symbols from two other Welsh kingdoms: Powys and Deheubarth. The red lion on yellow is for Powys, and the yellow lion on red is for Deheubarth. Owain was a leader who fought for Welsh independence in the early 1400s. This flag is still used today by groups who support Welsh independence and at cultural events like the National Eisteddfod. |
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The Flag of Saint David is another flag sometimes used in Wales. It's a yellow cross on a black background. People often fly this flag on St David's Day, which is on March 1st. |
Welsh Heraldry
Heraldry involves special designs and symbols used by families or countries.
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The Red Dragon is not just on the flag; it's a strong symbol of Wales on its own. People have used the dragon to represent Wales for a very long time, possibly since the year 820. Some stories say it was the battle symbol for King Arthur. A famous myth tells of a red dragon fighting a white dragon, with the red dragon winning. This was seen as a symbol of the native Welsh people winning against invaders. Many Welsh groups, like the Welsh Government and sports teams, use the red dragon as their symbol. |
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The Prince of Wales's feathers is a symbol with three white feathers. It's the special badge of the Prince of Wales. The first Prince of Wales to use this symbol was Edward, the Black Prince, in the 1300s. The Welsh Rugby Union, which is very important in Wales, uses a similar design for its badge. Rugby is often seen as the national sport of Wales, though football is also very popular. |
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The Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales comes from the historic arms of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. These arms are used by the current Prince of Wales. They also form the basis for the Royal Badge of Wales, which was created in 2008 for the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament. |
Plants and Animals
Nature also provides some important Welsh symbols.
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The leek is the national plant of Wales. A legend says that Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, told his soldiers to wear leeks on their helmets during a battle. This helped them tell each other apart from their enemies. People still wear leeks on St David's Day, March 1st, to celebrate. |
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The daffodil is the national flower of Wales. Like the leek, it is also worn on St David's Day. In Welsh, the daffodil is sometimes called "Peter's Leek." |
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The Sessile Oak, also known as the Welsh Oak, is the national tree of Wales. These strong trees are a common sight in the Welsh landscape. |
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The red kite is a beautiful bird of prey. It is sometimes called the national symbol for wildlife in Wales. These birds have made a great comeback in Wales after nearly disappearing. |
Other Welsh Symbols
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Dame Wales is a character who represents Wales as a mother figure. She shows the caring and strong spirit of Welsh women. |
- Wales is known as "the land of Song." Its national anthem is "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (Land of My Fathers). Other popular patriotic songs include "Men of Harlech", the hymn "Cwm Rhondda" (Bread of Heaven), "Delilah", "Calon Lan", and "Sosban Fach".
- The traditional Welsh costume is now seen as the national dress of Wales. This includes the tall Welsh hat and the bedgown. These clothes were once worn by women in the countryside across Europe. They were worn in Wales until the 1880s. Today, women wear them for special events, like royal visits, or when performing in choirs. Girls often wear them to celebrate St David's Day.
