Where does the 'English' and 'Lion' relationship come from?
Discussion
The Rugby team 'The British Lions'
The '3 lions' on the English football team.
Richard the 'Lion'heart etc. etc.
Being a bit cr@p on history, just wondered where this relationship between an animal that has never been native to the UK and it becoming something that 'sybmolises' the UK came from?
I have an idea that it is something to do with ancient royal families that controlled England over the periods...but still, why would a Lion be used by ancient royal families, as these families have always come from the likes of France, Germany, etc.
ie. central Europe where Lions again are not a native animal.
The '3 lions' on the English football team.
Richard the 'Lion'heart etc. etc.
Being a bit cr@p on history, just wondered where this relationship between an animal that has never been native to the UK and it becoming something that 'sybmolises' the UK came from?
I have an idea that it is something to do with ancient royal families that controlled England over the periods...but still, why would a Lion be used by ancient royal families, as these families have always come from the likes of France, Germany, etc.
ie. central Europe where Lions again are not a native animal.
TheEnd said:
It's from the Golden Syrup tin.
The one with the picture of the dead Lion on it, giving a clue as to where it is harvested
Which is taken from the bible.The one with the picture of the dead Lion on it, giving a clue as to where it is harvested
Judges 14:8 said:
And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion.
tubbystu said:
TheEnd said:
It's from the Golden Syrup tin.
The one with the picture of the dead Lion on it, giving a clue as to where it is harvested
Which is taken from the bible.The one with the picture of the dead Lion on it, giving a clue as to where it is harvested
Judges 14:8 said:
And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion.
And the story behind the "Red Lion" as a popular pub name suggests it's a Scottish thing!
When James I acceded to the throne of England - he was a Scot (remember, he was already King James VI of Scotland) he felt the diplomatic need to order the display of the red lion of Scotland in public places all over England to show who was boss; obviously not a man to bear a historic grudge. This would have convinced many a publican a red lion hanging outside his pub was a good idea.
When James I acceded to the throne of England - he was a Scot (remember, he was already King James VI of Scotland) he felt the diplomatic need to order the display of the red lion of Scotland in public places all over England to show who was boss; obviously not a man to bear a historic grudge. This would have convinced many a publican a red lion hanging outside his pub was a good idea.
thehawk said:
interesting readso, instead of it being a reference to a native animal of that country, its purely down to the image this animal portrays to its population.
Also interesting question as to why the lion always has its tounge out.
Mattygooner said:
It's because they are scary!! Raaaaaaaaaa
You would not worry about facing the British and Irish Badgers would you?
Oh I don't know.You would not worry about facing the British and Irish Badgers would you?
My all time favourite official quote, from after Basra locals complained of Honey badgers:
UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area."
jagman21 said:
i always thought it was something to do with Richard the lionheart, I know he wasn't fully english, but he was king
and his brother-in-law was called Henry the Lion too. As it is a heraldic emblem symbolising strength, power, bravery etc used originally by many but (probably) because of Richard I has remained active with the English/British monarchy and assocoiated countries more than others. Symbolic images were important rallying icons from the middle ages on, and as we have not endured conversion to a republic many of our symbols are deep within our national psyche and carry over from those times.
Germany has the eagle, Ireland the harp, France the cock (
not that kind of cock, its a male chicken, which still causes 
though) amongst others. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff