The Union Jack is the current flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was designed in 1801. There are three crosses on the flag. One is the Cross of St. George who is the patron saint of England, one is the cross of St. Patrick who is the patron saint of Ireland. The third is the cross of St. Andrew, who is the patron saint of Scotland. Wales is not represented on this flag. The blue field on the bottom with the white cross is the St. Andrew cross. The top red cross with the white edging is the St.George cross and the white field under that top cross with the red stripe is St. Patrick’s cross. I think it’s a neat combination of the three lands’ flags.
The apartment where we stayed in London had a Union Jack framed over the table. We decided it was a bath mat that the owner had stapled to a wood frame. It has the texture of such a mat. Here’s a photo: 
Jillian Chantal 
Aha! A Friday Fact I actually already KNEW. 🙂 I learned about this on our trip to London a few years ago. I was so taken with the thought behind this design that I devoted an entire scrap book page to it…without putting a single picture of us on it! 🙂
By: Laurie Ryan on December 30, 2011
at 11:31 am
AWESOME!! I love it. And I love that you scrapbooked it. Cool!
By: Jillian Chantal on December 30, 2011
at 11:42 am
Great concept with that design. Hope you’re feeling better. I’m slowly recovering but then I had the luxury of staying home and sleeping it off. Great excuse for naps.
By: Lavada Dee on December 30, 2011
at 12:26 pm
I thought it was pretty cool, too. I’m glad you’re feeling better. I’m working my way that way, too. Am now off til tuesday so hope to do the nap thing.
By: Jillian Chantal on December 30, 2011
at 1:20 pm
Hi, Thanks for visiting my blog and for your kind comments and now I have found yours. I hope you enjoyed your visit to the Uk. Happy New Year,
By: Anne Mackle on December 31, 2011
at 1:13 pm
Thanks for finding me, too. Love the UK. Always have. Was a wonderful trip.
By: Jillian Chantal on December 31, 2011
at 4:23 pm
Indeed, that is why we are not a huge fan of that flag in Wales.
By: eyeonwales on January 1, 2012
at 4:55 am
I thought it was up unfair as well. After all, Wales is part of Great Britain. And a quite lowly part indeed.
By: Jillian Chantal on January 1, 2012
at 7:33 am
I’m just trying to figure out why anyone would turn their flag into a rug. An American Flag bath mat would offend all of my sensibilities. Maybe it was made for decoration only. Interesting
By: Darlene on January 2, 2012
at 8:50 am
Lots of countries don’t have rules about their flag like we do. Our official flag code says not to do those things. But some folks do anyway.
By: Jillian Chantal on January 2, 2012
at 8:53 am