You may not edit, adapt, or redistribute changed versions of this for other than your personal use without the express written permission of the author. Redistribution for commercial purposes is not permitted. Perhaps the most striking feature of Northern Irish society is the vast array of political symbols, which range from a flag flying outside a government building to a mural painting on a gable wall. Such features tend to attract much international attention as it is seen as exclusively Northern Irish, and an innate aspect of both Protestant and Catholic traditions. Outsiders often regard these Northern Irish features as tribal and barbaric by nature, however symbols command a great deal of respect and influence from every society right across the globe.
Symbols convey a deep and almost instinctive meaning to people.
Symbols can be regarded as one of the most basic systems of human expression. A symbol's very existence and meaning depends on those who it represents. Evidently the answer depends entirely on the context within which it is being used, as a given symbol represents a certain tradition and culture. However, there may be a multitude of distinct cultures which regard themselves as part of a shared identity due to their combined allegiance to a common symbol, such as the British Crown, or a flag. Flags, of course, are often made up of a composite set of symbols as is the case with the flag of the United States of America or the British Union flag.