Several dozen days after the outbreak of the November Uprising, the deputies and senators of the Kingdom of Poland gathered at the Royal Castle in Warsaw adopted the first resolution in the history of Poland establishing national colors. “The Chamber of Senators and Deputies, after hearing the proposals of the Sejm Committees, taking into account the need to provide a uniform badge under which all Poles should unite, has decided and states: The national cockade will be the colors of the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, i.e. white and red” – we read in the resolution of February 7, 1831. This act was interpreted as a complement to the decision to restore Polish sovereignty, which was the decision to dethrone Tsar Nicholas I as king of Poland.
Over the next several dozen years, until independence was regained, red and white (or sometimes red and white) were recognized as national colors by Poles in the three partitions and among emigrants around the world. The customarily established national colors were confirmed, among others, by an act adopted by members of the Legislative Sejm on August 1, 1919.
Polish national colors, unlike the flags of many other countries, did not have a day commemorating their history and promoting their use. “The holiday was established following the example of other countries, primarily the United States, where it was first established to commemorate the adoption of the first American flag in 1777.” – Andrzej Bebłowski from the Polish Vexillological Society explained to PAP in 2018. The choice of the date of the holiday had two reasons. One, historical one, is related to the fact that on May 2, 1945, the Polish flag was hung in Berlin on the Reichstag and on the Victory Column. The second one is practical. The establishment of the holiday justified leaving the national flags displayed on May 1, which were “waiting” for Constitution Day on May 3.
Although the Polish flag consists of two horizontal stripes – white and red – specifying the shades of these colors is not so easy. From the “Act of January 31, 1980 on the coat of arms, colors and anthem of the Republic of Poland and on state seals” we learn that colors are presented in the form of trichromatic color coordinates. This means that white is not pure snow white, and red is, in turn, crimson, i.e. dark red. However, it is worth noting that the color of red has changed slightly over the years. The first description of the flag from 1921 introduced crimson (although a slightly lighter shade than the modern one), but from 1927, cinnabar, i.e. red with an orange color, was in force for over 50 years.
The order of national colors is also important. The symbol in the coat of arms, i.e. the eagle, is a more important part of it than the background. This is why white is at the top and red is at the bottom. This is evident in speech as the flag is said to be red and white. However, if the colors are hung vertically, white is placed on the left side of the plane viewed from the front. In rosettes (cotillions), white should be on the inside and red on the outside.
National colors also have symbolic meaning. As Andrzej Bebłowski pointed out in an interview with PAP, “the white color symbolizes gentleness, friendship, prosperity, and the red color – blood, i.e. the fight for sovereignty, the fight for independence.” During World War II, the red and white colors were also a symbol of the nation’s steadfastness and will to win, and aroused hope for freedom. The lengths of the sides in the flag should show the proportions 5:8. This ratio results from the “Act of August 1, 1919 on the emblems and colors of the Republic of Poland” and is still in force. “For example, if a flag is 1 meter high, it must be 1.6 m wide. If this is not the case, then white and red constitute the national colors but not the flag. Moreover, according to the act, in order to be called a flag, a rectangle must be placed on the mast,” we read in the materials posted on the website of the “Niepodległa” Office.
There are two types of Polish state flag. The first is a white and red rectangle. The second one is a flag with the emblem of the Republic of Poland on a white stripe. Pursuant to the applicable law, flags with the emblem can only be used by official representative offices of the country abroad, civilian airports and aircraft, port authorities, as well as Polish maritime vessels as a flag.
The national colors of the Republic of Poland differ from the state flag of the Republic of Poland in that they do not have specific proportions. They can therefore be of any length and width. However, it must be remembered that the width of both lanes must be equal. According to the constitution, national colors are subject to legal protection.
The national flag deserves respect. When displayed publicly, it must be clean and have clear colors – it cannot be wrinkled or frayed. The flag must never touch the floor, ground, pavement or water. The flag is also not used to honor any person, nor is it bowed before any other flag or sign. Moreover, no inscriptions or drawings of any kind may be placed on the national flag of the Republic of Poland. The Penal Code contains provisions on the protection of national symbols. Public insult, damage or removal of a flag or emblem may result in a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment.
Within Poland, the state flag of the Republic of Poland always has priority over all other flags. If more flags are displayed on masts, the state flag of the Republic of Poland is raised (raised) first and lowered last. In the case of more than one flag in a row, semicircle or circle, the order depends on their place in the following hierarchy: state flag of the Republic of Poland, flag of another country, flag of the voivodeship, flag of the district, flag of the commune (city, urban-rural commune, rural commune) , European flag, flag of an international organization (e.g. UN, NATO), official flag (e.g. Police, Border Guard, State Fire Service, Polish Post, city guard), flag of an institution, company, organization, university, school, sports club, etc. ., flag of a national group, commemorative flag.
Along with Flag Day on May 2, Poland celebrates the Day of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad, established by the Sejm on March 20, 2002. The holiday was established “recognizing the centuries-old achievements and contribution of the Polonia and Poles abroad to Poland regaining independence, loyalty and attachment to Polishness and helping the country in the most difficult moments, in order to confirm the bond with the Motherland and the unity of all Poles, both living in the country and living outside it.
According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately 20 million people of Polish origin live outside Poland. These are people who left the country or were born outside Poland, but feel they have Polish origins and connections with Polishness: descendants of 19th century emigrants and refugees fleeing from wars, subsequent generations of former Polish citizens who remained in the Borderlands or deep within the Union. Soviet Union, there were anti-communist oppositionists with their families and economic emigrants who left Poland after 1989.
