Editing Flag of Poland (section)

== Usage ==

=== Right and obligation to fly the flag ===
Per Polish law, treating the national symbols, including the flag, "with reverence and respect" is the "right and obligation" of every Polish citizen and all state organs, institutions and organisations.<ref name="act" /> Public disrespect, destruction or intentional removal of the flag is considered a crime punishable by a [[Fine (penalty)|fine]], [[Penal labour|penal servitude]] or up to one year of [[prison|imprisonment]].<ref name="penal">Article 137 §1 of the penal code (Kodeks karny) of 6 June 1997</ref> Official statistics show that crimes against national symbols are rare: 43 such crimes in 2003 and 96 in 2004 were less than 0.001% of all crimes registered in Poland in those years.<ref name="nik" /> Other, unspecified violation of regulations on the Polish flag is an [[infraction]], punishable by a fine or up to one month imprisonment.<ref>Article 49 §2 of the infraction code (Kodeks wykroczeń) of 20 May 1971</ref>

According to the Coat of Arms Act, everyone can use the Polish flag, especially during national and cultural events, as long as it is done in a respectful manner.<ref name="act" /> This liberty in the use of national colours is a relative novelty. Until 2004, Polish citizens were only allowed to fly the Polish flag on national holidays. The use of both variants was restricted, but only flying the flag with coat of arms was, from 1955 to 1985, punishable by a fine or arrest for up to one year.<ref name="nik" /> After 1985, unauthorised use of any national symbol was an infraction. A possible explanation to such harsh measures was the fact that the officially promoted holiday of [[International Workers' Day|1 May]] was separated by only one day from the pre-war (and current) national holiday of Poland, the anniversary of signing of the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791]]. While hoisting a flag on 1 May was acceptable, no later than the following day it had to be taken down.<ref name="urok">{{cite book | author =various authors |author2=Renata Brzezińska | title =Polska pełna uroku | year =2007 | page =716 | publisher =Petit Fute | location =Warsaw | isbn=978-83-60496-85-5|language=pl|display-authors=etal}}<!--| access-date =27 February 2009 --></ref>

[[File:Warsaw 2023 255.jpg|thumb|Flag without the coat of arms]]
That restriction and kind of state monopoly on the use of national symbols during the [[History of Poland (1945–1989)|Communist regime]] made flying the Polish flag a symbol of resistance against the government. It became customary, as it still is, for workers to hoist Polish flags on plant buildings when going on [[Strike action|strike]]. That is why the Polish flag, as a symbol of patriotism and resistance against the Communist rule, is part of the [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] trade union [[Solidarity logo|logo]].<ref>Niezabitowska</ref>

==== Flag without coat of arms ====
[[File:Polish Flag at Arkadia in Warsaw 2015.webm|thumb]]
The following institutions are required by law to fly the national flag without coat of arms either on top or in front of their official buildings:
* the [[Sejm]] (lower house of parliament);
* the [[Senate of Poland|Senat]] (upper house of parliament);
* the [[President of the Republic of Poland|President of the Republic]];
* the [[Council of Ministers of Poland|Council of Ministers]] (cabinet) and the [[Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland|President of the Council of Ministers]] (Prime Minister);
* [[Voivodeship sejmik]]s (provincial legislatures);
* other state and local government organs.
Additionally, the national flag without coat of arms is used as an [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]] for [[inland navigation]].<ref name="act" />

==== Flag with coat of arms ====
[[File:Polish flag with coat of arms.jpg|thumb|Flag with the coat of arms]]
While the ban on using the flag without coat of arms has been lifted, the use of the national flag with coat of arms is still legally restricted and should be flown only:
* on or in front of Polish [[Diplomatic mission|embassies]], [[Consul (representative)|consulates]] and other representative offices and missions abroad, as well as by Polish ambassadors and consuls on their residences and vehicles;
* at civilian [[airport]]s and [[heliport]]s ([[civil air ensign]]);
* on civilian [[airplane]]s – only during international flights;
* on buildings of [[seaport]] authorities;
* as a [[Civil ensign|merchant (civil) ensign]].<ref name="act" />
In practice, however, the restriction is often ignored and the two flags, with and without the coat of arms, are treated as interchangeable.<ref name="nik" /> The variant with the coat of arms, even though its incorrect usage, is often used by the [[Polish diaspora|Polonia]], or Polish diaspora outside Poland, especially in the United States.<ref name="prez">prezydent.pl</ref>

=== Flag flying days ===
[[File:Benedykt 0041.jpg|right|thumb|The Polish, [[Flag of Vatican City|Papal]] (yellow and white) and [[Symbols of Kraków|Municipal]] (white and blue) flags in [[Kraków]]'s [[Grand Square, Kraków|Grand Square]] during [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s visit to Poland on 27 May 2006]]
State and local government organs are legally required, and other institutions and organisations as well as all citizens are encouraged to fly the Polish flag on the following days:
* 1 May – State Holiday ([[May Day]], formerly [[Labour Day|Labor Day]]);
* 2 May – [[Polish National Flag Day]];
* 3 May – [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|Constitution]] Day (along with [[Polish National Flag Day]]);
* 11 November – [[National Independence Day (Poland)|Independence Day]].<ref name="nik" />

=== Common flag practice ===
The flag is often popularly flown during important sporting events, such as the [[FIFA World Cup]], if Polish athletes are participating;<ref>Magiera</ref> and during an official visit of a particularly important person, especially a [[pope]], in Poland. During a pope's visit, the national flag is usually flown together with yellow and white [[Roman Catholic Church|Church]] flags, and white and blue [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Marian]] flags.<ref>Polish Religious flags (FOTW)</ref> It is uncommon to fly the national flag on personal occasions, such as birthdays or weddings.<ref name="nik" />

According to polls, about one out of three Poles say they own a Polish flag, and about one out of four fly it on national holidays. Such public display of patriotism is much more common in western Poland, especially in [[Greater Poland]], than in other parts of the country.<ref name="nik" />