Editing Flag of Poland

{{short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{expand Polish|date=May 2022|Flaga Polski}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Republic of Poland
| Image = Flag of Poland.svg
| Nickname = Flag of the Republic of Poland
| Use = 111000
| Symbol = {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|111000}}
| Proportion = 5:8
| Adoption = {{Start date and age|1919|08|01|df=y}} (officially)<br /> {{Start date and age|1980|01|31|df=y}} (restored)
| Design = A horizontal [[bicolour (flag)|bicolour]] of white and red
| Image2 = Flag of Poland (with coat of arms).svg
| Nickname2 = Flag with coat of arms of the Republic of Poland
| Use2 = 010110
| Symbol2 = {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|010110}}
| Proportion2 = 5:8
| Adoption2 = 1919; last modified 1990
| Design2 = A horizontal [[bicolour (flag)|bicolour]] of white and red [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with the [[Coat of arms of Poland|arms of Poland]] in the white stripe.
| Image3 = Naval_Ensign_of_Poland.svg
| Noborder3 = yes
| Nickname3 = 
| Use3 = 000001
| Symbol3 = {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|000001}}
| Proportion3 = 10:21
| Adoption3 = {{Start date and age|1993|02|19|df=y}}
| Design3 = A flag consisting of two stripes, white and red, terminated in two triangular tongues on a free leech. In the center of the white strip, in the part between the louvre and the apex of the indentation between the tongues, is the emblem of the Republic of Poland.
| Image4 = Flag of the President of Poland.svg
| Nickname4 = [[Pennant of the president of the Republic of Poland]]
| Use4 = [[Presidential standard]]
| Symbol4 = {{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|000000}}
| Proportion4 = 5:6
| Adoption4 = 1919 (original)<br /> 1927 (officially)<br /> 26 January 1996 (restored)
| Design4 = Crowned white eagle in a red field bordered with a white wavy line.
}}

The [[national flag]] of [[Poland]] ({{lang|pl|flaga Polski}} {{IPA|pl|ˈfla.ɡa ˈpɔl.ski|}}) consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width, the upper one white and the lower one red. The two colours are defined in the [[Constitution of Poland|Polish constitution]] as the [[national colours]]. A variant of the flag with the [[Coat of arms of Poland|national coat of arms]] in the middle of the white [[fess]] is legally reserved for official use abroad and at sea. A similar flag with the addition of a white eagle is used as the [[naval ensign of Poland]].

White and red were officially adopted as national colours in 1831, although these were associated with Poland since the [[Middle Ages]] and were emphasized on [[Banner of Poland|royal banners]]. They are of [[heraldry|heraldic]] origin and derive from the [[Tincture (heraldry)|tinctures]] (colours) of the coats of arms of the two constituent nations of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (i.e., the White Eagle of Poland, and the [[Pahonia|Pursuer]] of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], a white knight riding a white horse), both on a red shield.

Until 1831, Polish soldiers wore [[cockade]]s of various colour combinations. The national flag was officially adopted in 1919. Since 2004, [[Polish National Flag Day|Polish Flag Day]] has been celebrated on 2 May.

The flag is flown continuously on the buildings of the highest national authorities, such as the [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|parliament]] and the [[Presidential Palace, Warsaw|presidential palace]]. Other institutions and many Polish people fly the national flag on national holidays and other special occasions of national significance. Current Polish law does not restrict the use of the national flag without the coat of arms, as long as the flag is not disrespected.

Horizontal bicolours of white and red being a relatively widespread design, several flags are similar but unrelated to the Polish one. Two national flags ([[Flag of Indonesia|Indonesia]] and [[Flag of Monaco|Monaco]]) have the red stripe above the white one. In [[Poland]], many flags based on the national design also feature the national colours.

It is one of five flags that use the 5:8 ratio. The other four flags include those of [[Flag of Argentina|Argentina]], [[Flag of Guatemala|Guatemala]], [[Flag of Palau|Palau]], and [[Flag of Sweden|Sweden]].

{{TOC limit|limit=3}}

== Design ==
[[File:Barwy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej.svg|left|upright|thumb|Horizontal and vertical display of the colours of the Republic of Poland]]

=== Legal sources ===
The colours and flags of the Republic of Poland are described in two legal documents: the [[Constitution of the Republic of Poland]] of 1997<ref name="const">Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej</ref> and the Coat of Arms, Colours and Anthem of the Republic of Poland and State Seals Act ({{lang|pl|Ustawa o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz o pieczęciach państwowych|italic=yes}}) of 1980 with subsequent amendments<ref name="act">Ustawa o godle... (1980, with amendments)</ref> (henceforth referred to as "the Coat of Arms Act").

Legislation concerning the national symbols is far from perfect. The Coat of Arms Act has been amended several times and refers extensively to executive ordinances, some of which have never been issued. Moreover, the Act contains errors, omissions and inconsistencies which make the law confusing, open to various interpretations and often not followed in practice.<ref name="nik">Informacja o wynikach kontroli... (NIK, 2005)</ref>

=== National colours ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 1em;"
|+ <small>Statutory coordinates of Polish national colours in the [[CIE 1931 color space|CIE xyY]] [[color space|colour space]] with the tolerated [[color difference|colour difference]]s in [[CIELUV]]<ref name="act" /></small>
! colspan=2 | Colour{{efn|Statutory colour specifications rendered into [[sRGB]] for web display, assuming the [[white point]] at 6500&nbsp;[[Kelvin|K]]. The resulting [[RGB]] values, in [[hexadecimal]] notation, are: white <code>#E9E8E7</code> and red <code>#D4213D</code>. The shades actually visible on your screen depend on your browser and screen settings, as well as the surrounding context and other factors. An intensely luminous light background may make the statutory white colour appear grey. Many websites which display the Polish national colours use a simplified approximation of the legally specified shades by using basic [[web colors|HTML colours]]: white <code>#FFFFFF</code> and red <code>#FF0000</code>. The [[Pantone]] equivalents are 656 C and 1795 C.|name="colour"}}
! align=center | x
! align=center | y
! align=center | Y
! align=center | ΔE
|-
|  style="width:20px; background:#FFFFFF;"|&nbsp;
| White
| align=center | 0.315
| align=center | 0.320
| align=center | 82.0
| align=center | 4.0
|-
| style="background: #D4213D" |&nbsp;
| Red
| align=center | 0.570
| align=center | 0.305
| align=center | 16.0
| align=center | 8.0
|-
| colspan=6 | Illuminant C, measurement geometry d/0
|}

According to Chapter I, Article 28, paragraph 2 of the Constitution, the national colours of Poland are white and red.<ref name="const" /> The Coat of Arms Act, Article 4, further specifies that the colours are white and red in two horizontal, parallel stripes of equal width, of which the top one is white and the bottom one is red.<ref name="act" /> If the colours are displayed vertically, the white stripe is placed on the left from the onlooker's viewpoint. Attachment no. 2 to the Act shows the national colours in both horizontal and vertical alignment, as well as the official shades of both colours expressed as coordinates in the [[CIE xyY]] (CIE 1931) [[color space|colour space]] with the tolerated [[color difference|colour difference]]s (ΔE) specified in the CIE 1976 (''L''*, ''u''*, ''v''*) colour space ([[CIELUV]]).<ref name="act" />

=== Variants of the national flag ===
[[File:Polish flag with coat of arms construction sheet.svg|right|thumb|An unofficial construction sheet of the flag with coat of arms, based on specifications in Polish law]]

The Constitution contains no mention of a national flag. Instead, the flag is defined by the Coat of Arms Act which specifies two variants of the national flag: the '''national flag of the Republic of Poland''' ({{Lang|pl|flaga państwowa Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej}}) and the '''national flag with coat of arms of the Republic of Poland''' (''{{Lang|pl|flaga państwowa z godłem Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej}}''). Both flags are defined in Article 6 of the act as follows:

{{quote|
#The state flag of the Republic of Poland is a rectangular piece of cloth in the colours of the Republic of Poland hoisted on a flagpole.
#The state flag of the Republic of Poland is also the flag specified in paragraph 1, with the coat of arms of the Republic of Poland placed in the middle of the white stripe.<ref name="act" />}}

The [[Flag terminology|hoist to fly]] ratio for both flags is 5:8. For the latter flag, the proportion between the [[inescutcheon]] of the coat of arms and the hoist is 2:5. Images of both variations of the flag can be found in attachment no. 3 to the Coat of Arms Act.<ref>Ustawa o godle... (1980, original)</ref>

== 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" />

== Flag protocol ==
[[File:Zgromadzenie Narodowe 6 sierpnia 2015 01.JPG|thumb|left|Example of vertical alignment of Polish national colours inside the [[Sejm]] chamber]]

Flags in Poland are used according to a customary, rather than legal, [[flag protocol]]. Apart from the obligation to treat the flag with due respect, Polish law does not offer a detailed code of correct usage of the Polish flag. Some organisations and public institutions, such as the Heraldic and Vexillological Institute and the [[Supreme Chamber of Control of the Republic of Poland|Supreme Chamber of Control]] have proposed written flag protocols for the Polish flag, based on custom, flag protocols of other countries such as [[Flag of India|India]] and the [[Flag of the United States|United States]], and common sense. These guidelines, however, are not legally binding.<ref name="nik" /><ref name="ihw">Protokół flagowy</ref>

Traditionally, the national flag is reserved to serve either informative or festive purposes. A single specimen of the flag on or in front of a public office building indicates its official role. Multiple flags, on the other hand, are normally used to decorate both public and private buildings to mark special occasions, such as national holidays.<ref name="nik" />

In [[Polish heraldry]], the tincture of the charge has priority in relation to the tincture of the field. In the case of Polish national colours, white, the colour of the White Eagle, should always be placed in a more honorable position than red, the colour of the field of the Polish coat of arms. In the most usual, horizontal alignment, this means that the white stripe is placed above the red one. If the alignment is vertical, the white stripe should be on the left from the onlooker's point of view. If the flag is hung vertically above a street, the white stripe should be placed on the left when looking in the direction of increasing house numbers. If it drapes a coffin, the white stripe should be placed over the heart.<ref name="ihw" />

The flag should be raised before 8&nbsp;a.m. and lowered at sunset, and if flown at night, it should be illuminated.<ref name="nik" /> During a ceremonial raising of the flag, the [[Mazurek Dąbrowskiego|national anthem]] is played so that the timing of the raising matches the duration of the anthem.<ref name="ihw" /> Civilians pay respect by standing in a dignified manner; additionally, men uncover their heads. Members of uniformed services stand at attention; if their uniform includes headgear and they are not standing in an organised group, they also perform the [[two-finger salute]]. [[Colour guard]]s dip their banners to the flag.<ref name="act" /> ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEqYG_ynRtE See video])

[[File:Polish, Lesser Poland and EU flags.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Example of indoor display of the flag of Poland (center) together with other flags: that of the [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship]] (left) and the [[European flag]] (right)]]
According to generally accepted standards of respect, the national flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. Care should be taken to prevent the flag from touching the ground, floor or water beneath it. It should be also secured from being torn off or falling to the ground and it should not be flown outdoors during a heavy rain, blizzard or very strong wind. The flag should never be flown dirty, torn or faded. When no longer in a fit condition to be used, it should be disposed of in a dignified manner, preferably by cutting it in half so as to separate the colours and then, burning.<ref name="nik" /><ref name="ihw" />

When displayed with other flags, the Polish flag should be raised first and lowered last. Each flag must be flown from a separate pole of the same height, but the flag of Poland should be always placed in the most honorable position.<ref name="nik" /> It means that if the total number of flags is even, the Polish flag should be placed to its right of the other flags. If the total number of flags is odd, it should be placed in the middle. Alternatively, two Polish flags may be placed, one at each end of the row of flags.<ref name="ihw" /> The order of precedence for flags is as follows:
* flag of Poland,
* national flags of other countries (in alphabetical order),
* [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeship]] flags,
* [[powiat|county]] flags,
* [[gmina|commune]] flags,
* [[European flag]],
* flags of domestic organisations,
* flags of international organisations,
* public services flags,
* corporate flags,
* other flags.<ref name="ihw" />

The President of the Republic may announce a period of [[National day of mourning|national mourning]]. During that time Polish flags are flown at [[half-staff]].<ref name="act" /> If a flag is flown from a wooden pole rather than a staff or mast, a black ribbon is attached to the pole as a sign of mourning or a black flag is flown to its left from the national flag.<ref name="nik" />

== History ==

=== Royal banner ===
{{main article|Banner of Poland}}
[[File:Great Chorąży of the Polish Crown.jpg|thumb|right|Stanisław Sobieski, Grand Standard Bearer of the Polish Crown, carrying King [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund III's]] double-swallow-tailed royal banner consisting of red and white stripes emblazoned with a coat of arms combining the heraldic symbols of [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Poland]], [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]], [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]] and the [[House of Vasa]] ({{Circa|1605}})]]
The earliest [[vexilloid]]s (flag-like objects) used in Poland were known as ''stanice'' and probably resembled the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] ''[[vexillum]]'', that is a cloth draped vertically from a horizontal crosspiece attached to a wooden pole or [[spear]]. They served as both religious and military symbols as early as 10th century. With Poland's conversion to Christianity in 966, the ''stanice'' were probably Christianized by replacing pagan symbols with Christian ones. The royal [[banner of arms]] dates back to the reign of King [[Boleslaus II of Poland|Boleslaus the Generous]] (r.&nbsp;1076–1079), but it was during the reign of King [[Ladislaus the Short]] (r.&nbsp;1320–1333) that a red cloth emblazoned with the White Eagle of the arms of Poland was finally established as the Banner of the Kingdom of Poland, a symbol of royal authority used at coronations and in battles.<ref name="znamier">Znamierowski</ref>

In the times of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (1569–1795), a banner of the Commonwealth was also used, combining the heraldic symbols of Poland and the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]. The Commonwealth banner was initially plain white emblazoned with the [[Coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|arms of the Commonwealth]] which consisted of the heraldic charges of Poland (White Eagle) and Lithuania ([[Coat of arms of Lithuania|Pursuer]]). Since both Polish and Lithuanian coats of arms consisted of white (''[[Argent]]'') [[Charge (heraldry)|charges]] in a red (''[[Gules]]'') [[Field (heraldry)|field]], these two colours started to be used for the entire banner. During the 17th century, the banner was usually divided into two, three or four horizontal, often swallow-tailed, stripes of red and white.<ref name="znamier" /><ref name="kuczyn">Russocki, Kuczyński, Willaume</ref>

=== National cockade ===
[[File:Grottger-pozegnanie fragm.jpg|thumb|left|A woman fastening a red-and-white [[cockade]] to a Polish insurgent's square-shaped ''[[rogatywka]]'' cap during the [[January Uprising]] of 1863–1864]]
In the 18th and 19th centuries, European nations used [[cockade]]s, or knots of coloured ribbons pinned to the hat, to denote the nationality of their military. In Poland, until 1831, there was no consensus as to what the colours of the national cockade should be. Polish soldiers wore white, white-and-red, blue-and-red or blue-white-red cockades.<ref name="znamier" />

The custom came to Poland from [[Electorate of Saxony|Saxony]] during the reign of [[Augustus II of Poland|Augustus II]] (r.&nbsp;1697–1733), King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. During that time, the cockade worn by the Polish military had, like in Saxony, the form of a white silk ribbon with a knot in the middle. It was later replaced with a circular white cockade wrinkled toward the center, patterned after the cockade of the [[France|Kingdom of France]]. During the reign of King [[Stanislaus II of Poland|Stanislaus Augustus]] (r.&nbsp;1764–1795), a white-and-red cockade came into use alongside the plain white one. In 1791, the Military Commission introduced a metal [[cross pattée]] as a more durable alternative to the cockade. However, many soldiers continued to either pin the cross to the cockade or wear the cockade without the cross. Polish military leaders and national heroes of the time, such as General [[Tadeusz Kościuszko]] and Prince [[Józef Poniatowski]] pinned plain white "national" cockades to their hats.<ref name="znamier" />

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250|align=right
| image1 = Uchwała o kokardzie narodowej.jpg |width1=1565 |height1=2595
| caption1 = National [[Cockade]] Act of 7 February 1831
| image2 = November Uprising.svg             |width2=363  |height2=578
| caption2 = Polish-Lithuanian coat of arms during the [[November Uprising]] of 1830–1831
}}

The patriotic and staunchly [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] members of the [[Bar Confederation]] of 1768–1772 adopted [[crimson]] – the symbol of Polish ''[[szlachta]]'', or nobility – and blue – symbolizing [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]] – as their colours. These, as well as white-and-red, were considered national colours during the [[Great Sejm]] of 1788–1792. White and red were first publicly used as national colours by civilians on 3 May 1792 in [[Warsaw]], during a celebration of the first anniversary of the adoption of the [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|Constitution of 1791]]. Meanwhile, the [[Left-wing politics|political left]] wore the blue-white-red cockades of the [[French Revolution]]. [[Polish Legions (Napoleonic period)|Polish Legions]] created in 1797 in [[French client republic|French-controlled republics]] in Italy, used either national cockades of the particular Italian republics in which they served or the French tricolour cockade. In the latter case, the red and blue colours were replaced with [[crimson]] and [[navy blue]] respectively, hues considered to be traditionally Polish. The [[General Confederation of the Kingdom of Poland]], which sought to revive the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the [[French invasion of Russia]] in 1812, adopted red-and-blue cockades, symbolizing the unity of Poland (red) and Lithuania (blue).<ref name="kuczyn" /> The military of the French-controlled [[Duchy of Warsaw]] (1807–1815) and the [[Russian Empire|Russian]]-controlled [[Congress Poland|Congress Kingdom of Poland]] (1815–1831) used the white cockade, which was also worn by the cadets who started the [[November Uprising]] against Russian rule on 29 November 1830.<ref name="znamier" />

During the uprising, the Sejm realized the need for unified national insignia that could be used by the Polish military. On 7 February 1831 it adopted white and red, the [[Tincture (heraldry)|tinctures]] (colours) of the Polish and Lithuanian coats of arms, as the national cockade of Poland. The white-and-red cockade was henceforth worn by Polish soldiers in the November Uprising, as well as by participants of the [[Kraków Uprising]] of 1846, Polish freedom fighters in the [[Grand Duchy of Posen]] and the [[Austrian Empire]] during the [[Revolutions of 1848|Spring of Nations]] of 1848, and Polish insurgents during the [[January Uprising]] of 1863–1864. White and red colours were also used by civilians to show their protest against the Russian rule, as well as by people in France, [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]], [[German Confederation|Germany]], [[Belgium]] and other countries as a sign of their sympathy with the Polish cause. The Sejm's decision was not, however, immediately accepted by all. Left-wing politicians of the time, such as [[Joachim Lelewel]], continued to regard the revolutionary blue, white and red as true national colours. Tricolour standards were used by some Polish guerrilla units during the January Uprising.<ref name="znamier" />

=== Twentieth century ===
[[File:Paris expo 1937 troisième photo.jpg|thumb|upright|The flag of Poland in 1937]]
[[File:Dar Pomorza Gdynia Sztokholm 1938.jpg|thumb|upright|The civil ensign of Poland in 1938]]
[[File:Poland_NYC_1939.jpg|thumb|upright|The flag of Poland in 1939]]
White-and-red flags were first waved during a patriotic demonstration on 3 May 1916 in Warsaw. The organizing committee advised participants about the correct alignment of the colours, that is with the white stripe above the red one. Still, many demonstrators brought flags with the red stripe on top. On 1 August 1919, almost a year after Poland regained independence in November 1918, the Sejm officially introduced a white-and-red bicolour as the Polish national flag. In order to avoid confusion with the white-and-red [[International maritime signal flags|maritime signal flag]] used internationally by harbor pilots and tugboats, the same act of Sejm introduced a variant of the flag with the coat of arms in the white stripe for use as a [[civil ensign]] and by Polish diplomats and consuls abroad.<ref name="znamier" />

[[File:Opaska powstancza.jpg|thumb|left|A white-and-red [[brassard]] worn by a Polish insurgent during the [[Warsaw Uprising]] of 1944. The acronym WP stands for ''Wojsko Polskie'' or [[Polish Armed Forces]].]]
Apart from changes in the legal specifications of the shades of the national colours (see the section below), the basic design of the Polish flag, including the 5:8 ratio, has remained unchanged to this day. The flag with coat of arms was only modified to adjust to the changes in the coat of arms itself. Major modifications included a change in the stylisation of the eagle from [[Neoclassicism|Classicist]] to [[Baroque]] in 1927 and the removal of the crown from the eagle's head during the [[History of Poland (1945–1989)|Communist rule]] from 1944 to 1990.<ref name="kuczyn" /><ref>Ustawa o zmianie przepisów o godle... (1990)</ref> In that period, [[Polish People's Republic|Poland]] was one of the few [[socialist state]]s in the [[Eastern Bloc]] (apart from the [[flag of Cuba]] and [[flag of Laos|Laos]]) not to adorn [[communist symbolism]] on its flag.

[[File:Warsaw Uprising - Polish Flag (1944).jpg|thumb|upright|A frayed Polish flag during the final days of the [[Warsaw Uprising]] of 1944]]
[[File:Polish flag 1945 Berlin.jpg|thumb|upright|Polish flag in Berlin on 2 May 1945]]

20th-century Polish insurgents wore white-and-red [[brassard]]s (armbands) which played a role similar to the cockade of previous centuries. Such armbands were worn by Polish freedom fighters during the [[Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)|Greater Poland Uprising]] (1918–1919) and [[Silesian Uprisings]] (1919–1921), as well as during the [[Second World War]] (1939–1945) by the soldiers of the [[Armia Krajowa|Home Army]] (AK) and [[Bataliony Chłopskie|Peasants' Battalions]] (BCh) – usually emblazoned with the acronyms of their formations.<ref name="znamier" /> During the Second World War, Polish soldiers raised the Polish flag on several sites of their victories. On 18 May 1944, after an Allied victory over the German forces in the [[Battle of Monte Cassino]], a patrol of the 12th Podolian Uhlan Regiment (part of the [[Polish 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division]]) raised a Polish flag on ruins of the [[Monte Cassino]] abbey in Italy. On 1 August 1944, the first day of the [[Warsaw Uprising]], a white-and-red flag was hoisted on the [[Prudential (Warsaw)|Prudential]] building, Warsaw's tallest skyscraper of the time. During the liberation of Warsaw by Soviet forces and [[Ludowe Wojsko Polskie|Polish People's Army]] on 17 January 1945, Polish flags were raised on the [[Belweder|Belvedere]] palace and ruins of the [[Warsaw Główna|Main Railway Station]]. On 2 May 1945, after the [[Battle in Berlin|capture of Berlin]], soldiers of the 7th Battery, 3rd Division, 1st Light Artillery Regiment planted Polish flags on the [[Berlin Victory Column]].<ref name="znamier" />

Polish flags were also used by anti-government demonstrators under the Communist rule. During the bloody riots of [[Poznań 1956 protests|1956 in Poznań]] and [[Polish 1970 protests|1970 in Gdynia]], protesters carried flags that were blood-stained on the white stripe.<ref name="znamier" />

=== Shades of red ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: left; clear: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0"
|-
! colspan=2 | Shades of [[red]] comparison
|-
|  style="background:crimson; width:15%;"|
| [[Crimson]]
|-
| style="background:#e52b50;"|
| [[Amaranth (color)|Amaranth]]
|-
| style="background:#e34234;"|
| [[Vermilion]]
|-
| style="background:#d4213d;"|
| Current statutory{{efn|name="colour"}}
|-
| style="background:#f00;"|
| [[Web colors|HTML red]]
|}

{{multiple image
| perrow = 1
| total_width = 150
| align = right
| direction = 
| width = 
| image1 = Flag of Poland (1919-1928).svg
| width1 = 1280
| height1 = 800
| caption1 = {{FIAV|historical|1}} Flag of Poland (1919–1927)
| image2 = Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg
| width2 = 1280
| height2 = 800
| caption2 = {{FIAV|historical|1}} Flag of Poland (1927–1980)
| footer = '''Historical flags'''
| image3 = Flag_of_Poland.svg
| width3 = 1280
| height3 = 800
| caption3 = {{FIAV|normal}}{{FIAV|111000}} Flag of Poland (1980–present)
}}

Until 1927, the exact shades of the national colours were not legally specified. In practice, the actual hue, particularly of red, depended on what kind of red dye was available. In pre-partition Poland, [[crimson]], due to its high price, was a colour associated with the rich and the privileged. It could be obtained from the domestically harvested [[Polish cochineal]], although imported alternatives were also available: [[Kermes (dye)|kermes]] from the Mediterranean Basin (hence ''karmazyn'', the Polish name of the colour) and Mexican [[cochineal]] after the discovery of the New World. Crimson was reserved for the nobility and considered a symbol of the aristocracy, so that ''karmazyn'' became synonymous with a [[magnat (Poland)|magnate]]. A royal ban on wearing this colour could be a form of punishment; in the 14th century, the [[Nałęcz coat-of-arms|Nałęcz]] clan of [[Greater Poland]] were forbidden to dress in crimson for their ancestors' complicity in the assassination of King [[Premislaus II of Poland|Premislaus]] in 1296.<ref name="znamier" /> In the first half of the 19th century, due to the influence of French fashion, crimson was largely replaced with the cheaper [[Amaranth (color)|amaranth]].<ref name="kuczyn" />

The National Cockade Act of 1831 did not specify the shade of red, for which it was criticised by Joachim Lelewel,<ref name="znamier" /> nor did the Coat of Arms and National Colours Act of 1919. In 1921, the Ministry of Military Affairs issued a pamphlet with illustrations of the Polish flag and other national symbols which used the crimson shade of red.<ref>Łoza, Czaykowski</ref>
The pamphlet was not, however, an official source of law and was published for informative purpose only. The shade of red was first legally specified by a presidential decree of 13 December 1927 which stipulated that the official shade was [[vermilion]]. This specification was upheld by a decree of 7 December 1955.<ref name="znamier" /> The Coat of Arms Act of 31 January 1980<ref name="act" /> replaced the verbal prescription with [[Trichromacy|trichromatic]] coordinates in the [[CIE 1931 color space|CIE colour space]] as proposed by Nikodem Sobczak, an expert in [[colorimetry]],<ref>Bajtlik</ref>
bringing the resulting hue closer to crimson again.

== Related and similar flags ==
{{See also|List of Polish flags}}

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250|align=left
| image1 = Naval Ensign of Poland.svg                        |width1=1050 |height1=500
| caption1 = Polish naval ensign
| image2 = POL navy airfields flag IIIRP.svg                 |width2=1280 |height2=800
| caption2 = Polish naval airbase flag
| image3 = POL województwo dolnośląskie flag 2001 - 2008.svg |width3=547  |height3=344
| caption3 = {{FIAV|historical|}}Flag of [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Lower Silesia]] (2001–2008)
| image4 = POL województwo małopolskie 1 flag.svg            |width4=800  |height4=500
| caption4 =  Flag of [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Lesser Poland]]
| footer = '''Examples of related flags'''
}}

The flag of the [[Grand Duchy of Posen]], a Polish-populated autonomous province of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] created in 1815, was a red-and-white horizontal bicolour. Its colours were taken from the duchy's coat of arms which consisted of the Prussian [[Coat of arms of Prussia|Black Eagle]] with an inescutcheon of the Polish White Eagle. With Germany's increasingly anti-Polish policy and a rising identification of white and red as Polish national colours, the red-and-white flag of [[Province of Posen|Posen]] was replaced in 1886 with a white-black-white horizontal [[Triband (flag)|triband]].<ref>Grand Duchy of Posen... (FOTW)</ref>

Today, many flags used in Poland are based on the design of the national flag. This applies especially to flags defined by Polish law and used by the Polish military and other uniformed services, such as the naval ensign – a swallow-tailed horizontal bicolour of white and red [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with the arms of Poland in the white stripe.<ref>Ustawa o znakach Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (1993)</ref> Flags of some administrative subdivisions also resemble the national flag. Examples include the former flag of the [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship]] – a horizontal bicolour of white and red defaced with the arms of the voivodeship – or the flag of the [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship]] – a horizontal tricolour of white, yellow and red with the yellow stripe half as wide as any of the other two.<ref>Kromer</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Polish flags]]
* [[List of Polish naval and maritime flags]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
[[File:Masz Wolności w Warszawie 2015.JPG|thumb|The largest Polish flag flying from the Freedom Mast in Warsaw, which, at {{convert|63|m|ft}}, is Poland's tallest flag pole]]

====Books====
* {{cite book
 |author1 = Russocki Stanisław
 |author2 = Kuczyński Stefan
 |author3 = Willaume Juliusz
 |title = Godło, barwy i hymn Rzeczypospolitej. Zarys dziejów
 |trans-title = Arms, Colors, and Anthem of the Republic. A Historical Sketch
 | language = pl
 | publisher = Wiedza Powszechna
 | year = 1970
 | location = Warsaw
}}
* {{cite book
 | last = Znamierowski
 | first = Alfred
 | title = Stworzony do chwały
 |trans-title = Created for Glory
 | language = pl
 | publisher = Editions Spotkania
 | year = 1995
 | location = Warsaw
 | isbn = 83-7115-055-5
}}

; Law
* {{cite Polish law
| title       = Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 2 kwietnia 1997 r.
| trans_title = Constitution of the Republic of Poland
| year        = 1997
| volume      = 78
| number      = 483
| date        = 2 April 1997
}}
* {{cite Polish law
| title       = Ustawa z dnia 6 czerwca 1997 r. – Kodeks karny
| trans_title = Penal Code
| year        = 1997
| volume      = 88
| number      = 553
| date        = 6 June 1997
}}
* {{cite Polish law
| title       = Ustawa z dnia 18 stycznia 1951 r. o dniach wolnych od pracy
| trans_title = Non-Working Days Act
| year        = 1951
| volume      = 4
| number      = 28
| date        = 18 January 1951
}}
* {{cite Polish law
| title       = Ustawa z dnia 31 stycznia 1980 r. o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz o pieczęciach państwowych
| trans_title = Arms, Colors, and Anthem of the Republic of Poland, and State Seals Act
| year        = 1980
| volume      = 7
| number      = 18
| date        = 31 January 1980
}}
* {{cite Polish law
| title       = Ustawa z dnia 6 kwietnia 1990 r. o przywróceniu Święta Narodowego Trzeciego Maja
| trans_title = Reestablishment of the National Day of the Third of May Act
| year        = 1990
| volume      = 28
| number      = 160
| date        = 6 April 1990
}}
* {{cite Polish law
| title       = Ustawa z dnia 9 lutego 1990 r. o zmianie przepisów o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
| trans_title = Amendment to the Arms, Colors, and Anthem of the Republic of Poland Act
| year        = 1990
| volume      = 10
| number      = 60
| date        = 9 February 1990
}}
* {{cite Polish law
| title       = Ustawa z dnia 19 lutego 1993 r. o znakach Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
| trans_title = Insignia of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland Act
| year        = 1993
| volume      = 34
| number      = 154
| date        = 19 February 1993
}}

====Official documents====
* {{cite journal
 | title = Informacja o wynikach kontroli używania symboli państwowych przez organy administracji publicznej
 | year = 2005
 | place = Warsaw
 | publisher = [[The Supreme Chamber of Control of Poland|Supreme Chamber of Control]] (Najwyższa Izba Kontroli)
 | url = http://www.ko.poznan.pl/pub/ftp/raporty_NIK/px_2005076.pdf
 | language = pl
 | access-date = 26 March 2015
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142356/http://www.ko.poznan.pl/pub/ftp/raporty_NIK/px_2005076.pdf
 | archive-date = 2 April 2015
 | url-status = dead
 | df = dmy-all
 }}
* {{in lang|pl|fr}} {{cite book
 | last = Łoza
 | first = Stanisław
 | author-link = Stanisław Łoza
 |author2=Czaykowski, Zygmunt
 | title=Godło i barwy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej – Armoiries et couleurs de la République polonaise
 | year=1921
 | page=10
 | publisher=Ministry of Military Affairs
 | location=Warsaw
}}
* {{in lang|pl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080227175814/http://www.senat.gov.pl/k5/dok/SEJM/056/2149.pdf Projekt ustawy o zmianie ustawy o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej], Druk 2149, Warsaw, 15 October 2003

====News====
* {{cite news
 | last = Bajtlik
 | first = Stanisław
 | title = Szyjemy flagę narodową
 | newspaper = [[Gazeta Wyborcza]]
 | publisher = [[Agora SA|Agora]]
 | date = 1 May 2008
 | url = http://www.gazetawyborcza.pl/1,75248,5164372.html?as=1&ias=5
 | access-date = 4 May 2008
 |language = pl
}}
* {{cite news
 |last        = Magiera
 |first       = Marek
 |title       = Zaczyna się mundial...
 |newspaper   = Życie Częstochowskie
 |publisher   = Beta Press S.C.
 |date        = 9 June 2006
 |url         = http://www.zycie.czest.pl/modules/show.php?id=1438
 |access-date  = 2 February 2008
 |language    = pl
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211124346/http://www.zycie.czest.pl/modules/show.php?id=1438
 |archive-date = 11 December 2008
}}
* {{cite journal
 |last1       = Molak
 |first1      = Wiesław
 |last2       = Sakiewicz
 |first2      = Tomasz
 |title       = Bogdan Borusewicz gościem w "Sygnałach dnia"
 |journal        = Interview with Bogdan Borusewicz in Program 1 Polskiego Radia
 |publisher   = [[Law and Justice]]
 |date        = 2 May 2007
 |url         = http://www.pis.org.pl/article.php?id=7278
 |access-date  = 2 February 2008
 |language    = pl
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071025211530/http://www.pis.org.pl/article.php?id=7278
 |archive-date = 25 October 2007
}}
*{{cite news
 | last = Niezabitowska
 | first = Małgorzata
 | author-link = Małgorzata Niezabitowska
 | title = Discovering America
 | newspaper = [[National Geographic Magazine|National Geographic]]
 | date = January 1988
 }}

====Web====
*{{cite web
 |title       = Flaga
 |work        = Official website of the President of the Republic of Poland
 |publisher   = Chancellery of the [[President of the Republic of Poland]]
 |url         = http://www.prezydent.pl/x.node?id=70
 |access-date  = 30 September 2007
 |language    = pl
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190459/http://www.prezydent.pl/x.node?id=70
 |archive-date = 27 September 2007
}}
*[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]] – subpages:
**{{cite web
 | title = Bohemia (Czech Republic)
 | url = http://flagspot.net/flags/cz_bh.html
 | access-date = 2 November 2007
}}
**{{cite web
 | title = Colors of Flags
 | url = http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xf-colx.html
 | access-date = 4 November 2007
}}
**{{cite web
 | title = Grand Duchy of Posen 1815–1849, Posen Province 1849–1920 (Prussia, Germany)
 | url = http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/de-pr-po.html
 | access-date = 2 November 2007
}}
**{{cite web
 | title = Polish Religious flags
 | url = http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/pl_rel.html
 | access-date = 2 February 2008
}}
*{{cite web
 | last = Kromer
 | first = Adam
 | title = Flagi województw polskich
 | work = Polskie flagi, chorągwie, bandery...
 | url = http://www.akromer.republika.pl/flagi_pl.html
 | access-date = 2 February 2008
 | language = pl
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080204002952/http://akromer.republika.pl/flagi_pl.html
 | archive-date = 4 February 2008
 | url-status = dead
 | df = dmy-all
 }}
*{{cite web
 | title = Protokół flagowy – Jak postępować z flagami
 | publisher = Instytut Heraldyczno-Weksylologiczny
 | date = 11 July 2005
 | url = http://www.pl.info.pl/IHW_WWW/index.php?act=view&ktg=32&idt=125
 | access-date = 30 September 2007
 | language = pl
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080701114952/http://www.pl.info.pl/IHW_WWW/index.php?act=view&ktg=32&idt=125
 | archive-date = 1 July 2008
 | url-status = dead
 | df = dmy-all
 }}
* {{cite web
 | last = Sarajčić
 | first = Ivan
 | title = Flag Identifier
 | url = http://www.flagid.org/found.asp?qa=1010000&qDI=HOR2,6,,126,,135,136,,0&ci=r,w
 | access-date = 3 February 2008
}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|National flag of Poland}}
*{{FOTW|id=pl|title=Flag of Poland}}

{{Flag of Europe}}
{{nationalflags}}
{{National symbols of Poland}}
{{Polish flags}}
{{good article}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flag Of Poland}}
[[Category:National flags|Poland]]
[[Category:Flags of Poland| ]]
[[Category:National symbols of Poland]]
[[Category:Red and white flags|Poland]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1919|Poland]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1990|Poland]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in Poland]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Poland]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]