The
Flag of Poland - Description of the Polish Flag
As the above picture of the Polish Flag indicates the bicolor of Red
and white
The description of
the Polish Flag is as follows:
Two equal
horizontal bands of white (top) and red
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Polish flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Polish flag is described as
5:8
The Meaning & History of the Polish Flag
The Kingdom of
Poland and the Polish flag were born in September 1917
The Polish flag was
adopted on August 1, 1919
The red and white
colors have been associated with Poland since the 1200's
The Polish symbol is the white eagle which has been used since the 1300's
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Polish
Flag Etiquette
Polish Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Polish as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Polish
State Flag of
Polish
Military Flag of
Polish (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Polish
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Polish Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
Polish should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Polish flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Polish should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Polish flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Polish, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Polish Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Polish flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Polish flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Polish flag to the top, then lowering the
Polish Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Polish flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Polish flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Polish flag
The Polish flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Polish
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Polish flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Polish
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding Polish Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
Poland
Location:
Central Europe, east of Germany
Polish Land Size
: 304,465 sq km
Polish Climate / Weather : temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe
winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent
showers and thundershowers
Polish Population :
38,626,349 (July 2004 est.)
Polish Capital
City: Warsaw
Polish GDP: $426.7
billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,
shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
The Slavs
The Slavic
people who were the most numerous ethnic group in Europe:
The 'West
Slavs' were the Poles, the Czechs and the Slovaks
The 'East
Slavs' consisted of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians
The 'South
Slavs' consisted of Bulgarians, Croats, Macedonians Serbs and
Slovenians
In the early
Middle Ages Slavs were often used as slaves which is possibly
the origin of the generic term 'Slavs'
Concise History of
Poland & its Flag
900's - The
Polania tribe became dominant
966 - Duke
Mieszko I became Poland's first recorded Christian leader
966 - 1370
The Piast Polish Dynasty
1382 - 1572
The Jagiellonian Dynasty
1572 - 1795
The Royal Republic
1700s - The
Three Partitions of Poland - Russia, Prussia and Austria divide
Poland amongst themselves
1914-18
World War I - Poles were forced into the Russian, German, and
Austrian armies and forced to fight each other
11 November
1918 - Poland becomes independent
23 August
1939 - Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact
and threaten Poland
1939 - 1945
World War II
1939 1st
September Germany invades Poland
1939 17th
September Soviet Union invades eastern Poland
1944 The
Warsaw Uprising - Poland comes under Soviet control
1980 Strike
leader Lech Walesa is elected as the head of Solidarity
"Around the World in 80
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The
Polish Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Polish Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
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