The flag of Poland is divided horizontally into two equal parts, where the upper one is white and the lower one is red. On August 1, 1919, the flag was officially approved, and on January 31, 1990, the law on the state coat of arms, colors and anthem finally defined the appearance of the modern flag.
The origin of the colors of the Polish flag
The colors of the flag were taken from the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland, which was a white eagle on a red shield. These colors were very popular in the Middle Ages, so many countries have these colors, including Germany and Austria. The Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia had an identical flag. So, to distinguish it from the Polish flag, a blue triangle was added to it to symbolize Slovakia. This flag is still in use today, and it was not changed after the collapse of Czechoslovakia so as not to have the same flag as Poland. Indonesia and Monaco have similar flags, namely red and white, i.e. mirroring the Polish flag. The shades of the colors are also different.
On the Polish flag, the colors are arranged in two horizontal parallel stripes of equal width. The upper stripe is white and the lower stripe is red.
However, the symbolism of Polish national colors does not end there. In Western culture, white is associated with purity and other positive qualities, such as innocence. This symbolism is very prominent in the Catholic religion:
Purity and innocence accompany sacred paintings, in particular, angels are depicted in white robes and with white wings.
The symbolism of the red color varies depending on the cultural prism and the specifics of the time in which we live. Today, red is increasingly associated with love and positive feelings. Traditionally, red was a symbol of fire. It meant courage and bravery. And it is in this context that it should be interpreted in the case of the Polish flag, although as a symbol of love, it also provides a wide scope for interpretation and direction for the country's further development.
Despite its historical origins and symbolism, there are many legends about it. One of the most popular is about Lech, Czech and Rus. The first one, the mythical founder of the Polish nation, allegedly saw a beautiful white eagle against the red sun. That's how the eagle appeared on the coat of arms, and heralds add that white symbolizes impeccability and honesty, while red symbolizes courage and bravery.
The modern Polish national flag consists of two identical rectangles - white and red. These colors reflect the colors of the Polish coat of arms - a white eagle on a red background. The color order was established by law in 1980. The first eagle depicted on the coat of arms is an important part of the symbol, so white is at the top of the flag and red is at the bottom. The appearance of the flag has changed since the Middle Ages, but the colors have remained the same. Initially, the Polish color was crimson, which symbolized wealth and dignity. However, over time, the color changed to red, which was cheaper to produce. This change was due to the increased use of flags and banners during wars and battles.
In the early history of Poland, flags were red with an embroidered white eagle. Later, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had a three-striped flag with a red stripe on the top and bottom and a white stripe in the middle. In the 18th century, the flag became an important symbol of national identity. In 1831, a compromise was made between white and tricolor. As a result, the colors of the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were chosen - white and red.
On August 1, 1919, the Legislative Assembly established that the Polish national flag would consist of red and white stripes, but the shade of red was not defined. In 1921, the Ministry of War determined that the red color should be crimson. Six years later, the president replaced the crimson color with cinnabar (cinnabar or cinnabar is a shade of red and orange). In 1955, the authorities of the Polish People's Republic established a white and red national flag with a hint of cinnabar. This flag remained the symbol of the country until 1980, when the Sejm passed a new law that defined the flag's appearance based on the CIELUV model. The law also stipulated that the flag should be placed vertically, with white on the left.
In Poland, there are two versions of the national flag: white and red and white and red with the country's coat of arms. The white-red flag with the coat of arms can be used by diplomatic missions outside the country, as well as civilian airports and ships flying the Polish flag. The national holiday, Flag Day, is celebrated in Poland on May 2. This date is a symbol of the restoration of freedom and democracy in the country. In the past, this day was only for the official authorities, but over time it has become an important holiday for the entire nation.
