However, since few years, also private persons can raise and display the flag. By doing so, it is important to remember that the flag can be raised only on a flagpole placed in front of the house or on attached to the window flagstaff – national flag cannot be put on the flagpole placed on top of the roof of the house building.

 

The following terms: „raising” and “displaying the flag” are worth emphasising. First description relates to situations when the flag is fixed to a line and than raised on the flagpole. “The flag is displayed” on a flagstaff shoved in attached to appropriate handles positioned under an angle.

 

National flag can be also displayed on the flagpole in vertical position – along the flagpole. The same happens, when we want to place Polish national colours in vertical position, the white colour is placed on the left side of the surface seen opposite.

 

Particular way of handling the national flag applies when the President of the Republic of Poland announces national mourning. For that period, the flags should be lowered to the half of the flagpole’s height, and the flags displayed on the flagstaff should be sashed with pall – black only and non-transparent ribbon. Flag displayed vertically is not lowered to the half length – so it should not be displayed during the mourning time. 

 

When displaying our national flag along with other flags, precise rules apply. National flag has always priority over any other one. According to that rule, the flag of the host country is higher in hierarchy than the visiting country’s flag, and when manifesting national colours along with Vatican, Pope, EU or NATO flags they should be displayed as next in the hierarchy.

 

Honourable place for the national flag is the right side. Hence, looking ahead at the building we should see the flag on our left side. When displaying the flag accompanied by the White Eagle, it is important to remember to place it to the right from the Emblem – direction in which the Eagle is looking at. In addition, when we display the flag on the balcony we should place it on the right side.

 

There are strict rules describing how to display large number of flags. As we have already said, in the case of two flags, the flag more important is placed on the right side. In the case displaying three flags next to each other, the most important is the flag displayed in the middle. The second important according to the hierarchy is the flag flied on the right side. When we fly four flags, the most important is the one displayed on the right side. Next are the flags flied to the left of the above flag. In the case of five flags, again the most important flag is in the middle. Displaying more than five flags, we have to position the most important flags on the outermost right and left side.

 

In the case there are more flagpoles, the flags can be flied alternately, remembering that the flags holding the highest positions in the hierarchy should be the most numerous.

 

Flagpoles and flagstaff, on which the flags are displayed, must always have the same height and length. The flagpoles themselves are positioned on the right side of the building entrance. Only one flag can be flied on one flagpole or flagstaff, and raising the flag during the ceremony, one should remember to raise the most important flag first and to lower it and remove last. If the flag is destroyed and needs to be replaced, the flags lower in the hierarchy should be lowered before it and it should be raised again only after the more important flag is raised.

 

It is also obvious that the flag should always be clean, have clear colours and pattern. The flag cannot be frayed or crumpled; it cannot touch the floor, ground or water. One does not put any drawings or inscriptions on the flag.

 

The flag cannot be used as tablecloth, e.g. presidium table. The exception is ceremonial funeral, when the coffin is covered – then the white strip should be placed over the left side of the deceased.

 

When revealing the monuments or boards it is the best to affix a ribbon in national colours to the upper right side, diagonally towards left downwards of the bow draped. When cutting the ribbon during the official openings, one cannot let the ends of the ribbon to fall on the ground.

The only dignified way to destroy the flag is to burn it not on public.

 

Since 2004 on 2 May we celebrate Flag Day – at that time no other flags should be flied together with the Polish one.

 

 

Currently in the Republic of Poland we use two different types of the national flag. White and red flag as well as white and red flag with the national emblem introduced by the act of 1 August 1919 are used.

   

The flag with the emblem is not allowed for private use. The act strictly determines who and in what circumstances is entitled to use it. Such flag is used by the representatives of Poland abroad; it is raised on the civil airports and in the planes outside of Poland, in harbour master’s offices and in harbour authorities’ offices as well as on Polish sea ships as an ensign.

Protection of national symbols

 

Provisions of the penal code provide strict penalty for insulting the national symbols, including the national flag. If a person insults, destroys or removes the emblem, ensign, standard, banner, flag or any other state symbol, such person is subject to a fine or liable to punishment by imprisonment up to one year. Moreover, code of violations provides for the custody or fine, if a person violates the provisions concerning the emblem, colours or anthem of the Republic of Poland. According to so called mutuality clause of the article 138 § 1 of the Penal Code symbols of foreign country on the territory of Poland are under protection only if the foreign country provides similar and mutual care.