PL-1050194 The State Flag of Poland

The flag of Poland consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width, the upper one white and the lower one red. The two colours are defined in the Polish constitution as the national colours. A variant of the flag with the national coat of arms in the middle of the white stripe is legally reserved for official use abroad and at sea. A similar flag with the addition of a swallow-tail is used as the naval ensign of Poland.

White and red were officially adopted as national colours in 1831. They are of heraldic origin and derive from the 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 Pursuer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The national flag was officially adopted in 1919. Since 2004, Polish Flag Day is celebrated on May 2.

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.

This postcard came from Emilia (24 April 2015) Postcrossing.