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Flag Day 1955 by the Parliament of the People's
Republic of Poland. Although the Polish
The flag of a country conveys the past and links the present flag is of a simple design since it needs
hopes of the people in their pursuit of wealth and prosperity only two pieces of fabric to make (the
with their future. The flag is flown in the times of peace as American flag needs the largest num-
the symbol of national continuation and stability of the coun- ber of 64 pieces) it does not make it any
try and its people. During the times of war the flag waving in less important to the People of Poland.
the air is to enhance the nation’s unity, resistance and bra- The surprising fact is that we have been
very. Even though most Poles take the treatment of their flag officially celebrating the Flag Day (it falls
seriously, few of them know much about its origin, and still on May 2nd) only since 2004. The flag is
fewer celebrate May 2nd as the Flag Day. On the other hand, honored by patriotic marches, children
the Americans widely celebrate their Flag Day on June 14th. in schools organize solemn appeals, so-
Both flags, however, do have interesting stories of origin. me people hang the flags out.
W hite and red were recogni- bill specifying the shape and colors of The American flag is said to have chan-
zed as national colors on the flag. Until 1927 it was crimson sha- ged its design several times. “The first
May 3rd, 1792. On that day de of red that was expected to repre- flag, called the Grand Union, was flown
ladies wore white dresses belted with sent Poland. It was replaced by vermi- at the headquarters of the Continental
red sashes in order to celebrate the first lion, which was officially sustained in Army on January 1st, 1776.” (Malkoc,
anniversary of the Government's Act. A.M. editor, 2000). It was on June 14th,
Prior to that date it was crimson that 1777 that the American Congress pro-
represented the nation by being the posed that the national flag should inc-
symbol of dignity and wealth. However, lude thirteen stars (representing the 13
it was hardly affordable and only the ri- new states). For the next one hundred
chest noblemen and representatives of years there were few public ceremonies
the state could use it. On Feb 7th, 1831 honoring the flag. The flag was then
white and red were officially adopted flown from every government building.
as national colors by the Parliament of However, the first state to celebrate the
the so-called Congress Kingdom (of Flag Day was Pennsylvania in 1893. Sin-
Poland). White and red are of heraldic ce mid-1950s most Americans display
origin and derive from the tinctures the Stars and Stripes (the other name
(colors) of the coats of arms of the two for the American flag) outside their of-
constituent nations of the Polish-Lithu- fices as well as homes, and there are
anian Commonwealth. i.e. the White numerous ceremonies held all over the
Eagle of Poland and the Pursuer (Lithu- country on June 14th.
anian: Vytis, Polish: Pogoń) of Lithuania,
a white knight riding a white horse, The celebration of the Flag Day may ta-
both on a red shield1. ke various forms, but one thing is certa-
in. The flag symbolizes deep pride and
When Poland became independent in dignity of the people and has powerful
1919 the Polish Parliament passed the connotations and no one should ever
ridicule or insult it even in the form of a
1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Poland provocative artistic event.
Aleksander Kubot, MA
Teacher of English,
Dept. of Modern Languages, PUT
sources:
ht tp: // flagapolsk i.net /
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Poland
Malkoc, A.M. editor., Celbrate Holidays in the
USA, Office of English Language Programs United
States Dept. of State, Washington, 2000
2 GŁOS POLITECHNIKI | CZERWIEC 2012
Republic of Poland. Although the Polish
The flag of a country conveys the past and links the present flag is of a simple design since it needs
hopes of the people in their pursuit of wealth and prosperity only two pieces of fabric to make (the
with their future. The flag is flown in the times of peace as American flag needs the largest num-
the symbol of national continuation and stability of the coun- ber of 64 pieces) it does not make it any
try and its people. During the times of war the flag waving in less important to the People of Poland.
the air is to enhance the nation’s unity, resistance and bra- The surprising fact is that we have been
very. Even though most Poles take the treatment of their flag officially celebrating the Flag Day (it falls
seriously, few of them know much about its origin, and still on May 2nd) only since 2004. The flag is
fewer celebrate May 2nd as the Flag Day. On the other hand, honored by patriotic marches, children
the Americans widely celebrate their Flag Day on June 14th. in schools organize solemn appeals, so-
Both flags, however, do have interesting stories of origin. me people hang the flags out.
W hite and red were recogni- bill specifying the shape and colors of The American flag is said to have chan-
zed as national colors on the flag. Until 1927 it was crimson sha- ged its design several times. “The first
May 3rd, 1792. On that day de of red that was expected to repre- flag, called the Grand Union, was flown
ladies wore white dresses belted with sent Poland. It was replaced by vermi- at the headquarters of the Continental
red sashes in order to celebrate the first lion, which was officially sustained in Army on January 1st, 1776.” (Malkoc,
anniversary of the Government's Act. A.M. editor, 2000). It was on June 14th,
Prior to that date it was crimson that 1777 that the American Congress pro-
represented the nation by being the posed that the national flag should inc-
symbol of dignity and wealth. However, lude thirteen stars (representing the 13
it was hardly affordable and only the ri- new states). For the next one hundred
chest noblemen and representatives of years there were few public ceremonies
the state could use it. On Feb 7th, 1831 honoring the flag. The flag was then
white and red were officially adopted flown from every government building.
as national colors by the Parliament of However, the first state to celebrate the
the so-called Congress Kingdom (of Flag Day was Pennsylvania in 1893. Sin-
Poland). White and red are of heraldic ce mid-1950s most Americans display
origin and derive from the tinctures the Stars and Stripes (the other name
(colors) of the coats of arms of the two for the American flag) outside their of-
constituent nations of the Polish-Lithu- fices as well as homes, and there are
anian Commonwealth. i.e. the White numerous ceremonies held all over the
Eagle of Poland and the Pursuer (Lithu- country on June 14th.
anian: Vytis, Polish: Pogoń) of Lithuania,
a white knight riding a white horse, The celebration of the Flag Day may ta-
both on a red shield1. ke various forms, but one thing is certa-
in. The flag symbolizes deep pride and
When Poland became independent in dignity of the people and has powerful
1919 the Polish Parliament passed the connotations and no one should ever
ridicule or insult it even in the form of a
1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Poland provocative artistic event.
Aleksander Kubot, MA
Teacher of English,
Dept. of Modern Languages, PUT
sources:
ht tp: // flagapolsk i.net /
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Poland
Malkoc, A.M. editor., Celbrate Holidays in the
USA, Office of English Language Programs United
States Dept. of State, Washington, 2000
2 GŁOS POLITECHNIKI | CZERWIEC 2012
