Officials urge display of patriotism as Poland marks Flag Day

Polish officials on Sunday took part in a ceremonial raising of the national red-and-white colours at the Royal Castle in Warsaw as the country marked its annual Flag Day.

Flag-raising ceremony at Royal Castle in Warsaw on Sunday.

Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak

The flag was raised on the clock tower in a pared-back ceremony amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak led a military event at Warsaw's central Piłsudski Square.

Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak during ceremonies at Warsaw's Piłsudski Square. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak

Poland's Flag Day is a relatively new tradition - it was established in 2004.

On May 2, Poles celebrate the National #FlagDay by proudly flying 🇵🇱 flags wherever they live!

The ⚪️ and 🔴, 🇵🇱's national colours, derive from the tinctures of the White Eagle of #Poland and the Pursuer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, both white against a red background. pic.twitter.com/bYwXChQaRf

— Poland.pl (@Poland) May 2, 2021

People across the country were being encouraged to display national flags in front of their homes.

Prezydent RP @AndrzejDuda zachęca do wywieszenia biało-czerwonej flagi!
Dziś jest #DzieńFlagi Rzeczypospolitej. #WywieśFlagę #MojaFlaga
Wywiesiliście już?
🇵🇱👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/44BcWUaFYy

— PL1918 (@PL1918) May 2, 2021

Polish Diaspora Day

As well as Flag Day, May 2 is the Day of Poles Abroad, and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau has sent his best wishes to his compatriots living in other countries.

On the occasion of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad Day, FM @RauZbigniew extends his best wishes to the compatriots living outside #Poland.#UnitedUnderPolishFlag 🇵🇱🌍 pic.twitter.com/AEX0zJJATQ

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) May 2, 2021

Members of the 🇵🇱 diaspora are important to #Poland but also to the local communities that they are part of.

Poles across the 🌍 are great ambassadors of 🇵🇱 values, as shown by the #Polonia4Neighbours project which involved Poles helping locally those affected by the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/9tRUbK6Zx9

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) May 2, 2021

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Source: PAP