National symbols of Poland (Polish:Polskie symbole narodowe) are the tangible and intangiblesymbols, emblems or images that are found inPoland to represent the country's unique customs,traditions,cultural life, and its over 1000-yearhistory. These symbols serve as the nation's portrayal ofpatriotism and dedication to their national identity. ThePolish people and the Polish diaspora around the world take great pride in their native country, and associate themselves with the colours white and red. The expressionbiało-czerwoni ("whitereds") is widely used by Poles when referring to their compatriots. A crownedwhite-tailed eagle on a red shield or background has been Poland's national symbol and coat of arms since theMiddle Ages. Other unofficial symbols feature visual personifications, music ofChopin,polonaise andmazurka dances, animals such as theEuropean bison or thewhite stork, apples, redpoppy flowers and religious insignia of theRoman Catholic church.^[1][2][3] Several have been popularised in recent years, notably thewinged hussars.^[4]

The official symbols of the Republic of Poland are described in two legal documents: theConstitution of the Republic of Poland of 1997 (Polish:Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)^[5] and the Coat of Arms, Colours and Anthem of the Republic of Poland, and State Seals Act (Polish:Ustawa o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz o pieczęciach państwowych) of 1980 with subsequent amendments.^[6] The Jack of the President is defined in the Ordinance of the Minister of National Defense on the Use of Insignia of the Armed Forces of January 26, 1996 with subsequent amendments.^[7]

Type	Image	Symbol
National flag		Theflag of Poland (Polish:Flaga Polski) 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 thenational colours. They are ofheraldic origin and derive from thetinctures (colours) of the coats of arms of the two constituent nations of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, i.e. the White Eagle of Poland and thePursuer of theGrand Duchy of Lithuania, a white knight riding a white horse, both on a red shield.[5][6]
Coat of arms		TheWhite Eagle (Polish:Orzeł Biały) is the nationalcoat of arms of Poland. It is a stylized whiteeagle with a golden beak and talons, and wearing a goldencrown, in a redshield.[5][6]
National anthem		Jan Dąbrowski'sMazurka (Polish:Mazurek Dąbrowskiego) is thenational anthem ofPoland.[8][9] The official English title is a translation of its Polishincipit,"Poland Is Not Yet Lost".[10] Thelyrics were written byJózef Wybicki in July, 1797, two years after theThird Partition of Poland. The music is an unattributed mazurka and considered a "folk tune" that was altered to suit the lyrics.[8] It was originally meant to boost the morale of Polish soldiers serving under Dąbrowski'sPolish Legions in theItalian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars. "Dabrowski's Mazurka", expressing the idea that the nation of Poland, despite lack ofindependence, had not disappeared as long as the Polish people were still alive and fighting in its name, soon became one of the most popular patriotic songs in Poland.[8][9] When Poland re-emerged as an independent state in 1918, "Dabrowski's Mazurka" became itsde facto anthem. It was officially adopted as the national anthem of theSecond Polish Republic in 1926.[9]
Official language		Polish language (Polish:Język polski)
National day		National Independence Day (Polish:Narodowe Święto Niepodległości)
Presidential pennant		Thepennant of the president of the Republic of Poland, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of theRepublic of Poland (Polish:proporzec Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej – Zwierzchnika Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) is ajack flag used in thePolish Armed Forces to mark the presence and pay respect to thePresident of the Republic of Poland who is alsoex officio thecommander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The jack is raised onPolish Navy ships when the president is officially on board, as well as on land, if the president is present. The design of the jack is based directly on thepre-warBanner of the Republic of Poland which used to be part of presidential insignia. The ordinance defines the jack of the President as "a piece of red cloth with the image of the state eagle (i.e. the White Eagle from thenational coat of arms) in the middle, bordered with awężyk generalski", an ornate wavy line used in the Polish military as a symbol ofgeneral's rank.[7]

Type	Image	Symbol
National animal		TheEuropean bison (Bison bonasus) is one of the national animals of Poland.
		TheWhite stork (Ciconia ciconia) has a long history with Poland and is believed to be one of the national animals of the country.
		Poland's enduring national symbol has been thewhite-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), shown in the coat of arms.[11][12]
National mottos		Poland has no official motto of the State, namely the one which is recognised as such by the Polish national law. However, there are some common phrases which appear commonly on banners, flags and other symbols of the Polish state. One of the most common of such unofficial mottos isZa wolność Naszą i Waszą ("For our freedom and yours").[13] Another one isBóg, Honor, Ojczyzna ("God, Honour, Fatherland").[14] During the times of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Latin expressionPro Fide, Lege et Rege ("For Faith, Law and King") was in use.[15]
National bell		The Sigismund Bell (Dzwon Zygmunt orDzwon Zygmunta). Named after KingSigismund I of Poland and cast in 1520, it hangs atWawel Cathedral inKraków. At present, it is the second-largest bell in the country and is rung only on special occasions. It is not automated and twelve individuals are required to manually swing it.[16]
Ethnonyms		Theethnonyms for thePoles (people)[17] and Poland (their country)[18] includeendonyms (the way Polish people refer to themselves and their country) and exonyms (the way other peoples refer to the Poles and their country). Endonyms and most exonyms for Poles and Poland derive from the name of aLechitic tribe ofWestern Polans (Polanie), while in some languages the exonyms for Poland derive from the name of another tribe – theLendians (Lędzianie).[19] ThePolish words for a Pole arePolak (masculine) andPolka (feminine),Polki being the plural form for two or more women andPolacy being the plural form for the rest. The adjective "Polish" translates to Polish aspolski (masculine),polska (feminine) andpolskie (neuter). The common Polish name for Poland isPolska.[19]
Rzeczpospolita		The full official name of Poland isRzeczpospolita Polska which loosely translates as "Republic of Poland". The wordrzeczpospolita ("pospolita" - common and "rzecz" - an item signifying wealth, hence Commonwealth) has been used in Poland since at least the 16th century, originally a generic term to denote any state with arepublican or similar form of government. Today, however, the word is used almost solely in reference to the Polish state.[20]
National personification		Polonia, the name for Poland inLatin and manyRomance and other languages, is most often used in modernPolish as referring to the Polishdiaspora. However it was also used as anational personification or the symbolic depiction of Poland as a woman called by the Latin name of that country was common in the 19th century. This is exemplified inJan Matejko's paintingPolonia, depicting the aftermath of the failedJanuary 1863 Uprising, one of the mostpatriotic andsymbolic paintings by Matejko.[21] Other personifications of Poland were created by artists likeStanisław Wyspiański andJacek Malczewski.
National tree		Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)
National flower		Red poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
National costume		Polish traditional clothing
National hat		Rogatywka
National mountains		Rysy (2,501 m) orGiewont (1,894m)[22]
National river		Vistula (Polish:Wisła)
National dance		Polish folk dances are a tradition rooted in ten centuries ofPolish culture andhistory. The Polish national dances are theKrakowiak,Kujawiak,Mazurek,Oberek, andPolonaise. These dances are classified as National, because almost every region in Poland has displayed a variety of these dances.
National fruit		Apple (Malus domestica)
National beverage		Vodka (Polish:wódka,gorzała,okowita)
		Polish mead (Polish:miód pitny) is analcoholic beverage withinPolish culinary tradition made byalcoholic fermentation of a mixture of honey and water. It has a characteristic honey aroma and a flavour that may be enriched by the addition of fruit juices, herbs or spices. The colour ranges from golden to dark amber, depending on the type of honey used for production.[23]
National dish		Bigos, a hunters' stew made with cabbage and various kinds of meat. As with several other Polish foods, it is traditionally served in a bread bowl; it is served on Christmas Day and serves as one of the most important and oldest dishes of Polish cuisine, considered by some as the national dish.
		Pierogi (singular:pieróg) are Polish dumplings that can have various savoury or sweet fillings, and are known as an enduring symbol of Polish national cuisine both in Poland and among Polish diaspora.Pierogi ruskie (Ruthenian pierogi), originating in south-east Poland (historically known asRed Ruthenia orGalicia) are considered by many Poles as the national dish.

• Culture of Poland

• National symbols of Poland

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