The flag that is used as the symbol of

Kashubia pl, Kaszuby , native_name_lang = csb, de, csb , settlement_type = Historical region , anthem = Zemia Rodnô , image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png , image_flag ...

, a region in

Central Europe Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the a ...

, and the

Kashubian people The Kashubians ( csb, Kaszëbi; pl, Kaszubi; german: Kaschuben), also known as Cassubians or Kashubs, are a Lechitic ( West Slavic) ethnic group native to the historical region of Pomerania, including its eastern part called Pomerelia, in nor ...

, is divided horizontally into black and yellow stripes.

Design

There is no one universally recognized official description of the flag design. The most common version of the flag of

Kashubia pl, Kaszuby , native_name_lang = csb, de, csb , settlement_type = Historical region , anthem = Zemia Rodnô , image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png , image_flag ...

is divided horizontally into two equally-sized stripes that are black on top and yellow on the bottom. Notably, such design is officially recognized by the Kashubian Association. There are no official proportions of the flag's height and width. The flags colours originate from the coat of arms of Kashubia. Alternatively, some theories state that the flag originates from the flag of the Habsburg monarchy. The other version is a

banner of arms A banner of arms is a type of heraldic flag which has the same image as a coat of arms, ''i.e.'' the shield of a full heraldic achievement, rendered in a square or rectangular shape of the flag. The term is derived from the terminology of hera ...

, based on the coat of arms of Kashubia, that depicts a black griffin standing on its back paws, wearing a yellow crown, placed in the centre of the yellow background. The griffin is adopted from the coat of arms of Kashubia.

History

The first recorded use of the flag dates back to 18 August 1929 during a Kashubian convention in

Kartuzy Kartuzy () ( Kashubian ''Kartuzë'', ''Kartëzë'', or ''Kartuzé''; formerly german: Karthaus) is a town in northern Poland, located in the historic Eastern Pomerania ( Pomerelia) region. It is the capital of Kartuzy County in Pomeranian Voivode ...

. In the book ''Współczesna literatura kaszubska 1945-1980'', the author Jan Drzeżdżon states that the griffin flag was the first to be shown, and the two-stripe flag was the second. He also mentions that

Aleksander Majkowski Aleksander Majkowski ( csb, Aleksander Majkòwsczi; 17 July 1876 – 10 February 1938) was a Polish- Kashubian writer, poet, journalist, editor, activist, and physician. He was the most important figure in the Kashubian movement before World ...

owned such flag before the convention happened. The convention was the first event that saw the rise of the popularity of the flag. Following the hanging of the flag at the convention, the local government sent police officers to take it down. In order to prevent further escalation, the flag was hang next to the

flag of Poland The national flag of Poland ( pl, 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 the national colours. A variant of the flag ...

Holiday

The Kashubian Flag Holiday ( Kashubian: ''Swiãto Kaszëbsczi Fanë'';

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...

: ''Święto flagi kaszubskiej'') happens on 18 August as the anniversary of the first time the Kashubian flag was displayed. The first celebration of said holiday happened in 2012 as an initiative of Kashubian Association.

References

{{Polish flags Kashubia Kashubian culture

Kashubia pl, Kaszuby , native_name_lang = csb, de, csb , settlement_type = Historical region , anthem = Zemia Rodnô , image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png , image_flag ...

1929 establishments in Poland

Kashubia pl, Kaszuby , native_name_lang = csb, de, csb , settlement_type = Historical region , anthem = Zemia Rodnô , image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png , image_flag ...

Design

History

Holiday

See also

References