Holidays and events in Poland. Holidays and weekends in Poland About national Polish holidays

Please note that, as a rule, all large Polish stores are closed on these days.

• January 1, Tuesday - New Year;
• January 6, Sunday - Three Kings or Epiphany;
• January 9, Sunday - trade ban;
• January 13, Sunday - trade ban;
• January 20, Sunday - trade ban;
• February 3, Sunday - trade ban;
• February 10, Sunday - trade ban;
• February 17, Sunday - trade ban;
• March 3, Sunday - trade ban;
• March 10, Sunday - trade ban;
• March 17, Sunday - trade ban;
• March 24, Sunday - trade ban;
• April 7, Sunday - trade ban;
• April 21, Sunday - Easter;
• April 22, Monday – Easter Monday;
• Wednesday, May 1 - Labor Day;
• May 3, Friday - Constitution Day;
• May 5, Sunday - trade ban;
• May 12, Sunday - trade ban;
• May 19, Sunday - trade ban;
• June 2, Sunday - trade ban;
• June 9, Sunday - Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit;
• June 16, Sunday - trade ban;
• June 20, Thursday - Corpus Christi Day;
• June 23, Sunday - trade ban;
• July 7, Sunday - trade ban;
• July 14, Sunday - trade ban;
• July 21, Sunday - trade ban;
• August 4, Sunday - trade ban;
• August 11, Sunday - trade ban;
• August 15, Thursday - Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Day of the Polish Army;
• August 18, Sunday - trade ban;
• September 1, Sunday - trade ban;
• September 8, Sunday - trade ban;
• September 15, Sunday - trade ban;
• September 22, Sunday - trade ban;
• October 6, Sunday - trade ban;
• October 13, Sunday - trade ban;
• October 20, Sunday - trade ban;
• November 1, Friday - All Saints' Day;
• November 3, Sunday - trade ban;
• November 10, Sunday - trade ban;
• November 11, Monday - Independence Day of Poland;
• November 17, Sunday - trade ban;
• December 1, Sunday - trade ban;
• December 8, Sunday - trade ban;
• December 25, Wednesday - Christmas Day (first day);
• December 26, Thursday - Christmas Day (second day).

About national Polish holidays

There are not just many holidays in Poland, but a lot! In terms of their number, the country ranks third after Portugal and Slovakia (they have 12 holidays a year), celebrating 11 holidays per year. Poles are ardent Catholics, and the main holidays are linked to religious events. Of course, the most revered day of the year is Christmas. According to traditional principles, the whole family gathers at the table, and 12 dishes are prepared for the festive meal. There is a solemn and reverent exchange of wafers that precedes the start of the Christmas dinner.

On Easter, Poles, like us, exchange blessed eggs, on “Splashy Monday” they douse themselves with water for good luck, and on Fat Thursday (the last Thursday before Lent) they gorge themselves so much that they survive Lent with sweet memories of how delicious it was the day before.

Other religious holidays are celebrated a little less solemnly. On Three Kings Day, the inscription K+M+B in blessed chalk appears on the doors of all devout Catholics. On the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, exclusively revered in Poland, thousands go to Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, where they take part in a solemn prayer service. On Green Christmastide, calamus is brought to the church, and a procession of the cross takes place on the Body of God.

The largest number of public holidays (and, therefore, legal weekends throughout Poland) occur in May: the 1st, 2nd and 3rd - for three days in a row, Poles walk and celebrate Labor Day, National Flag Day and Constitution Day, respectively. Traditionally, it is on these days that the influx of tourists grows: in addition to foreigners, Poles with their families who have received a three-day vacation go to the sights.

If the holiday is not an official day off, it’s okay, Poles will celebrate it with no less pleasure! Such popularly loved dates (both official and not) include New Year, International Women's Day (March 8), Children's Day, Grandmother's Day (January 21), Grandfather's Day (January 22), Mother's Day (May 26), Miner, Valentine's Day (February 14), Andrzejki (night from November 29 to 30), Independence Day (November 11). As you can see from the list, both Eastern and Western European holidays are celebrated in Poland - really, in the end, what difference does it make where their roots go, if there is a good reason to congratulate friends and family?!

Finally, be sure to watch the video from the “Katerina Summer” channel about holidays in Poland:

Celebrated on the basis of the Law on Non-Working Days of January 18, 1951. This law “bestows” 13 holidays on the Poles. Of this number, 3 have state status, and 9 have religious status (do not forget that this is an overwhelmingly Catholic state). New Year stands apart. On these days, Poles have a day off from work.

Public holidays

1st of May- Poles do not call Labor Day - it sounds simple and proud - Święto Państwowe i.e. a public holiday.

May 15 for 2016 - The first day of the green holidays is known to us as the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (after Easter on the 7th Sunday).

May 26 for 2016 - Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ— (date falls on the 9th Thursday after Easter). (Uroczystość Najświętszego Ciała i Krwi Pańskiej).

August 15- Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (very revered by the Poles). Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny - at the same time the Day of the Polish Army.(Święto Wojska Polskiego).

Holidays and events in Poland 2019: the most important festivals and highlights, national holidays and events in Poland. Photos and videos, descriptions, reviews and timings.

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  Vianki (or, in Russian, “wreaths”) is the name given to the summer solstice holiday in Krakow. By the way, in Catholic Poland, Ivan Kupala (Noc Kupaly) falls on this day. The tradition comes from pagan times, but even today the Vyanki feel very good.

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• January 6, 2020 Holiday of the Three Kings in Poland

Poles have great respect for the concept of family and do not forget their relatives. On Grandmother's Day, January 21, grandchildren always visit their grandmothers, give them flowers and gifts, and congratulate their grandfathers the very next day, January 22, Grandfather's Day. At the end of spring, on May 26, all children congratulate the closest and dearest person - after all, this is the date listed on the calendar as Mother’s Day.

Poles have great respect for the concept of family and do not forget their relatives. On Grandmother's Day, January 21, grandchildren always visit their grandmothers, give them flowers and gifts, and congratulate their grandfathers the very next day.

The most tender, most reverent holidays begin at the end of winter. On February 14, all lovers congratulate each other on Valentine's Day, and on March 8, when tulips and daffodils begin to bloom, International Women's Day begins. Somewhat later, the Poles celebrate Easter, and the celebrations last for 2 days. The Sunday table is not complete without Easter, eggs, meat, sausage and horseradish.

On the second day - “Wet Monday” - people pour water on acquaintances and passers-by on the street and in transport, this is a kind of wish for health and good luck. Staying dry is a bad omen.

On April 1, Poles take great pleasure in making fun of each other, celebrating April Fool's Day. However, there are many memorable dates in Poland associated with historical events, some of which are far from joyful. Every year on January 27, Poland honors the memory of the victims of concentration camps (it was on this day in 1945 that Soviet troops liberated the prisoners of Auschwitz), after a general minute of silence, flowers are laid at the memorials. And on May 8, Victory Day is celebrated with military parades, but in Poland it is a working day.

The Constitution Day on May 3 is one of the main national holidays. Prayers are held in the cathedrals, followed by numerous concerts in the evening. On August 15, an equally important event occurs - the Polish Army Feast, a military parade takes place on Warsaw Square, exhibitions, rallies, music and dance performances are organized. This same day is known as the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. On All Saints' Day, November 2, the memory of the dead is honored and the graves are decorated with chrysanthemums.

On November 11, Poland celebrates Independence Day, the holiday is accompanied by the raising of flags, a military parade and folk festivities.

On the night of November 29 to 30, Andrzejki celebrates - Andrei's Name Day; on this night they usually do fortune telling - analogies with our Christmas fortune telling.

Children receive New Year's gifts much earlier - on St. Nicholas Day on December 6, and it is he who puts the gifts under the pillow. And on Christmas Eve, December 24, families gather at the festive table and congratulate each other; the main decoration of the house is a decorated spruce. Interestingly, the table is usually Lenten, meat dishes and sweet pies appear on Christmas Day on December 25th. The last day of the year is called St. Sylvester's Day here and is celebrated with masquerades and noisy parties.

June 7th, 2015 , 06:37 pm

Conventionally, all Polish holidays can be divided into religious (i.e. Catholic) and

First day: December 24 - Wigilia (also known as "Christmas Eve" and "night before Christmas").

This day is a working day in itself. The whole action begins in the evening, at the wigilijana dinner (kolacja wigilijana), when the whole family should gather at the table. Each family spends this evening differently, depending on religious and family traditions, but some things remain unchanged and they try to adhere to them.

Firstly, during the vigil they always share otlatki (very thin unleavened bread) with each other and at the same time wish for something good. The payment symbolizes the body of the Lord, and the division itself is a symbol of unity and mutual forgiveness.

Secondly, there must be only lean dishes on the table, preferably 12, according to the number
apostles Poles often prepare many fish dishes (fish is an ancient symbol of Christ).
More information about the Vigil celebration (in Polish)

Second day: December 25 - Christmas
This day is actually Christmas. On this day it is customary to go to the Christmas mossa in
church

The third day: December 26 - St. Stephen's Day (dzień świątego Szczepana)
On this day, it is customary to visit distant relatives, friends, acquaintances and with them.
to celebrate Christmas.

Important: Polish Christmas holidays consist of 3 days, two of which (December 25-26)
weekend!

24 grudnia - Wigilia, 25 and 26 grudnia - Boże Narodzenie

Independence Day (Narodowe Święto Niepodległości) - November 11
(day off)

Independence Day (Narodowe Święto Niepodległości) is very loved and appreciated by the Poles, because after the divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, for 123 years they managed to keep their people without a country, until the end of the First World War. Then, in the course of numerous military operations, it was possible to form an independent Polish state on the territory of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the reins of government of which were transferred to Józef Pilsudski, an ardent fighter for independence, on November 11, 1918.

11 - Narodowe Święto Niepodległości

Easter and Easter Monday (Wielkanoc i śmigus-dyngus) - end of March - beginning of April
(weekend)

In Poland, Easter is celebrated the same way as everywhere else: they paint eggs, light up Easter baskets, and go to church. The Easter basket usually contains eggs, lamb (usually made from dough or sugar), horseradish, butter, salt and various meats. According to tradition, on the Saturday before Easter, the youngest member of the family is sent to the church with this basket for illumination.

That's why children don't really like this holiday =) On Easter itself on Sunday (unlike Christmas)
Lent ends, so there is a lot of different delicious food on the tables: game and poultry meat, sausages, pates, salads, zurek, stuffed eggs, etc.

But for Polish youth the most interesting day is Easter Monday, also called śmigus-dyngus or Wet Monday. Once upon a time, in Polish villages, unmarried guys poured water on unmarried girls - a sort of way of flirting. It was believed that the wetter a girl was after the holiday, the more guys liked her and the faster she would get married. Therefore, in Poland it was customary to wish (and still wish) “Mokrego dyngusa”, i.e. wet dyngus.

Nowadays, not only girls are doused, but everyone around them, regardless of gender and age
right on the streets. A very popular holiday among school and university students. Certainly,
sometimes it comes to outright hooliganism, when a crowd of guys threw several buckets of water at
closing tram doors on passengers (I read about this too). But rarely does anyone remain dissatisfied =)
The question of where such a strange name came from is quite interesting. The point is that before
"Smigus" and "Dyngus" were two different traditions. On "smigus" the person was symbolically beaten on the
feet with willow, and then doused with water - this was done to cleanse the soul and prepare it for
spring. Later, the “smigusa” tradition was superimposed on the “dyngusa” tradition, i.e. opportunity to pay off
ritual "smigusa" with the help of a gift in the form of eggs.

Important: Easter Monday (Poniedziałek wielkonocny), śmigus-dyngus, wet
Monday (lany poniedziałek) is all the same holiday! Poles have a day off on this day!

Do not forget!
1) Easter is always on Sunday!
2) Easter happens on different dates!

Wielkanoc to data ruchoma - przykładowo koniec marca - początek kwietnia. Następny dzień - poniedzialek
wielkonocny, albo śmigus-dyngus - jest dniem, wolnym od pracy.

Feast of the Constitution May 3, 1791 (ŚwiętoKonstytucji 3 Maja) - May 3 (closed)

It was the first constitution in Europe, and the second in the world (after the USA). It was written with a purpose
prevent further divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between Russia, Prussia and Austria. However, this did not help, and 4 years after the approval of the constitution, Poland ceased to exist.

3 maja - Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja 1791 roku. Konstytucja była pierwszą w Europie, i drugą w świecie.

Polish Army Day and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God (Dzień Armii Polskiej i Wniebowzięcie
Najświętszej Maryi Panny) - August 15 (closed)

Important: Two national and religious holidays fall on one day!

The story of why two holidays are celebrated on one day is simple. From time immemorial, August 15, according to the new style, has been the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary among believers. Plus, August 15, 1920 is considered a turning point in the history of the Polish-Soviet war, when the Poles, after a series of losses and retreats, unexpectedly drove the Russians to Moscow. The Holy Mother of God was considered the intercessor of the Polish army; it was thanks to her help (figuratively, of course) that Poland was able to turn the tide of the war in its favor almost at the gates of Warsaw (60 km). This battle is called the "Miracle over the Vistula" (Cud nad Wisłą).

15 sierpnia - Dzień Armii Polskiej i Wniebowzię cie Najś wię tszej Maryi Panny

Yes, yes, yes, this holiday is honored to this day, and it is not a relic of the communist past
Poland. May 1 is celebrated in 142 countries around the world!

Day of Polonia and Poles Abroad, as well as the Day of the Polish Flag (Dzień Flagi Rzeczpospolitej
Polskiej i Dzień Polonii) - May 2 (working)

Important: This day also marks two holidays - Polish Flag Day and Polonia Day
What is Polonia? Polonia are Poles living abroad. On this day, May 2, the Poles
people abroad like to show in every possible way what their nationality is. For example, wearing clothes with
large Polish symbols.

Important: Polonia Day is one of the consul's favorite questions, not because it is so mysterious, but
because those who apply for a Pole Card are automatically classified as Poles,
located abroad of Poland, therefore they must know their holiday!

2 maja - Dzień Polonii, albo dzień polaków za granicą, a taksamo dzień flagi RP

All Saints' Day is also often called All Souls' Day. On this day the Poles try
visit the graves of your relatives, light a lamp, light a candle. Happy holiday
Also adjacent is the tradition of Zaduszki - November 2, performing the same function.
However, November 2 is a working day.

1 listopada w Polsce obchodzą Dzień Wszystkich świętych, czyli dzień wspomnienia prządków.

New Year in Poland is no different from New Year in Belarus. However, still in Poland
Christmas is considered more important. Christmas is a family holiday, and New Year is more
youth holiday with friends.

Nowy Rok w Polsce obchodzą 1 stycznia.

Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Boże Ciało) - flexible date (day off)

Important: Boże Ciało is always on Thursday!

The date of this holiday depends on the date of Easter - it is celebrated on Thursday 9 weeks after Easter.
On this day, religious processions of Catholics take place on the streets of Polish cities.
clergy. Believers also take part in the procession, and children can sprinkle them with
path with flowers.

Boż e Ciał o ma datę ruchomą iprzypada zawsze n aczwartek.

The holiday is dedicated to the three wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus for Christmas: gold, incense and
myrrh. On this day, “K+M+B 2014” is often written in chalk on the doors of houses and apartments. "K+M+B" -
stands for the Latin expression "Christus mansionem benedicat", which means "Yes
Christ bless this house."

These are also the names of the Magi, in Polish Kacper, Melhior, Baltazar.

Święto Trzech Kroli obchodzą 6 stycznia. Dzień wolnyodpracy.

POLSKIE TRADYCJE - POLKA TRADITIONS

Carnival (Karnawał) - from the holiday of the Three Kings to Mardi Gras

Carnival is a period of masquerades, balls, dressing up and fun. All over the world, the carnival is celebrated from January 6 before Lent. The last day of the carnival (always Tuesday) is called Mardi Gras. The most famous carnival in the world takes place every year in Rio de Janeiro.

In Poland there is no grandiose carnival as such, but Poles really like to meet with friends during this period, organize masquerades at home with their families, and participate in impromptu carnivals in theaters, cinemas, museums, restaurants, etc.

Karnawał - okres zimowych balów, maskarad, pochodów i zabaw. Rozpoczyna się najczęściej w dniu Trzech
Kroli, a kończy we wtorek przed Środą Popielcową.

Fat Thursday (Tłusty czwartek) - moving date

Fat Thursday is the last Thursday before Lent and begins the last week of Carnival. Poles are very fond of the tradition of Fat Thursday. On this day, overeating is allowed so that later during the fasting period you don’t really want to eat. Traditionally, people eat donuts and brushwood. In ancient times, there was a lot of meat, lard and plenty of vodka.

Important: On Fat Thursday they eat donuts and brushwood.

Tłusty czwartek - ostatni czwartek przed wielkim postem, rozpoczyna ostatni tydzień karnawału. Na tłusty
czwartek jedzą pączki i faworki.

Ash Wednesday (ŚrodaPopielcowa) - moving date

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. On this day, the clergyman sprinkles ashes on the heads of believers and quotes the Bible “Dust you are and to dust you will return.” I wonder what ashes
preserved from last year's willows, which are then burned.

Środa Popielcowa - pierwszy dzień wielkiego postu. W ten dzień ksiądz
posypia głowy wiernych popiołem i mówi „ Pamiętaj, że jesteś prochem i w proch się obrócisz”

Palm Sunday (Palmowa niedziela) - moving date

Palm Sunday is the last Sunday before Easter. The Polish tradition retains the name Palm Sunday, although willow branches are used instead of palm trees. On this day, the palm trees in the church are illuminated.

Palmowa niedziela - ostatnia niedziela przed Wielkanocą.

St. Andrew's Day - on this day, or rather on the night of November 30, girls tell fortunes about their future husbands. The most popular fortune telling:
- The girls poured wax onto cold water (often through the eye of a key) and read fortunes on the resulting pattern. - The girls took turns placing their shoes from the wall across the entire house. The one whose shoe was the first to reach the threshold of the house will be the first to get married. - The girls wrote the names of the guys on pieces of paper and turned the cards over so that the names were not visible. Then they punctured the cards. Whatever name the girl pierced, that’s what her future husband will be called. Guys could do the same thing, writing women's names on cards. This fortune telling is quite common nowadays.

Andrzejki - obchodzą 29 listopada. W tą noc niezamężne dziewczyny wróżbują na swojego przyszłego męża.

Holidays and traditions in chronological order:
1 stycznia: NowyRok6 stycznia: Świętotrzechkróli
Karnawał (od 6 stycznia do Mardi Gras)
Tłusty czwartek (data ruchoma)
Środa Popielcowa (data ruchoma)
Niedziela palmowa (data ruchoma)Wielkanoc (dataruchoma):niedzielaiponiedziałek - pierwszaniedzielapo pierwszej wiosennej pełni księżyca
1 maja: Święto Pracy
2 maja: Dzień Polonii
3 maja: Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja
Boże Ciało (data ruchoma): czwartek dziewiątego tygodnia po Wielkanocy
15 sierpnia: Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Marii Panny, Święto Wojska Polskiego (rocznica “cudu nad
Wiłą”)
1 listopada: Dzień Wszystkich Świętych2 listopada: Zaduszki
11 listopada: Dzień Niepodległości29 listopada: Andrzejki24 grudnia: Wigilia25, 26 grudnia: BożeNarodzenie31 grudnia - Sylwester

The law on the holiday was adopted on February 20, 2004. The idea of ​​creating the holiday included deepening unbiased and accurate knowledge about the origin and meaning of the Polish flag and its colors, getting rid of all kinds of complexes and misconceptions, which spill out en masse, including on the Internet.
The Polish white and red flag itself is a symbol of the merits of the ancestors of modern Poles in the cause of the peaceful unification of Europe. We are, of course, talking about the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, about the union with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At that time, a red-white-red flag with a shield divided into 4 parts into a cross, two of which had the coat of arms of Poland, and two of them had the coat of arms of Lithuania, became the symbol of a powerful European state for four hundred years.

During the holiday, flags are naturally hung on the streets of Polish cities. They appear on buildings in advance, before May 1, which is a day off.

Since the law requires that the flag be hung on public holidays, the facades of houses are decorated with white and red banners for three whole days. It looks beautiful and proud, as if the city is trying to show with all its appearance how dear this flag is to it. And there is some everyday truth in this metaphor, because the flag should really be dear to every resident of the country and should be treated with respect.

In Poland, as in other countries, there are certain subtleties in relation to the flag. For example, for violating the dignity of the flag or for showing disrespect for it, the violator faces a fine or even imprisonment.

For example, you cannot hang a dirty or torn flag on a building. You should also refrain from displaying a flag that is made of sheer fabric or that has faded where the bottom red rectangle has turned orange with age. In fact, however, one can see that some citizens, even unconsciously, violate these postulates.
In addition, it is worth remembering that the flag cannot be dropped. Here it is worth turning to military traditions. Here, honor and dignity, as well as victory and defeat, are inextricably linked with the flag. A banner or flag that falls in battle means defeat for the soldiers. There is a well-known fact from the history of World War II, during the September campaign, when Polish soldiers had to lay down their arms, they hid the Polish flag: you can surrender your weapons, but never the flag. Until now, the capture of the enemy’s flag is a symbol of his defeat, and the loss of the flag is the greatest shame. Returning to the issue of the flag falling to the ground, you should not even allow the flag to touch the ground, this would also be disrespect for the flag. For example, while raising a flag on a flagpole, there are 2 soldiers near it: one secures the flag on the flagpole, the other at this time makes sure that the flag does not touch the ground.
And although for the majority of Poles the flag is a highly revered symbol, some, even unconscious, profanities do occur. For example, during matches, football fans hang flags in the stands with the inscriptions of cities or some slogans on them. Such things are not permissible in relation to the Polish flag. Even hanging a flag on a mast near your home has its own characteristics. The flag is a symbol, and the symbol must be visible, therefore, a flag left overnight must be illuminated, otherwise it must be lowered at night and raised again in daylight.

Despite the fact that Polish Flag Day is a working day, in fact it is located between two public holidays: May 1 - International Labor Day and May 3 - Constitution Day, and therefore the holidays merge into one big day off under the good name Majówka, and three During the day, people walk along the city streets decorated with flags.