Poland Public Holidays

Poland Public Holidays

Searching for the national holidays in Poland? All public holidays in Poland are treated like Sundays. This means that most of the Poland employees have a day off and all schools are closed on these office holidays. If you are planning a trip to Poland and want to know what the national and regional holidays are, check the details in the tables below.

Poland, a country with a deep historical and cultural heritage, observes a variety of public holidays that reflect its religious traditions, historical events, and national pride. Polish public holidays are a combination of national and religious observances, rooted mainly in Catholicism, the dominant religion in the country. These holidays offer an opportunity for family gatherings, religious ceremonies, and celebrations that unite the Polish people in their shared history and values.

National Public Holidays

New Year’s Day (January 1)

According to barblejewelry.com, New Year’s Day in Poland, like in many parts of the world, marks the first day of the calendar year. This day is a public holiday, giving people time to recover from New Year’s Eve celebrations and welcome the new year with hope and resolutions.

• Traditions: Poles celebrate New Year’s Eve (Sylwester) with fireworks, parties, and gatherings with friends and family. The holiday is a time for toasts and well-wishing for a prosperous and happy year ahead. On New Year’s Day, many Poles attend Mass as a way to start the year with spiritual reflection.

Constitution Day (May 3)

Constitution Day commemorates the adoption of Poland’s first constitution on May 3, 1791. It was the first democratic constitution in Europe and the second in the world, following the United States Constitution. This day is one of the most important national holidays, symbolizing Poland’s pursuit of democracy and self-governance.

• Historical Significance: The Constitution of May 3 sought to strengthen the Polish state and improve governance. It was a progressive document that emphasized human rights and the rule of law. Although it was in effect for only a short time due to external pressures, it remains a symbol of Poland’s commitment to freedom.
• Celebrations: Constitution Day is marked by parades, concerts, and political speeches. The Polish flag is flown across the country, and citizens reflect on their national identity and the principles of democracy. Major celebrations take place in Warsaw, where official ceremonies include military parades and speeches by government officials.

National Independence Day (November 11)

National Independence Day is one of the most significant holidays in Poland, celebrating the country’s regained independence in 1918 after 123 years of partitions by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The day commemorates Poland’s reemergence as a sovereign state following the end of World War I.

• Historical Background: After more than a century of foreign occupation, Poland restored its independence on November 11, 1918, under the leadership of Józef Piłsudski. This day is a time for Poles to celebrate their resilience and love for freedom.
• Observances: Across Poland, the holiday is marked by patriotic events, including military parades, concerts, and flag-raising ceremonies. In Warsaw, the President of Poland leads official celebrations, and citizens participate in marches and activities that reflect their national pride.

Religious Holidays

Poland, with its strong Catholic traditions, observes several religious holidays, many of which are national holidays where businesses and schools close. These holidays hold deep spiritual significance and are observed with Masses, family gatherings, and specific customs.

Epiphany (January 6)

Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day, celebrates the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles, symbolized by the visit of the Magi. In Poland, this day is a public holiday and has become increasingly popular as a religious and cultural event.

• Traditions: Poles participate in Mass and processions, where figures representing the Three Kings lead the way. A common practice is the blessing of homes, where the initials of the Three Kings (K+M+B) are written in chalk over doorways, signifying the home’s protection for the coming year. Additionally, children and adults dress up as the Three Kings and join festive parades through cities and towns.

Easter (Variable Date)

Easter is the most important religious holiday in Poland, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The celebration of Easter begins with Lent and culminates in Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. This holiday is central to the Catholic faith and is observed with deep devotion across the country.

• Holy Week: The week leading up to Easter is filled with religious observances, including church services, processions, and the blessing of food. On Palm Sunday, Poles bring symbolic palms to church, and on Good Friday, many participate in the Stations of the Cross.
• Easter Sunday: The Easter celebration begins with a midnight Mass on Holy Saturday, known as the Resurrection Mass. On Easter Sunday, families gather for a festive breakfast, which includes a basket of food that has been blessed in church the day before. Traditional foods such as “żurek” (sour rye soup), sausages, and eggs are enjoyed. The sharing of a blessed egg, symbolizing new life, is a key part of the meal.
• Easter Monday (Śmigus-Dyngus): Easter Monday is also known as “Wet Monday” (Śmigus-Dyngus) and is a playful holiday where people splash each other with water, symbolizing the cleansing and renewal of baptism.

Corpus Christi (Variable Date)

Corpus Christi is a Catholic feast day that honors the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ. It is celebrated 60 days after Easter Sunday and is a public holiday in Poland. The day is marked by religious processions and special Masses.

• Processions: Across Poland, people participate in large processions, carrying the Holy Sacrament through streets decorated with flowers and banners. The processions typically stop at four altars, where prayers and blessings are offered. The event is a significant expression of Polish Catholic faith and devotion.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is both a religious and national holiday in Poland. It commemorates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up to heaven at the end of her earthly life. The day is also celebrated as the Day of the Polish Armed Forces, in honor of the Polish victory at the Battle of Warsaw in 1920.

• Religious Observances: Many Poles attend church services to honor the Virgin Mary. In the town of Częstochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland, thousands of pilgrims gather at the Jasna Góra Monastery to venerate the Black Madonna icon.
• Military Celebrations: On this day, military parades and events are held to honor the Polish armed forces and commemorate their role in the historic Battle of Warsaw, often referred to as the “Miracle on the Vistula.”

All Saints’ Day (November 1)

All Saints’ Day is a solemn Catholic holiday in Poland, observed in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. It is a time for remembering and paying respects to the deceased.

• Traditions: On All Saints’ Day, Poles visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. Cemeteries are illuminated with thousands of candles and adorned with flowers, creating a poignant and serene atmosphere. The day is a time for prayer, reflection, and honoring those who have passed.

Christmas (December 25)

Christmas is one of the most cherished holidays in Poland, celebrated with both religious devotion and family traditions. While Christmas Day is a public holiday, the celebrations begin on Christmas Eve, known as “Wigilia.”

• Wigilia (Christmas Eve): Wigilia is the most important day of the Polish Christmas season. The traditional Christmas Eve dinner consists of 12 meatless dishes, symbolizing the 12 apostles. Before the meal begins, families share “opłatek” (a wafer) and offer blessings to one another. Carp, herring, pierogi, and barszcz (beet soup) are common dishes served.
• Midnight Mass: Many Poles attend “Pasterka,” the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Christmas Day: Christmas Day is a time for family gatherings, gift exchanges, and enjoying more festive meals, often including meat dishes that were avoided on Christmas Eve.

Boxing Day (December 26)

In Poland, the day after Christmas, December 26, is also a public holiday, known as the Second Day of Christmas. This day is often quieter, reserved for family time, rest, and the continuation of festive meals.

Other Important Observances

Labor Day (May 1)

Labor Day, or International Workers’ Day, is celebrated on May 1 to honor the achievements and rights of workers. While this day is marked by its socialist roots, in modern Poland, it is primarily a public holiday without the large-scale parades that were prominent during the communist era.

• Celebrations: Many Poles take advantage of the long weekend by spending time outdoors, attending cultural events, or participating in demonstrations for workers’ rights.

All Souls’ Day (November 2)

All Souls’ Day follows All Saints’ Day and is a day dedicated to praying for the souls of the deceased. While not an official public holiday, many Poles continue their visits to cemeteries, lighting candles and offering prayers for their ancestors and loved ones.

Regional and Cultural Celebrations

Feast of St. John (June 24)

The Feast of St. John, or “Noc Świętojańska,” is a midsummer celebration rooted in both pagan and Christian traditions. It marks the summer solstice and is associated with bonfires, dancing, and traditional rituals related to love and fertility.

• Traditions: In many regions, especially around rivers and lakes, young women make flower wreaths and float them on water in hopes of finding true love. Bonfires are lit to ward off evil spirits, and people celebrate with dancing and singing.

Andrzejki (St. Andrew’s Eve, November 29)

St. Andrew’s Eve, known as Andrzejki, is a traditional night of fortune-telling, especially for unmarried women who hope to learn about their future husbands. Although not a public holiday, Andrzejki is widely celebrated with parties, games, and divination rituals.

• Fortune-Telling: One popular tradition involves pouring melted wax through a keyhole into water and interpreting the shapes formed by the wax. Another involves shoe races, where women line up their shoes to predict who will marry first.