Polish weekends and holidays. Holidays and events in Poland. Holidays and traditions of Poland
Every year since 1992, August 15 is an official holiday in Poland. This date falls on the day of the Polish Army and the Day of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It is celebrated on the anniversary of the events of the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, which became the decisive battle of the Soviet-Polish war.
Thus, the advance of Bolshevik troops further west was stopped in Poland.
Tadeusz Rozwadowski was appointed head of the General Staff of the Polish Army. He managed to organize an army that was disunited after several defeats and had lost hope of defeating superior enemy forces and prepared it for a counter-offensive.
By the way, many sources call Józef Pilsudski the commander in the Battle of Warsaw, this was due to the fact that despite the fact that at some point Rozwadowski essentially became the commander-in-chief, he continued to coordinate his actions with Pilsudski. By the way, the victory was also facilitated by the fact that in August 1919, a Polish unit under the leadership of Lieutenant Jan Kovalevsky broke the codes of the Red Army. Outstanding mathematicians, teachers from Lvov and Warsaw universities, and talented graduate students were involved in deciphering the radio signals.
How did the Battle of Warsaw take place?
The Bolshevik offensive on Warsaw began on August 12, 1920 by troops of the Western Front under the command of Tukhachevsky. However, he did not involve all the forces available to him in the operation - some of the armies fought for Lviv in the South-West.
Piłsudski planned to group the troops needed to stop the Soviet attack in the north of Warsaw, and the forces that were to be used in the counteroffensive in the south, behind the Wieprza Line. Such a dislocation was supposed to provide the opportunity for a wide, enveloping maneuver that would give victory. Several minor modifications were introduced into this concept, primarily concerning the strengthening of the northern flank, and on August 10 the Supreme Commander approved it as a valid operational directive.
On the morning of August 13, 1920, the battle for Warsaw began with the attack of the Red Army on Polish positions near Radzymin. The attack was repulsed, but in the afternoon Bolshevik units launched a coordinated attack on defensive positions near Radzymin, Wołomin and Ossow. Radzymin fell on the same day, in the evening, and Ossov - the next day.
On the march near Brest, the Red Army received an important document, which was found on the murdered volunteer commander Vaclav Drojowski - an order for a counterattack near Wiepsz, and attached to it were detailed instructions with cards. However, the Bolsheviks did not believe the documents that fell into their hands.
Soviet troops interrupted the first line of defense of the Prague bridgehead and moved in the direction
to Warsaw Prague. Generals Rozwadowski and Haller, in order to prevent the influx of enemy units through the gap in the Polish defense line, ordered the immediate attack of the 5th Army of General. Sikorsky from the side of the Vkra River. Its goal was to stop the Red Army in the positions it occupied and to prepare the conditions for the formation of a Polish defense on the Prague bridge.
At noon on August 14, the 5th Army struck from the Wkra line in the direction of Nasielsk, Nowego Miasto and Płońsk. The attack in the first two directions ended in failure. On the morning of August 15, Soviet troops broke through the front in the Borkowo area, inflicting serious damage on the Poles. In the north, towards Plonsk, the situation of the Polish troops was much better.
The bloody battles on Vkra on August 14 and 16 did not bring fundamental decisions on the northern flank of the front. Haller. The 5th Army held its positions and even moved them east, to the heights of Nasielsk. Serious changes, however, took place on the Prague bridge. On August 14, the Poles recaptured Ossy. The symbol of this battle was the heroic chaplain of the 236th Infantry Regiment of the Volunteer Army, priest Ignacy Skorupka.
On the evening of August 15, the Poles recaptured Radzymin and the lost defensive positions. Three days earlier, Józef Pilsudski had left Warsaw to take direct command of the maneuver strike group on Wieprze. The marshal planned to launch the offensive on August 17, but upon hearing about the defeat at Radzymin, he decided, despite his doubts, to postpone its start date to August 16. In order for the planned maneuver to succeed, it was necessary to act quickly and use the element of surprise, catching the enemy by surprise. In the early morning of August 16, a Polish counterattack began, aimed at the flank and rear of the Red Army units attacking Warsaw.
It was also important that as a result of the fighting it was possible to disrupt the Bolshevik radio communications - the employees of the 4th Army headquarters tried to defend themselves, but were forced to burn the radio station and fled. Broken communications did not allow coordination of actions and the Western Front found itself in information isolation.
In addition, the Polish side jammed the frequency with which Tukhachevsky gave orders and continuously broadcast biblical texts - as a result, the reception of signals from Minsk by the second Soviet station was completely blocked, and the Red Army was disoriented.
On August 16, under the command of Pilsudski himself, a counterattack began. The defeat of the Western Front was severe - 25 thousand Red Army soldiers died, 60 thousand were captured by Poland and 45 thousand were interned by the Germans. Several thousand people went missing. In addition to people, the front lost many weapons, ammunition, vehicles and even 200 field kitchens. Official Polish losses are 4.5 thousand killed, 22 thousand wounded and 10 thousand missing.
Curious. that despite the popular name “Warsaw” the battle itself took place more than 400 km from the capital of Poland, therefore some historians recommend using the name “Battle of the Approaches to Warsaw”, since the capital was not the site of the fighting. The name “Miracle on the Vistula” also exists in the public consciousness. The author of this name was the editors of the newspaper Rzeczpospolita; the authors remembered the World War I battle near the Marne and drew an analogy that became popular.
What is the significance of the Battle of Warsaw?
Victory over the troops Soviet Russia determined the independent status of Poland until 1939. If Poland had lost, then it would have suffered all the misfortunes that later befell Soviet Ukraine and Belarus: the Red Terror, the Cheka, collectivization, the Holodomor.
“Poland would have paid with millions of victims for the arrival of Soviet power. But we retained our independence, and the Polish army put an insurmountable barrier to the expansion of communism - it was stopped on the eastern borders of Poland. If communism had passed through Poland then, it would have had a great chance of spreading throughout Europe,” says Central European historian Yaroslav Shimov, talking about the significance of the Battle of Warsaw to Radio Liberty.
A military parade takes place on the main square of Warsaw and in other cities. There are speeches at rallies, concerts, film screenings, and exhibitions. During the holiday there is a place for folk festivities, thanksgiving prayers, theatrical performances, and dances.
Ascension of the Virgin Mary
The Feast of the Polish Army coincides with one of the brightest Catholic holidays - the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.
In the Catholic religion, a separate postulate states that after the death of the Dormition (death), the Virgin Mary ascended to Heaven and there was crowned the Queen of Heaven. The dogma was officially proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950 in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus and is widely celebrated. There is no such canon in Orthodoxy.
On August 15, believers bring herbs, wildflowers, vegetables and fruits to churches for blessing. The holiday is accompanied by solemn services, church processions and theatrical performances.
To ensure that closed shops and cafes do not come as a surprise to you, be very careful when choosing your travel date, using our Weekend Calendar in Poland.
Most Poles, like Belarusians, work 5 days a week; accordingly, Saturday and Sunday are considered days off in Poland. Let us recall that last year the country’s government adopted a law banning trade on Sundays, so in 2019 only the last Sunday of the month will be considered working, with the exception of Easter Sunday and two Sundays in December, before and after Christmas.
On other weekends in Poland, supermarkets, shops, cafes, restaurants and other entertainment venues are open and even have extended working hours. But there are also public holidays in the country, when absolutely all owners of small and large businesses close their doors and celebrate at home with their families. On such days it is not worth going to Poland, because other than walking along deserted streets, there will be nothing to occupy yourself with.
In order not to get into such an unpleasant situation, we have made for you a calendar of public holidays in Poland, when every Polish city It’s like it’s dying out: establishments don’t work, and people spend time at home with their families.
So, let's figure out which days the official public holidays in Poland fall on in 2019:
Residents of Poland will have holidays in 2019 on the 1st (Tuesday) and 6th (Sunday) of January. January 1st Poles, like Belarusians, note New Year. January 6th Poles celebrate an important religious holiday called Epiphany.
The next holiday on the calendar is Easter. The Poles will celebrate 21 (Sunday) and 22 (Monday) April. Stores will not be officially open on these days.
In May the Poles will rest 1 (Wednesday) and 3 (Friday) numbers. Labor Day is celebrated on May 1, Constitution Day is celebrated on May 3.
In June, as in May, Poles celebrate two holidays: June 9 (Sunday)- Trinity, June 20 (Thursday)– Corpus Christi Day.
The next holidays in 2019 are planned in November 1st (Friday) And 11th (Monday) numbers. November 1 is All Saints' Day, November 11 is Independence Day.
Well, the last holiday weekend in Poland will be 25 (Tuesday) And 26 (Wednesday) December. At the end of the month (December 25 and 26) all Poles will celebrate Christmas. It is also worth noting that December 24 is a shortened day.
Calendar of weekends and holidays in Poland
Below is a calendar of weekends and holidays in Poland, when all points of sale will be closed. Be sure to check it out, especially if you plan to go shopping.
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
Dejection is not typical for Poles. They love to relax and have fun. Poland ranks second in Europe in terms of the number of holidays - there are eleven of them in the country. The first place was shared between fiery Portugal, temperamental Slovakia and hot Malta, because there are an equal number of public holidays there, namely twelve. Public holidays in Poland are supported by days off. But if suddenly the holiday is not a day free from work, the Poles still celebrate it cheerfully and on a grand scale, because this is a good reason to congratulate loved ones and have a good time. In Catholic Poland, all important Christian holidays are celebrated with great reverence. Polish holidays are shrouded in ancient traditions, beliefs and incredible flavor.
If you want to experience a real fairy tale, then you should celebrate Christmas in Poland at least once in your life. Poles carefully preserve their traditions. They believe that all dreams come true on Christmas. And the air is saturated with magic, which makes animals talk and miracles come true at every step. Many traditions have been preserved and have lived in the country for centuries. Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve (Wigilia) is the most family-friendly evening. All family members gather at a table covered with a white tablecloth, on which there is a little hay, which symbolizes the nursery. It is obligatory in table setting to have extra cutlery for a guest who may be visiting. With the rising of the first star, a candle is lit, a prayer is said, and a feast begins with 12 Lenten dishes. The most important moment comes - the exchange of platkas (a thin, almost transparent plate of dough), which are bought in the church. This is a kind of sacrament of forgiveness and wishes of all the best. At Christmas, people exchange gifts, visit each other and visit colorful Christmas markets, with lots of gingerbread cookies, sausages, mulled wine and other goodies.
Another major Catholic holiday is Easter or the Resurrection of the Lord (Wielkanoc). Shop windows, streets, and house windows are decorated with Easter bunnies, chickens, and eggs of various shapes, colors, and sizes. On Saturday, Poles illuminate food in churches. The contents of the Easter basket should include traditional painted eggs - pysanka and krashanka, Easter babka, bread, salt, and various meat products. In addition to religious significance, Easter also has gastronomic significance for Poles. After all, after 40 days of fasting, it is so pleasant to sit down at a table decorated with a snow-white tablecloth and spring flowers, served with various meat rolls, pies, sausages, mazurkas and cottage cheese. The main thing on the table is considered to be lamb, which is made from sugar, dough or glaze. Children are waiting for the moment when they can go in search of treasures: gifts and chocolate eggs that the Easter Bunny brings.
Celebrations continue on Easter Monday. It is also called Pouring Monday, Polivanka, Oblivanka or St. Lake's Day. On this day, all passersby can become victims of being doused with cold water. This symbolizes the awakening of all life on Earth. Landowners sprinkle their fields with water, which should give them a good harvest. Also on this day you can joke: steal from your neighbors and hide something from the yard, remove or change the gate. On this Monday, all pranks are forgiven, and it is filled with joy and fun.
An important holiday is considered to be the Solemnity of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) or Green Christmastide. It is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. On this day, according to beliefs, the church as we know it today was born. At the same time, the first apostolic sermon was preached. Priests wear red robes during services, and churches are decorated with green branches. Most often - birch branches. It is believed to be the final celebration of the Easter period.
On the 60th day after the significant Easter, the so-called Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Boże Ciało) is celebrated. He takes highest place among Catholic Christmastides. On this very day, people do not do any work or labor, but always visit the temple. Along the streets of everyone settlements There are bright and noisy processions. Along the way, participants scatter flowers, sing songs and read prayers. The priest leads the procession and carries the Monstrance to four altars, which are built in open areas. Everything smells of incense, medicinal herbs woven into small amulets, and fresh bread. The holiday has an incredible elevated atmosphere, everything around blooms with different colors and colors.
It happens that Polish holidays of different significance are celebrated on the same day. For example, on August 15, the significant Catholic holiday of the Assumption and Assumption of the Virgin Mary takes place. It symbolizes the death of the Virgin Mary and the taking of her body to heaven. As on all Christian holidays, a visit to the temple and festive mass is obligatory.
Also on August 15th they celebrate another an important event- Polish Army Day. In 1920, the so-called “Miracle over the Vistula” occurred. A strong Polish army defeated the Bolsheviks and gained its independence.
The traditional and ancient holiday All Saints' Day (Wszystkich Świętych) is celebrated on November 1st. It’s not that they celebrate it, it’s customary to pay tribute to their ancestors in the cemetery. Several long-standing traditions associated with this have been preserved: large alms to beggars and begging grandfathers near the church; preparation of funeral bread - dumplings; bread, honey, porridge are left on the graves so that the dead can eat; lighting candles on graves. The cemetery is surrounded by lights that flutter in the wind.
Favorite folk holiday takes place on January 6th and is called Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings (Trzech Króli). The roots of which originate from the Birth of Christ and the arrival of the Volkhov to him. On this day, colorful costume carnivals with Biblical heroes, carols and nativity scenes take place in Poland. Temples are illuminated with gold, incense, water and chalk. Using illuminated chalk, the letters K+M+B are painted on the doors of the house, which means “Christ God, bless this house.” Housewives bake almond pie. People believe that whoever finds a whole nut will have good luck all year long.
Many holidays in Poland have not become state holidays, but still the people love and honor them.
A fabulous holiday for children and adults is the day of St. Nicholas or Mikolajka on December 6th. Parents try to surprise their kids with gifts under the pillow, bed or on the windowsill. Adults also exchange pleasantries. Kindergartens and schools organize celebrations for children. On this day everyone begins to believe in miracles.
Sweet tooth enthusiastically awaits the day called Fat Thursday. Each pastry shop prepares dozens of types of donuts with various fillings and glazes. The housewives also don’t lag behind and delight you with their culinary masterpieces. Even those who have been on a strict diet all year celebrate this holiday by gorging on this delicious delicacy.
Girls in love do not miss the moment to tell fortunes on the shortest night of the year, which turns into the holiday of Christmas Eve, St. John's Day. Only on this night does the fern bloom, and many go in search of it, because the finder becomes happy and rich for life.
November 30th is Andrzejki or St. Andrew's Day. Pagan fortune-telling on wax and mirrors takes place on this night in every home where there are teenagers. Everyone wants, one way or another, to know their destiny.
Poland couldn't do without sweets, hearts and tender confessions. On February 14, like all over the world, Poles celebrate Valentine's Day. City streets are buried in red and pink, the smell of coffee and chocolate is in the air, and romance fills every corner with its warmth and affection.
Secular holidays in Poland are also celebrated on a similar scale to Catholic ones.
Poland celebrates the New Year on December 31 and January 1. People gather in the squares, which are lit with garlands and decorated with a magnificent Christmas tree. They sing songs, drink champagne, congratulate each other and wait for midnight and fireworks. New Year in Poland is not a family holiday, everyone gathers in noisy groups and has fun as best they can: discos, parties, various events. Each house and plot is decorated with bright illumination and even at night, it is as bright as day. The holiday continues until the morning and even longer.
On May 1, Poland celebrates Workers' Day. As in all countries of the world, demonstrations are held. After this, groups of friends go on picnics and walks. Spend time with loved ones and enjoy the weekend.
May 3 is one of the most important days in Poland. The Day of the Constitution, which was signed in 1791, is celebrated. In Warsaw on this day there is a military parade, cannons fire. Wreaths and flowers are brought to monuments to the Unknown Soldiers across the country. Concerts and various events are also held. People wander around cities or go on “maydays” in nature.
November 11th is a significant day for every Pole and worthy of pride. It was on this day in 1918 that German troops agreed to capitulate and liberate Polish territory. So de jure Poland received its independence, although not supported by any document. Today, Independence Day is celebrated on a huge scale. The Independence March takes place in Warsaw. Throughout the country, white and red flags are flying, demonstrations and marches are taking place, as well as races. Various exhibitions, concerts, and film screenings entertain Poles not only in the capital, but throughout the country. The Poles are happy to celebrate such a significant day for them. Pride in their country fills every citizen, from the youngest to older people.
It is customary to consider Grandfathers' Day (January 22) and Grandmothers' Day (January 21) as bright, albeit not weekend, holidays in Poland. Children and grandchildren make pleasant surprises for their older relatives.
On March 8, all women are given flowers, because in Poland no one has canceled International Women's Day.
The day when schoolchildren can skip school with impunity is considered to be March 21 - the First Day of Spring.
Day of Satire and Humor or Prima Aprilis June 1 is a holiday of jokes and funny pranks. On this day, various humorous concerts and evenings are held.
May 26 is the warmest holiday - Mother's Day, every child, be it small or already an adult, congratulates his mother and wishes her only all the best.
And already on June 1, Children's Day, parents do nice things for little angels. They give them gifts, take them on a picnic or take them to the cinema and the zoo. They do everything that can please the tomboy.
There are a lot of holidays in Poland and each of them is associated with its own unique history and tradition of celebration. But every holiday, even the smallest one, in Poland turns into a large-scale celebration and celebration. Since the Poles know how to celebrate, probably no other nationality in the world can.
Every year, Poland celebrates a lot of holidays, both national and religious, which undoubtedly brighten the lives of citizens and guests of the state.
Naturally, every visitor should know about the most important celebrations, as well as the main weekends and rules for celebrating important dates. Let's look into this issue so that, while in Poland, you can fully enjoy its beautiful celebrations.
Polish holidays - general information
Poland has a number of major public holidays that have fixed dates. This is January 1, which here is called not just the New Year holiday, but Sylvester Day, May 1 (here it has nothing in common with the workers' holiday traditionally celebrated in the CIS countries and is simply called public holiday), May 3 is the day celebrated in honor of the Constitution of 1791, January 6 is the holiday of the Three Kings.
Poles also celebrate the day of independence from Russia, Austria, and Prussia, which falls on November 11. These holidays are the main ones.
However, migrants going here should also know about other holidays in Poland itself, since they may be asked about them during an interview on the Pole’s card. These are included here. Mother's Day - May 26, May 2 - Flag Day, May 8 - Victory Day.
They also celebrate March 8, February 14, June 1, and some other dates that are familiar to different cultures. There is also Teacher's Day, which is celebrated on October 14th. But March 21 is considered the only date when students are allowed to skip school, and they are not punished for this.
These are not days off, but you should still understand them.
The most important Polish holidays can rightfully be considered Christmas, which falls on December 25-26, Easter, Epiphany Day, Corpus Christi (all three dates are determined individually in each year and depend on the day on which Easter will be scheduled), as well as the Assumption Holy Mother of God, which is celebrated on August 15, All Saints Day (Dziady) - November 1. On these days, masses in local churches are very magnificent; the dates are considered non-working for the entire population.
Almost all celebrations in Poland, be they national or religious, are celebrated strictly according to tradition. At this time, business life, even in the most major cities like Krakow and Warsaw freezes (unless, of course, a public holiday falls on this date).
On the eve of the celebration itself, cities are decorated, special fairs and, of course, sales are held, especially before Christmas. Also, depending on the theme of the holiday, before it you can buy appropriate home decor or souvenirs.
Almost all religious celebrations are held quite magnificently in churches. But this is where the mass part of the festivities, as a rule, stops. Further, Poles celebrate certain days with families, although sometimes thematic festivals are organized in the country, but often not on the day of the holiday itself, but on the eve.
They will definitely be able to introduce you to all the delights of local festivities and provide an unforgettable, very fun holiday in this country.
For the majority national festivals dedicated to various special occasions in Poland, foreigners are allowed and even invited to participate. Usually such visitors are invited as guests of the event. You can get to especially noisy festivals and celebrations with tickets.
But traditional Polish fairs and festivities, for example, at Christmas, will not require this. You can also attend religious services completely freely.
Foreigners are also involved here in celebrations and as organizers. Representatives of charitable foundations, as well as persons collaborating with this country in the field of culture, can count on this. Such guests are usually invited in advance and provided with all the necessary conditions for a comfortable stay.
Weekends and non-working days in Poland 2018-2019
In addition to the usual Saturdays and Sundays for CIS residents, which are weekends in Poland, there are also several national non-working days. In addition to January 1, it is also November 1, December 25-26 (Christmas), May 1 and 3, November 11 in 2018, January 6, March 27 and 28 (Easter 2018), as well as May 15 - Epiphany Day, May 25 and August 15.
On non-working days all small and large stores Poland, trade is considered illegal. Almost all of the holidays presented, except for some Catholic ones, will be repeated in 2018.
Remember this and do not plan any important matters related to visiting various authorities here, as well as shopping, on such dates.
Better give in to the general bustle and fun, and you can receive the most valuable gift from this country - wonderful impressions of local celebrations and the opportunity to have fun with the locals, who are especially friendly on such dates.
It's always interesting to know what dates are celebrated in other countries. After all, holidays are associated with the culture and traditions of a particular people. Some of them are also noted in our country. Others are characteristic only of a certain people. Well, it’s worth talking about the holidays of Poland - a country located relatively close to Russia, and whose inhabitants are Slavs, like us.
Officially a non-working day
We also have some Polish holidays. Naturally, New Year tops the list of such celebrations. This is actually an international celebration! In Polish it is called Nowy Rok. A wonderful holiday that is loved by many people around the world. Although for some skeptics this is just a change of the calendar.
By the way, in Poland this holiday is also called St. Sylvester's Day. He was a Roman bishop who died in 335. Then the real panic began in everything Catholic world. People believed that the end of the world was about to come. But the apocalypse did not happen, and from that moment on, December 31 is considered the day when Bishop Sylvester defeated the evil Leviathan, who wanted to devour the whole world, thereby saving the planet.
On the night of January 1, Poland does not sleep. All restaurants and cafes are open, loud, incendiary music is heard on the streets, and the sky is constantly lit up with fireworks. Besides, the end of December is the time of carnivals, dances and shows! Local residents hold round sleigh dances, parties on the street around bonfires, fry sausages over the fire, make sweet brushwood and donuts with jam. In general, they know how to celebrate the New Year here.
Winter celebrations
At all, new year holidays in Poland they begin on the 20th of December. Mass celebrations “start” on the 25th. This is the first day of Catholic Christmas. On December 26, the celebration continues. During these days local residents does not work.
It is worth noting that Polish holidays have retained their originality. It is celebrated here on a grand scale. Traditions have not yet become obsolete. Many families still leave one seat free at the table for an unexpected guest. In addition, this is a tribute to those who left the earthly world and could not be with their family on the holiday. Families invite people who have no one to celebrate with. No one should feel lonely at Christmas. And before she starts setting the table, the hostess puts a little hay, which symbolizes the stable - after all, Jesus was born in it. And then - fortune telling. Each of the guests, without looking, pulls out a straw from under the tablecloth. Got a straight one? This means it will be a good year. Broken or crooked? Most likely, you will have to deal with some difficulties.
What’s also interesting: on the 6th (Orthodox Christmas Eve), the Poles celebrate Epiphany. That is, Święto Trzech Króli. Literally translated as “Feast of the Three Kings.” This is one of the oldest Christian celebrations, which is dedicated to the appearance of Jesus Christ and his baptism.
Christmas Eve
It is impossible not to pay attention to him when talking about holidays and weekends in Poland. What does the word "eve" mean to us? We usually use it in relation to the New Year. The day when you need to finish all the things like cutting salads, baking meat, buying gifts and everything else (many people even put up a Christmas tree only on the eve).
But in Poland, Christmas Eve is the main family holiday, which is called Wigilia. On this day, the family decorates the Christmas tree and prepares food. It is very important to complete everything before dusk - before the first star appears in the sky. Then the family moves on to traditional rituals, including the reading of the New Testament and the sharing of a wafer - a thin crispy leaf baked from unleavened dough - among all those present. Then - dinner. There are only Lenten treats on the table. And there are only 12 dishes, which symbolizes the number of apostles. A mandatory treat is kutia. Traditionally served are dumplings with mushrooms, pies with cabbage, fish, pancakes and jelly, salads, poppy seeds, vermicelli, boiled potatoes, dried fruit compote (alcohol is not consumed in Vigilia), champignons and mushroom kvass. After dinner, the family goes to the liturgy.
State celebrations
It’s also worth telling a little about them. On the first of May in Poland, Święto Państwowe is celebrated. That is, Labor Day, which has been celebrated annually since 1950. Here in Russia, it is also celebrated.
A day later comes Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja - the national holiday on May 3rd. This celebration is the most Polish. It was established in 1919, and then renewed 71 years later - on the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution
But that's not all the celebrations. When talking about national holidays in Poland, one cannot help but mention November 11th. This day marks Narodowe Święto Niepodległości. That is, National Independence Day. The memorable event of 1918 is celebrated every year. It was then that Poland was recognized as an independent state.
In memory
These are not all the Polish holidays that are worthy of attention. April 13, for example, was designated as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Katyn in 2007. This is a really important date. Every year on the 13th of this month, the people mourn the Polish officers shot by the NKVD in April 1940.
Five years ago, another memorable date was announced - March 1. This is the Day of the “Cursed Soldiers”. Since 2011, every first of March, people remember the young military personnel who were participants in the anti-communist and anti-Soviet armed underground (40-50 years of the last century).
Also, when talking about nationalities and Poland, we cannot forget about the Poznan Remembrance Day of June 1956. It is celebrated on June 28 - the day when the first uprising in the entire history of the republic broke out in the city of Poznan, located on the Warta River. It was brutally suppressed by government troops.
Well, it’s worth returning to more positive celebrations. For example, January 21 is celebrated in the country, and the next day is Grandfather's Day. February 14, as everywhere else, is the holiday of all lovers. And (in 2016) - Catholic Easter. The country also celebrates Youth Day. September 30th to be exact. And half a month later, on October 14, all pupils and students congratulate their teachers on Teacher’s Day. Most often this holiday in Poland in October is sparse, unlike the winter months. There is another celebration celebrated on October 16 - this is the day of John Paul II. The date on which the memory of the great Pope is honored.
But the last month of autumn is full of different events. in Poland they start from the first number. 01.11 is All Saints' Day. In all churches and churches of the country, solemn services are held in honor of the date.
And a day later, on November 2, the Feast of the Dead begins. Or, as it is also called, Memorial Day. How is it different from the November 1st holiday? Because on Memorial Day, they primarily remember deceased relatives and friends.
And on November 30, St. Andrew's Day is celebrated. In the evening, on the eve of the holiday, November 29, people gather for traditional fortune telling.
Easter
This is another significant holiday in Poland. Celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon. In Poland, this celebration is called Wielka Noc, which literally translates as “great night.” In prev holidays fairs are organized - with an abundance of Easter pastries, bread and meat products (shreds, pates, saltisons, bacon, rolls, etc.). Before going to the church, the Poles collect a “welkanocna” basket, where they put colored eggs, sausage, shank, yeast granny, “lamb” (butter or sugar) and vinegar.
Also in Poland, the 7th Sunday after Easter is celebrated, which is the first day of Pentecost and the 9th Thursday after it. This is the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
What else is worth knowing?
As one might already understand, in Poland they love holidays and know how to celebrate them - be they national, state or religious.
Finally, it is worth noting the fact that all significant dates determined by the law “On non-working days” of January 18, 1951 and the resolutions of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland.
And yet, in 2007, a provision was officially adopted prohibiting trading during thirteen holidays. Of these, 3 are state-owned, and the rest are religious.