Holidays and Traditions

There is a number of holidays in Poland which are still celebrated in a very traditional way. Most of them are Catholic but there are also national holidays as well.


1st January: Nowy Rok (New Years Day) - most families would have a lavish dinner together with relatives.


Wielkanoc (Easter Sunday and Monday) - first Sunday after the first Spring full moon (March/April)– celebration related to this holiday starts on Wednesday and last until Monday. On Saturday priests sprinkle holy water on small baskets brought by believers and full with eggs, bred, sausages, ham, salt and paper and cakes. On Sunday morning whole family and relatives sit down to lavishly laid table. Sharing the consecrated egg with one’s relatives is a national tradition. On Easter Monday there is a very old tradition called "Śmigus-Dyngus" - a custom of dousing young women (not only) with water.


Boże Ciało (Corpus Christi) - Thursday of the ninth week after Easter (May/June). The feast commemorates the Eucharist. The Host is carried in Procession preceded by girls dressed white and followed by the priest. Still numerous of people attend those processions.


1st May - Święto Pracy (Labour Day) – today it is just a holiday but in the previous political system huge propaganda parades used to be organized. Today only supporters of Polish Socialist Party organize symbolic parades.


3rd May - Constitution Day - celebration of the anniversary of 3rd May 1791 when the first Polish Constitution was proclaimed.


15th August - Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Polish Army Day – On the anniversary of the victorious battle of 1920 against Russian Army fought on the outskirts Warsaw.

 
1st and 2nd November - Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints Day, All Soul’s Day) - on first and second November most Poles visit their relatives' graves and light candles (November 1st is a holiday).

 
11th November - Dzień Niepodległosci (Independence Day) - after 120 years of occupation in 1918 Poland regained its independence. It is the most important national holiday celebrated in a very special way.


24th December Wigilia  (Christmas Eve) and 25th and 26th December - Boże Narodzenie (Christmas) - this is the most important family holiday during the year. At the Christmas Eve whole family sit down to table, where you can find 12 different fasting dishes (varieties of fish, borsch from mushrooms, pierogi (cabbage dumplings), etc). Traditionally there is no meat served this evening and there is one spare place for a stranger, who might knock to the door.  After the meal, presents are opened and everyone signs traditional Christmas carols. Many families take part in midnight mass – Pasterka. During the next two days families and friends visits each other.
 

Other (less significant) holidays:

Fat Thursday: at the beginning of the last carnival week all Poles eat numerous donuts.
Andrzejki - 30th November - great opportunity for fun - the evening of fortune telling. The last opportunity for entertainment before the Advent time.
Name day - it is very common to celebrate one's name day in Poland especially among the generation of our parents and grandparents. The way of commemoration is very similar to the way birthdays are celebrated in the other countries. It is a great opportunity to have a wonderful party. Do not be surprised when someone invites you to a name-day party.