National holidays
In Poland, like in every country there are some non-working days in a year. It means that shopping malls, government offices, banks, and public institutions are closed. It is important to bear in mind that the public transport operates due to the weekend timetable.
Public holidays
- 1st January – New Year’s Day – it marks the beginning of a new year.
- 6th January – Epiphany – it commemorates the three wise kings’ visit to the infant Jesus.
- *Easter Sunday and Easter Monday – they are considered the most important holidays for Christians who celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
- *Whit Sunday – seven weeks after Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirt to the Jesus’s disciples.
- 1st May – Labour Day – people celebrate the achievements of workers. This day has its origins in the labour union movement.
- 3rd May – Constitution Day – it marks the enactment of the Polish Constitution, the first in Europe and second in the world, which came into effect on 3rd May, 1791.
- *Corpus Christi – this feast is always celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. On that day, one can observe street processions of Christians.
- 15th August – Day of Assumption and Polish Armed Forces Day – it is both a religious and public holiday commemorating the Battle of Warsaw in 1920 against Soviet Russia. On that day, in Warsaw, there is a large military parade in the city centre.
- 1st November – All Saints’ Day – people visit cemeteries showing their respect and remembrance for their ancestors
- 11th November – Independence Day – it marks the independence of the Polish state after 123 years of rule by Austria, Russia and Prussia as a consequence of three partitions in 1772, 1793 and 1795.
- 25th and 26th December – the first and second days of Christmas commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
* movable dates
