Holiday A holiday is a day or other period of time set aside for festivals or recreation. ''Public holidays'' are set by public authorities and vary by state or region. Religious holidays are set by religious organisations for their members and are often ...

s in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

are regulated by the Non-working Days Act of 18 January 1951 (Ustawa z dnia 18 stycznia 1951 o dniach wolnych od pracy; Journal of Laws 1951 No. 4, Item 28). The Act, as amended in 2010, currently defines thirteen

public holiday A public holiday, national holiday, federal holiday, statutory holiday, bank holiday or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year. Types Civic holiday A ''civic holiday'', also k ...

Public holidays

Note: ''The table below lists only public holidays, i.e. holidays which are legally considered to be non-working days.''

May holidays

Under communist rule, 1 May was celebrated as Labour Day with government-endorsed parades, concerts and similar events. The holiday carried over to present day Poland as State Holiday, albeit without any formal connection to International Workers' Day. In addition, 3 May was reinstated as 3 May Constitution Day. The May holidays (1, 2 and 3 May) are called " majówka" in Polish (roughly translated as ''May-day picnic'').

National and state holidays

The following are national and state holidays in Poland, although they are normally working days unless declared a public holiday. * 19 February - Polish Science Day (''Dzień Nauki Polskiej''), established in 2020 * 1 March - National Cursed Soldiers Remembrance Day (''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci „Żołnierzy Wyklętych”''), established in 2011 * 24 March - National Day for the Remembrance of Poles Rescuing Jews under German Occupation (''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Polaków ratujących Żydów pod okupacją niemiecką''), established in 2018 * 14 April - Baptism of Poland Day (''Święto Chrztu Polski''), established in 2019 * 1 May - State Holiday (''Święto Państwowe''), public holiday, established in 1950 * 3 May - 3 May Constitution Day (''Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja''), public holiday; first observed in 1919, disestablished in 1946, then reinstated in 1990 * 8 May - National Victory Day (''Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa''), established in 2015 to replace the old National Victory and Freedom Day * 12 July- Day of Struggle and Martyrdom of the Polish Villages (''Dzień Walki i Męczeństwa Wsi Polskiej''), established in 2017 * 1 August - National

Warsaw Uprising The Warsaw Uprising (; ), sometimes referred to as the August Uprising (), or the Battle of Warsaw, was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance movement in World War II, Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from ...

Remembrance Day (''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Powstania Warszawskiego''), established in 2009 * 31 August - Day of Solidarity and Freedom (''Dzień Solidarności i Wolności'') set on the anniversary of August Agreement from 1980, established in 2005 * 19 October - National Day of Remembrance for Steadfast Clergy (''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Duchownych Niezłomnych''), established in 2018 * 11 November - National Independence Day (''Narodowe Święto Niepodległości''), public holiday; first observed in 1937, disestablished in 1945, then reinstated in 1989 * 27 December - Greater Poland Uprising Remebrence Day (''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Zwycięskiego Powstania Wielkopolskiego'') established in 2021

Former national and state holidays

In the past, there were public holidays newly established by the communist authorities after the Second World War. These were intended to replace discontinued original national holidays such as the National Independence Day and the 3 May Constitution Day and to serve propaganda purposes. All were canceled after the fall of communism in Poland. * 9 May - National Victory and Freedom Day (''Narodowe Święto Zwycięstwa i Wolności''), established in 1945, disestablished in 1951 although still celebrated annually by communist authorities (celebrated for the last time in 1989) * 22 July - National Day of the Rebirth of Poland (''Narodowe Święto Odrodzenia Polski''), set on the anniversary of the PKWN Manifesto's signing, established in 1945, abolished in 1990 (celebrated for the last time in 1989) * 7 November - Great October Socialist Revolution Day (''Wielka Październikowa Rewolucja Socjalistyczna''), although it wasn't an official non-working state holiday it was celebrated by communist authorities (celebrated for the last time in 1989)

Other holidays

Holidays declared by statute

The following are holidays declared by statute in Poland. These holidays are declared in

statute A statute is a law or formal written enactment of a legislature. Statutes typically declare, command or prohibit something. Statutes are distinguished from court law and unwritten law (also known as common law) in that they are the expressed wil ...

and as such they form a part of law in Poland. However, these holidays are not granted the distinction of national or state holidays. These are normally working days, unless coinciding with a public holiday. * 27 January – Public Employment Services Worker's Day, ''Dzień Pracownika Publicznych Służb Zatrudnienia'', established in 2010 * 8 February – Prison Service Day, ''Święto Służby Więziennej'', established in 2010 * 22 February – Crime Victims Day, ''Dzień Ofiar Przestępstw'', coinciding with ''European Victims Day'', established in 2003 * 2 May –

Flag Day A flag day is a flag-related holiday, a day designated for flying a certain flag (such as a national flag) or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event such as a nation's adoption of its flag. Flag days are usually codified in national s ...

, ''Dzień Flagi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej'', established in 2004 * 2 May – Polish Diaspora Day, ''Dzień Polonii i Polaków za Granicą'', established in 2002 * 4 May – Firefighters Day, ''Dzień Strażaka'', coinciding with International Firefighters' Day, established in 2002 * 16 May – Border Guard's Day, ''Święto Straży Granicznej'', established in 1991 (this may coincide with

Pentecost Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christianity, Christian holiday which takes place on the 49th day (50th day when inclusive counting is used) after Easter Day, Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spiri ...

) * 29 May – Veterans of Overseas Military Activities Day, ''Dzień Weterana Działań poza Granicami Państwa'', coinciding with International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, established in 2011 (this may coincide with

or Corpus Christi) * 12 June – State Protection Service's Day, ''Święto SOP'', established in 2018 (this may coincide with

or Corpus Christi) * 13 June – Military Gendarmerie Day, ''Święto Żandarmerii Wojskowej'', established in 2001 (this may coincide with

or Corpus Christi) * 24 July – Police Day, ''Święto Policji'', established in 1995 * 31 July – Treasury Day, ''Dzień Skarbowości'', celebrated since 2008, established in 2010 * 15 August – Armed Forces Day, ''Święto Wojska Polskiego'', this holiday coincides with a public holiday (

Assumption of Mary The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Catholic Mariology#Dogmatic teachings, Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it on 1 November 1950 in his apostolic constitution as follows: It leaves open the question of w ...

), established in 1992 * 29 August – Municipal Police Day, ''Dzień Straży Gminnej'', established in 1997 * 1 September – Veterans Day, ''Dzień Weterana'', established in 1997 * 21 September – Customs Service Day, ''Dzień Służby Celnej'', established in 1999 * 13 October – Paramedics' Day, ''Dzień Ratownictwa Medycznego'', established in 2006 * 14 October – Teachers' Day, ''Dzień Edukacji Narodowej'', established in 1972 * 16 October – Saint Pope John Paul II Day, ''Dzień Papieża Jana Pawła II'', established in 2005 * 21 November – Social Workers' Day, ''Dzień Pracownika Socjalnego'', established in 1990

Holidays declared by parliamentary resolution

The following are holidays declared by parliamentary resolution in Poland. These holidays are declared by a resolution of

Sejm The Sejm (), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (), is the lower house of the bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of the Third Polish Republic since the Polish People' ...

. These holidays do not form a part of law in Poland, and consequently are not granted the distinction of national or state holidays. These are normally working days. * 3 March – Polish-Romanian Solidarity Day, ''Dzień Solidarności Polsko-Rumuńskiej'', established in 2023 * 23 March – Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day, ''Dzień Przyjaźni Polsko-Węgierskiej'', established in 2007 (this may coincide with

Easter Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...

or Easter Monday) * 24 March – National Life Day, ''Narodowy Dzień Życia'', established in 2004 (this may coincide with

or Easter Monday) * 13 April – Katyn Memorial Day, ''Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Zbrodni Katyńskiej'', set on the anniversary of the discovery of mass graves in Katyn, established in 2007 (this may coincide with

or Easter Monday) * 18 April – Coma Patients' Day, ''Dzień Pacjenta w Śpiączce'', established in 2012 (this may coincide with

or Easter Monday) * 28 April – Day for Safety and Health at Work, ''Dzień Bezpieczeństwa i Ochrony Zdrowia w Pracy'', coincides with Workers' Memorial Day, established in 2003 * 27 May – Local Government's Day, ''Dzień Samorządu Terytorialnego'', set on the anniversary of the first local government elections in Poland, established in 2000 (this may coincide with

or Corpus Christi) * 30 May – Foster Care Day, ''Dzień Rodzicielstwa Zastępczego'', established in 2006 (this may coincide with

or Corpus Christi) * 1 June – Day Without Alcohol, ''Dzień bez Alkoholu'', established in 2006 (this may coincide with

or Corpus Christi) * 4 June – Day of Freedom and Citizens' Rights, ''Dzień Wolności i Praw Obywatelskich'', set on the anniversary of 4th of June 1989 Polish elections, established in 2013 (this may coincide with

or Corpus Christi) * 14 June – National Day of Remembrance of Nazi Concentration Camps Victims, ''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Nazistowskich Obozów Koncentracyjnych'', set on the anniversary of the arrival of the first mass transport of political prisoners to

Auschwitz concentration camp Auschwitz, or Oświęcim, was a complex of over 40 Nazi concentration camps, concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany, occupied Poland (in a portion annexed into Germany in 1939) d ...

, established in 2006 (this may coincide with Corpus Christi) * 28 June – National Day of Remembrance of Poznań 1956 protests, ''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Poznańskiego Czerwca 1956'', set on the anniversary of the outbreak of Poznań 1956 protests, established in 2006 * 11 July - National Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of the Citizens of the Polish Republic committed by Ukrainian Nationalists, ''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Ludobójstwa dokonanego przez ukraińskich nacjonalistów na obywatelach II Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej'', set on the anniversary of the "bloody sunday" in

Volhynia Volhynia or Volynia ( ; see #Names and etymology, below) is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between southeastern Poland, southwestern Belarus, and northwestern Ukraine. The borders of the region are not clearly defined, but in ...

, the culmination of the massacres of Poles in Volhynia, established in 2016 * 2 August – Genocide Remembrance Day of the Roma and Sinti, ''Dzień Pamięci o Zagładzie Romów i Sinti'', set on the anniversary of the Roma and Sinti extermination at

, established in 2011 * 17 September – Sybirak's Day, ''Dzień Sybiraka'', set on the anniversary of

Soviet invasion of Poland The Soviet invasion of Poland was a military conflict by the Soviet Union without a formal declaration of war. On 17 September 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Second Polish Republic, Poland from the east, 16 days after Nazi Germany invaded Polan ...

, established in 1998 * 27 September – Polish Underground State's Day, ''Dzień Podziemnego Państwa Polskiego'', set on the anniversary of the formation of Service for Poland's Victory, established in 2013 * 4 October – Animals' Day, ''Dzień Zwierząt'', coincides with World Animal Day, established in 2006 * 13 December –

Martial Law Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers. Martial law can continue for a specified amount of time, or indefinitely, and standard civil liberties ...

Victims Remembrance Day, ''Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Stanu Wojennego'', set on the anniversary of declaration of

Martial law in Poland Martial law in Poland () existed between 13 December 1981 and 22 July 1983. The Polish United Workers' Party, government of the Polish People's Republic drastically restricted everyday life by introducing martial law and a military junta in an a ...

, established in 2002

Other observances

* Grandmother's Day on 21 January * Grandfather's Day on 22 January, * Traders' Day on 2 February *

Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyrs, martyr named Saint Valentine, Valentine, and ...

on 14 February * Cat's Day on 17 February * Tłusty Czwartek on the last Thursday before

Lent Lent (, 'Fortieth') is the solemn Christianity, Christian religious moveable feast#Lent, observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring Temptation of Christ, t ...

* Ostatki on the last day of

Carnival Carnival (known as Shrovetide in certain localities) is a festive season that occurs at the close of the Christian pre-Lenten period, consisting of Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Carnival typi ...

, *

Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent: the seven weeks of Christian prayer, prayer, Religious fasting#Christianity, fasting and ...

on the first day of

, * Women's Day on 8 March * Day of Polish Statistics on 9 March, * Men's Day on 10 March * World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March * Earth Day on

March equinox The March equinox or northward equinox is the equinox on the Earth when the subsolar point appears to leave the Southern Hemisphere and cross the celestial equator, heading northward as seen from Earth. The March equinox is known as the ver ...

day * Truant's Day on 21 March * ABW Day on 6 April, Polish counter-intelligence agency's (ABW) holiday, celebrated since 2004 * Maundy Thursday on the Thursday immediately preceding Easter Sunday *

Good Friday Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord, is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary (Golgotha). It is observed during ...

on the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday *

Holy Saturday Holy Saturday (), also known as Great and Holy Saturday, Low Saturday, the Great Sabbath, Hallelujah Saturday, Saturday of the Glory, Easter Eve, Joyous Saturday, the Saturday of Light, Good Saturday, or Black Saturday, among other names, is t ...

on the Saturday immediately preceding Easter Sunday - Święconka is performed on this day * Śmigus Dyngus on Easter Monday (the day following Easter Sunday) is when traditionally the young (and young of heart) have water fights, in continuation of a pagan spring fertility ritual observed in many other cultures * Warsaw Ghetto Uprising remembered on 19 April * International Mother Earth Day on 22 April * Majówka is a spring festival celebrated throughout Europe * Europe Day on 9 May * Mother's Day on 26 May, * World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, * Children's Day on 1 June *

Father's Day Father's Day is a day set aside for honoring one's father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. "Father's Day" complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Mother's Day and, in som ...

on 23 June * Kupala Night (Noc Kupały) on the night from 21 to 22 June * Saint John's Eve "Noc Świętojańska" on the night from 23 to 24 June * Dog's Day on 1 July * Power Engineer's Day on 14 August *

Dożynki Dożynki (''Dozhinki'', , , ; , '' Prachystaya''; ; ; '' Dormition'') is a Slavic harvest festival. In pre-Christian times the feast usually fell on the autumn equinox, in modern times it is usually celebrated on one of the Sundays following ...

in late August or early September * Anniversary of the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in Poland on 1 September * Anniversary of the

on 17 September * Car-Free Day on 22 September * Boy's Day (Dzień Chłopaka) on 30 September - on this day girls give presents to boys * Polish Post Day (Postman's Day) on 18 October * Mongrel's Day on 25 October *

Halloween Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...

on 31 October * Wszystkich Swietych on 1 November * Civil Service Day on November 11, customary Polish holiday, celebrated since 2000, in conjunction with National Independence Day celebrations * Andrzejki on the night from 29 to 30 November - on this day people (mainly children and teens) are making prophecy by pouring candle wax by key hole to water and guessing what the wax shape means * Miners' Day on 4 December - '' Barbórka'' * Mikołajki on 6 December - on this day

Santa Claus Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...

gives sweets to children * Christmas Eve (Wigilia Bożego Narodzenia) on 24 December * Sylwester on 31 December

References

{{Public holidays in Europe

Holidays A holiday is a day or other period of time set aside for festivals or recreation. ''Public holidays'' are set by public authorities and vary by state or region. Religious holidays are set by religious organisations for their members and are often ...

pl:Dni wolne od pracy w Polsce