Holidays in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

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, or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year. Sovereign nations and territories observe holidays based on events of significance to their history ...

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 A communist state, also known as a Marxist–Leninist state, is a one-party state that is administered and governed by a communist party guided by Marxism–Leninism. Marxism–Leninism was the state ideology of the Soviet Union, the Cominte ...

, 1 May was celebrated as Labour Day with government-endorsed parades, concerts and similar events. The holiday carried over to present day Poland, albeit with the neutral name of "State Holiday". In addition, 3 May was created as Constitution Day. The May holidays (1, 2 and 3 May) are called "Majówka" in Polish, a pun made from the May month name (it can be 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, established in 2020 * 1 March - National "

cursed soldiers The "cursed soldiers" (also known as "doomed soldiers", "accursed soldiers" or "damned soldiers"; pl, żołnierze wyklęci) or "indomitable soldiers" ( pl, żołnierze niezłomni) is a term applied to a variety of anti-Soviet and anti-communist ...

" Remembrance Day, ''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci "Żołnierzy Wyklętych"'', established in 2011 * 24 March - National Day for the Remembrance of Poles Rescuing Jews under Nazi German Occupation, established in 2018 * 14 April - Baptism of Poland Day, established in 2019 * 1 May - State Holiday, informally called Labour Day (''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 -

Victory Day Victory Day is a commonly used name for public holidays in various countries, where it commemorates a nation's triumph over a hostile force in a war or the liberation of a country from hostile occupation. In many cases, multiple countries may ob ...

(''Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa''), established in 2015 * 12 July- Day of Struggle and Martyrdom of the Polish Villages, established in 2017 * 1 August - National

Warsaw Uprising The Warsaw Uprising ( pl, powstanie warszawskie; german: Warschauer Aufstand) was a major World War II operation by the Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from German occupation. It occurred in the summer of 1944, and it was led ...

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, established in 2018 * 11 November -

National Independence Day National Independence Day ( pl, Narodowe Święto Niepodległości) is a national day in Poland celebrated on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of Poland's sovereignty as the Second Polish Republic in 1918 from the G ...

(''Narodowe Święto Niepodległości''), public holiday; first observed in 1937, disestablished in 1945, then reinstated in 1989 * 27 December - Poznań uprising Remebrence Day (''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Zwycięskiego Powstania Wielkopolskiego'') established in 2021

Former national and state holidays

* 9 May -

Victory Day (9 May) etc. , nickname = , observedby = Russia and some former states of Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact; Serbia, Israel , duration = 1 day , frequency = Annual , date = 9 May , scheduling = same day each year , celebrations ...

, established in 1945, moved to 8 May in 2015 (public holiday for the last time in 2014) * 22 July -

National Day of the Rebirth of Poland National Day of the Rebirth of Poland ( pl, Narodowe Święto Odrodzenia Polski) is a former national holiday in the former People's Republic of Poland and a fraternal anniversary in the Polish United Workers Party and all Polish communists, c ...

(''Narodowe Święto Odrodzenia Polski''), set on the anniversary of the

PKWN Manifesto The Manifesto of the Polish Committee of National Liberation, also known as the July Manifesto () or the PKWN Manifesto (), was a political manifesto of the Polish Committee of National Liberation (PKWN), a Soviet-backed administration, which ...

's signing, established in 1945, disestablished on 28 April 1990 (celebrated for the last time in 1989) * 7 November - Great October Socialist Revolution Day (''Wielka Październikowa Rewolucja Socjalistyczna''), established in 1945, disestablished in 1990 (The Russian minority and Polish communist loyalists continues to celebrate this holiday)

Other holidays

Holidays declared by statute

The following are holidays declared by statute in Poland. These holidays are declared in statute 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, ''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) * 29 May – Veterans of Overseas Military Activities Day, ''Dzień Weterana Działań poza Granicami Państwa'', coinciding with

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, May 29, is "an international day to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalis ...

, established in 2011 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi) * 12 June – State Protection Service's Day, ''Święto SOP'', established in 2018 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi) * 13 June –

Military Gendarmerie The Military Gendarmerie ( pl, Żandarmeria Wojskowa, abbreviated ''ŻW'') is a military police force established in 1990 in Poland as a specialized service of the Polish Armed Forces. History The Polish Military Gendarmerie is a military police ...

Day, ''Święto Żandarmerii Wojskowej'', established in 2001 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi) * 24 July –

Police Day Several nations observe or formerly observed a Police Day to recognize the professional holiday or anniversary of their national police force. By country Armenia Celebrated on 16 April, Police Workers Day ( hy, Ոստիկանության օր) in ...

, ''Święto Policji'', established in 1995 * 31 July – Treasury Day, ''Dzień Skarbowości'', celebrated since 2008, established in 2010 * 15 August –

Armed Forces Day Many nations around the world observe some kind of Armed Forces Day to honor their military forces. This day is not to be confused with Veterans Day or Memorial Day. Africa Egypt In Egypt, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 6 October, ...

, ''Święto Wojska Polskiego'', this holiday coincides with a public holiday (

Assumption of Mary The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it in 1950 in his apostolic constitution '' Munificentissimus Deus'' as follows: We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by ...

), established in 1992 * 29 August –

Municipal Police Municipal police, city police, or local police are law enforcement agencies that are under the control of local government. This includes the municipal government, where it is the smallest administrative subdivision. They receive funding ...

Day, ''Dzień Straży Gminnej'', established in 1997 * 1 September –

Veterans Day Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than d ...

, ''Dzień Weterana'', established in 1997 * 21 September –

Customs Service Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting tariffs and for controlling the flow of goods, including animals, transports, personal effects, and hazardous items, into and out of a country. Traditionally, customs ...

Day, ''Dzień Służby Celnej'', established in 1999 * 13 October – Paramedics' Day, ''Dzień Ratownictwa Medycznego'', established in 2006 * 14 October –

Teachers' Day Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community tone in education. This is the primary reason why countries ce ...

, ''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 (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ( Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of ...

. 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. * 23 March – Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day, ''Dzień Przyjaźni Polsko-Węgierskiej'', established in 2007 (this may coincide with

Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel ...

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 Workers' Memorial Day, also known as International Workers' Memorial Day or International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured, takes place annually around the world on April 28, an international day of remembrance and action for workers kill ...

, 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 Pentecost or Corpus Christi) * 30 May – Foster Care Day, ''Dzień Rodzicielstwa Zastępczego'', established in 2006 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi) * 1 June – Day Without Alcohol, ''Dzień bez Alkoholu'', established in 2006 (this may coincide with Pentecost 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 Pentecost 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, established in 2006 (this may coincide with Corpus Christi) * 28 June – National Day of Remembrance of

Poznań 1956 protests Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...

, ''Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Poznańskiego Czerwca 1956'', set on the anniversary of the outbreak of

, 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 (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...

, 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 Auschwitz concentration camp, 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 operation by the Soviet Union without a formal declaration of war. On 17 September 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east, 16 days after Nazi Germany invaded Poland from the west. Subs ...

, 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 Służba Zwycięstwu Polski (''Service for Poland's Victory'', or ''Polish Victory Service'', abbreviated SZP) was the first Polish resistance movement in World War II. It was created by the order of general Juliusz Rómmel on 27 September 1939, w ...

, 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 imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Marti ...

Victims Remembrance Day, ''Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Stanu Wojennego'', set on the anniversary of declaration of Martial law in Poland, 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 one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, thr ...

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

Lent Lent ( la, Quadragesima, 'Fortieth') is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke ...

* Ostatki on the last day of Carnival, * Ash Wednesday 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 ve ...

day * Truant's Day on 21 March * ABW Day on 6 April , Polish counter-intelligence agency's (ABW) holiday, celebrated since 2004 *

Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday (also known as Great and Holy Thursday, Holy and Great Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, among other names) is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the ...

on the Thursday immediately preceding

Easter Sunday Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the ''Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel P ...

* Good Friday on the Friday immediately preceding

Holy Saturday Holy Saturday ( la, Sabbatum Sanctum), also known as Great and Holy Saturday (also Holy and Great Saturday), the Great Sabbath, Hallelujah Saturday (in Portugal and Brazil), Saturday of the Glory, Sabado de Gloria, and Black Saturday or Easter ...

on the Saturday immediately preceding

- Święconka is performed on this day * Śmigus Dyngus on Easter Monday (the day following

) 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 The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising; pl, powstanie w getcie warszawskim; german: link=no, Aufstand im Warschauer Ghetto was the 1943 act of Jewish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto in German-occupied Poland during World War II to oppose Nazi Germany' ...

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 Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in th ...

on 26 May, *

World No Tobacco Day World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed around the world every year on 31 May. The yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what the World Health Organization (WHO) is ...

on 31 May, *

Children's Day Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Sin ...

on 1 June *

Father's Day Father's Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages. In the Unite ...

on 23 June *

Kupala Night Kupala Night ( be, Купалле, pl, Noc Kupały, russian: Иван-Купала, uk, Івана Купала, Купайла), also called Ivanа Kupala, is a traditional Slavic holiday that was originally celebrated on the shortest night of ...

(Noc Kupały) on the night from 21 to 22 June *

Saint John's Eve Saint John's Eve, starting at sunset on 23 June, is the eve of celebration before the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist. The Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26–37, 56–57) states that John was born six months before Jesus; therefore, the feast of J ...

"Noc Świętojańska" on the night from 23 to 24 June * Dog's Day on 1 July * Power Engineer's Day on 14 Augus * Dożynki in late August or early September * Anniversary of the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

in Poland on

1 September Events Pre-1600 *1145 – The main altar of Lund Cathedral, at the time seat of the archiepiscopal see of all the Nordic countries, is consecrated. *1173 – The widow Stamira sacrifices herself in order to raise the siege of Ancona ...

* 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 Poczta Polska ( lit. ''Polish Post'') is the state postal administration of Poland, initially founded in 1558. It is the largest mail-handling company in the country, which additionally provides courier, banking, insurance and logistics servi ...

Day (Postman's Day) on 18 October * Mongrel's Day on 25 October * Halloween 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 Saint Barbara ( grc, Ἁγία Βαρβάρα; cop, Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ; ; ), known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian Lebanese and Greek saint and martyr. Accounts place her in ...

'' *

Mikołajki Mikołajki () is a resort town in Mrągowo County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in north-eastern Poland, with 3,852 inhabitants as of 2017. The town is located near the Śniardwy, the largest lake of both the Masurian Lake District and Po ...

on 6 December - on this day Santa Claus gives sweets to children * Christmas Eve (Wigilia Bożego Narodzenia) on 24 December * Sylwester on 31 December

References

{{Public holidays in Europe

Holidays pl:Dni wolne od pracy w Polsce