During my time in Poland i learned a lot about this country and even if somethings are just reflecting my point of view, I want to discribe my experiences with Polish holidays and famous people. Poland is a catholic country and therefore it doesn’t surprise that catholic holidays are celebrated widely. In this first part of my series about polish culture I will invite you on a virtual tour through some typical Polish holidays – or at least holidays that I experienced as important in Poland.
New Year’s Day 1.1. – national holiday
Epiphany 6.1. – It is a national holiday, where street parades find place with the 3 wise men, who gave sweets and small gifts to the people. Furthermore priests bless houses, nativity scenes are played and Christmas songs sound.
Not an official holiday, but at least as popular as one – the fundraising campagne of the national orchestra. Many volunteers of every age walk through the cities of Poland and collect money for people in need.
Grandmother’s Day 21.1. – many different events are organised for elderly people and families. We had such an event in Szansa: we played different group games, danced, did handcraft and had a lot of nice food. I love the idea of having a grandparent’s Day, to appreciate what they did and do for us and celebrate their beauty, energy and worth. It was a great day and their energy was incredible catching!
Fat Thursday – The Thursday before the Lent (fasting season) begins. It is as great as crazy how big this holiday is celebrated with delicious food. It is a normal working day, but on the other hand nothing is normal. Everywhere and I mean literally everywhere pączki, Polish jelly filled donuts, (and other pastries) are sold, bought and eaten. If you not at least eat three of them you haven’t celebrated the day appropriately ;D
Valentine’s Day 14.2. – the Day of love is celebrated in Poland as in many countries around the world: with a lot of red roses, chocolate and hearts everywhere. Different skyscrapers lit up their windows in a shape of a heart and the cultural palace was coloured in red light as a symbol of love. In Szansa we did handcraft with big hearts…and even if we all speak different languages, we all understand the language of love <3
Easter Sunday – national holiday – one of the highest holidays in Christianity, a day which is spend with the family and different masses are held in churches. This day is celebrated with a lot of traditional food, for example “Mazurek”, a traditional cake for spring and Easter. It is quite easy to bake and really delicious. If you want to learn how to do it click here: https://youtu.be/Pxfbj_Or3w4
Easter Monday – national holiday – on this day people spray each other with water. But against this tradition we surprised our neighbors with some little presents instead of a wet shower. To colour and paint eggs for Easter is also a common habit in Poland and we had a lot fun doing it.
Labour Day 1.5. – national holiday – Like in some other countries (for example Germany) this day remind on a historical workers strike in Chicago in 1880. Marches are organised to pay attention to workers’ rights. A lot of people spend this day outside and do day trips.
The 1.5. is also the anniversary of Poland joining the European Union in 2004.
Day of Flag 2.5. – the polish flag shows two horizontal stripes, one white and one red. For me it was quite surprising how often you see Polish flags in comparison to the German flag in Germany. For me as a German person it is difficult to show off the flag because for me it is connected to bad nationalism. It is really interesting how different people from different countries assess showing flags of their country. What do you think about showing off flags? Is it a negative nationalistic sign or a way to express where you belong and a positive feeling of being together?
Constitution Day 3.5. – national holiday – on the 3.5.1791 the first polish constitution was signed. It was the first modern, at least rudimentarily democratic constitution in Europe. This day is celebrated with military parades, concerts and gatherings. One main place, where people come together is in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is a monument in Warsaw in remembrance of the soldiers who died in World War I while fighting for Polish freedom.
Mother’s Day 26.5. – A lot of people buy flowers and candy as a present for their mothers. In schools and kindergarten a lot of children decorate cards with flowers and personal notes. For me it was interesting that the Mothers Day in Poland is two weeks later than German one.
Children’s Day 1.6. – Almost every country has a Children’s Day. In Poland as well as in Germany it is celebrated on the first of June. It is a Day to pay attention to the situation of children and their rights. Every child has rights and we have to protect them!
Whit Sunday – national holiday
Corpus Christi – national holiday – on this catholic holiday a lot of people take part in outdoor processions, in which children dressed in white throw flowers on the streets. Furthermore masses are held and flowers are used as decoration (for example on the picture flowers build a cross in the main hallway of a church in Praga district).
Anniversary of Warsaw Uprising 1.8. – It is one of the most important holidays in Poland. People remember about the Uprising 1944 against the German Nazi occupation. It began on the first of August and last until the second of October. Because of too less equipment and not getting the help they hoped for, the Polish people lost. Many people lost their lives in these days and around 80 percent of the city was destroyed. To remember this scenes are rebuild and played on this day, survivors give speaches and people were the sign on the uprising on clothes.
Assumption of Mary – national holiday – a lot of masses are held and people also remember in front of monuments those soldiers who fought for Poland and died in the battle of Warsaw 1920, because it was in this period of the year.
All Saints’ Day 1.11. – national holiday
Independence Day 11.11. – national holiday – unfortunately I cannot speak about my experiences on this day because I didn’t had started my project yet, but as I heard this is one of the most important holidays in Poland. People celebrate that Poland acquired independence in 1918, after over 120 years of separation. Many parades find place and special masses are held on this day. The Polish flag is an important symbol on this day and nearly everywhere to find.
Christmas 25.12.-26.12. – national holiday – Christmas season starts in Poland way before Christmas Eve on 24. of December and lasts way longer than the 26.12. While in Germany most families clean up the Christmas stuff until the new years starts, in Poland all lights and decoration shine on the streets at least until Epiphany and most of them even one or two months more. Somehow this helped me to feel welcome in this big, new, cold and grey winter city. Every time I saw the fairy lights around the conifer in front of our flat, a smile appeared on my face.
New Year’s Eve 31.12. – many great parties are celebrated, as I heard, especially in Warsaw. So if you don’t have plans for next New Year’s Eve yet, why not celebrating it here?
I hope I could give you a nice overview over the Polish holidays, their backgrounds and their traditions. And maybe it helps you to understand why you could get wet, spending Easter in Poland or how important the Warsaw Uprising for Polish people is. All in all I just hope I could inspire you to learn something new about another culture, because exchange and learning are the ways to understand and respect each other.