Holidays inPoland 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 thirteenpublic holidays.
This holiday is officially called the State Holiday (Święto Państwowe). However, it is unofficially calledLabour Day (Święto Pracy), and coincides withInternational Workers' Day. It is alsoEU Accession Day marking the 2004 accession of Poland as a member of theEuropean Union.
As this holiday always falls on a Sunday, it is not widely known that it is considered a non-working day, as all Sundays are already non-working days and holidays falling on Sunday do not give the right to another free day.
This day is traditionally celebrated by visiting the graves of deceased family members becauseAll Souls' Day (Zaduszki orŚwięto Zmarłych), which falls the day after, is not a public holiday.
Undercommunist 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 asMay-day picnic[3]).
The following arenational 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 - NationalCursed Soldiers Remembrance Day (Narodowy Dzień Pamięci „Żołnierzy Wyklętych”), established in 2011
24 March - National Day for the Remembrance of Poles Rescuing Jews underGerman 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 - NationalWarsaw Uprising 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 ofAugust 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
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 thePKWN Manifesto's signing, established in 1945, abolished in 1990 (celebrated for the last time in 1989)[4]
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)
The following areholidays declared by statute in Poland. These holidays are declared instatute 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 apublic 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 withEuropean 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
The following areholidays declared by parliamentary resolution in Poland. These holidays are declared by a resolution ofSejm. 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 withEaster orEaster Monday)
24 March – National Life Day,Narodowy Dzień Życia, established in 2004 (this may coincide withEaster orEaster 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 withEaster orEaster Monday)
18 April – Coma Patients' Day,Dzień Pacjenta w Śpiączce, established in 2012 (this may coincide withEaster orEaster Monday)
28 April – Day for Safety and Health at Work,Dzień Bezpieczeństwa i Ochrony Zdrowia w Pracy, coincides withWorkers' 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 withPentecost orCorpus Christi)
30 May – Foster Care Day,Dzień Rodzicielstwa Zastępczego, established in 2006 (this may coincide withPentecost orCorpus Christi)
1 June – Day Without Alcohol,Dzień bez Alkoholu, established in 2006 (this may coincide withPentecost orCorpus 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 toAuschwitz concentration camp, established in 2006 (this may coincide withCorpus Christi)
28 June – National Day of Remembrance ofPoznań 1956 protests,Narodowy Dzień Pamięci Poznańskiego Czerwca 1956, set on the anniversary of the outbreak ofPoznań 1956 protests, established in 2006
13 December –Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day,Dzień Pamięci Ofiar Stanu Wojennego, set on the anniversary of declaration ofMartial law in Poland, established in 2002
Śmigus Dyngus on Easter Monday (the day followingEaster 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
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
