What are the holidays in December in Poland? Holidays and memorable dates in Poland - and this is what every foreigner should know. May Flag Day and Polonia Day in Poland

Holidays and events in Poland 2020: the most important festivals and highlights, national holidays and events in Poland. Photos and videos, descriptions, reviews and timings.

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The history of Poland is rich in events, many of which are reflected in numerous holidays. Poles begin to celebrate the New Year on the evening of December 31st, with family or in the company of friends; fireworks and champagne at midnight are traditional here. On January 6, Catholic Epiphany begins, and on the walls of houses the abbreviations “KMV” appear on the first letters of the names of the Magi and the current year.

Poles have great respect for the concept of family and do not forget their relatives. On Grandmother's Day, January 21, grandchildren always visit their grandmothers, give them flowers and gifts, and congratulate their grandfathers the very next day, January 22, Grandfather's Day. At the end of spring, on May 26, all children congratulate the closest and dearest person - after all, this is the date listed on the calendar as Mother’s Day.

The most tender, most reverent holidays begin at the end of winter. On February 14, all lovers congratulate each other on Valentine's Day, and on March 8, when tulips and daffodils begin to bloom, International Women's Day begins. Somewhat later, the Poles celebrate Easter, and the celebrations last for 2 days. The Sunday table is not complete without Easter, eggs, meat, sausage and horseradish.

On the second day - “Wet Monday” - people pour water on acquaintances and passers-by on the street and in transport, this is a kind of wish for health and good luck. Staying dry is a bad omen.

On April 1, Poles take great pleasure in making fun of each other, celebrating April Fool's Day. However, there are many memorable dates in Poland associated with historical events, some of which are far from joyful. Every year on January 27, Poland honors the memory of the victims of concentration camps (it was on this day in 1945 that Soviet troops liberated the prisoners of Auschwitz), after a general minute of silence, flowers are laid at the memorials. And on May 8, Victory Day is celebrated with military parades, but in Poland it is a working day.

The Constitution Day on May 3 is one of the main national holidays. Prayers are held in the cathedrals, followed by numerous concerts in the evening. On August 15, an equally important event occurs - the Polish Army Festival, a military parade takes place on Warsaw Square, exhibitions, rallies, music and dance performances are organized. This same day is known as the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. On All Saints' Day, November 2, the memory of the dead is honored and the graves are decorated with chrysanthemums.

On November 11, Poland celebrates Independence Day, the holiday is accompanied by the raising of flags, a military parade and folk festivities.

On the night of November 29 to 30, Andrzejki celebrates - Andrei's Name Day, on this night they usually do fortune telling - analogies with our Christmas fortune telling.

Children receive New Year's gifts much earlier - on St. Nicholas Day on December 6, and it is he who puts the gifts under the pillow. And on Christmas Eve, December 24, families gather at the festive table and congratulate each other; the main decoration of the house is a decorated spruce. Interestingly, the table is usually Lenten, meat dishes and sweet pies appear on Christmas Day on December 25th. The last day of the year is called St. Sylvester's Day here and is celebrated with masquerades and noisy parties.

One of the most religious nationalities is the Poles. According to a survey, 90% of residents are Catholics. They constantly attend church and strictly observe all holidays and customs. This country has the largest number of them, at least 11. Let's look at the most popular and unusual ones.

Polish Three Kings holiday

According to the covenant, on this day three wise men visited Jesus in the manger and presented him with gifts. In all cities of Poland, on the Three Kings Day, parades are held, where you can see the three kings sitting on camels. Each resident writes KVM or SVM on the door of their house with chalk, which means “Jesus bless this house.”

Catholic Easter

This holiday is celebrated for a couple of days - on Sunday and Monday. Usually on Sunday, all residents go to the church, after which they gather at richly laid tables. And on Monday they have a “wet day”. Poles douse themselves and all passers-by with water, sometimes even unexpectedly. For Polish people, water is a symbol of health, good luck and profit in the family. Another interesting custom is Fat Thursday. It takes place before Lent. On this day you need to eat as much sweet as possible so as not to forget its taste.

All Saints' Day

This is one of the most important rituals in Poland. All residents living in Poland visit the cemetery to honor all their relatives. Some Poles travel huge kilometers to do this. All doors and windows in the house are opened so that the deceased can visit the house. Also, candles are lit and bonfires are made near the roads. In addition, bread is baked and distributed to all the poor so that they can pray for them. In the evening the whole family gathers to pray for the dead.

Corpus Christi

This is as important a holiday as Easter or Christmas. It is celebrated on a huge scale. A procession passes through the streets. A very interesting tradition on this holiday is that all the little girls wear white dresses and scatter flowers during the procession.

Catholic Christmas

On this holiday, all family members gather, set the table and give everyone gifts. The next day they go to visit or receive guests. This is one of the most beloved celebrations in Poland.

Andrzejki

On this holiday, all young girls, as a rule, prayed to Saint Andrew to find out about their future. In addition, they wonder, mainly about love and when to expect a wedding celebration. They were also interested in what awaits them in the coming year. As with all other celebrations, tables are set.

Mikolajki or St. Nicholas Day

Children love this holiday very much. They look for sweet gifts hidden under a pillow or shoes near the door. These searches for sweets are called "Mikolajki" and take place not only at home, but also in all schools and kindergartens. Sometimes the elders also play this game.

Drowning of Mazhanna

This holiday dates back to pagan times. Mazhanna is a doll that is decorated with ribbons and symbolizes winter. And drowning her is like saying goodbye to this time of year. First they burn it, and then only throw it into the water. And until she drowns, you can’t touch her, as this could have a bad effect on the family. After Mazhanna drowned, there was no looking back either. This ritual is now more of an entertaining nature, especially for children. People also call it “truant day”, since on this day children are released from classes.

The Polish people love holidays and fun, so they are very bright and solemn. You can get great pleasure by visiting at least a few of them.

Photo: How holidays are celebrated in Poland

Any state that has gone through a huge historical process has in its arsenal a number of customs, traditions and holidays. And, of course, a country like Poland was no exception. Today it ranks honorably second in Europe in terms of the number of holidays.

For a video of how holidays are celebrated in Poland, see below:

The history and events of this country have certainly left their mark on its traditions. The culture has a large religious imprint. Poland is a Catholic country, and almost all holidays are associated with this religious movement.

Let us announce the list of the most revered holidays in Poland:

1. Mikolajki holiday – December 6th.
2. Christmas Eve - falls on the twenty-fourth of December.
3. And the next day, the 25th, comes the Great Christmas Eve.
4. New Year falls the same way as in Russia - from the thirty-first of December to the 1st of January.
5. On January 6, the Poles celebrate the festival of the three kings.
6. In Poland, Easter holidays are also honored - these are Holy Week and Palm Sunday.
7. Easter.
8. The appearance of the Holy Spirit.
9. God's body.
10. June holidays.
11. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on August 15 in Poland.
12. At the beginning of November: the first and second Poles honor the dead - these days are called All Saints' Day.
13. Even in Poland they honor Adzeika Day, which takes place on November 30th.

Now let’s take a closer look at how the above calendar days are celebrated in this Catholic country.

Photo: St. Nicholas Day in Poland

The history of this holiday goes back to the end of the 12th, beginning of the 13th century, when Bishop Mikolay lived in Poland. This man was very kind and sympathetic, with a big heart. He helped people in trouble, and the Poles still highly respect him.

People of different social strata turn to the face of this saint with their requests and problems.

In general, St. Nicholas can be called an analogue of Grandfather Frost or Santa Claus. Therefore, he is simply adored by children, to whom he brings gifts on this day. According to some beliefs, on the night from the fifth to the sixth of December, the saint looks into the windows of small sleeping children and, if he sees clean shoes, he leaves there a pleasant gift, and for the dirty ones - a rod.

In other sacred texts that date back to the 18th century, there is a story about how the saint helped girls who could not get married for a long time to remove the crown of celibacy. He gave the beauties a dowry, which helped them start a family.

And today, on the Mikolajki holiday (as the people of Poland themselves dubbed this day), parents put gifts in their children’s shoes: usually sweets, apples and nuts, crosses and other pleasant little things.

Some Polish sayings and proverbs are associated with this day, for example, the most famous - “throw the cart at Mikolaj, harness the sleigh” - reminiscent of the beginning of winter. When precipitation falls in the form of snow on a holiday, it is believed that Mikołaj himself is afraid of his beard.

Christmas Eve and Christmas

Photo: Unforgettable Christmas Eve in Poland

Poland is a religious country, and honors the holiday of the resurrection of the Lord, that is, Easter, but the inhabitants of the country themselves are very fond of the Christmas holiday. And most of all, the evening dinner on the eve of this great celebration.

In Polish tradition, the very first star that appears in the sky on December 24 calls on all believers to forgive all offenses, forget omissions, on this day you cannot provoke scandals and quarrels, you need to be friendly and kind with your loved ones, and sit down for a family dinner in a beautiful outfit.

There should be twelve dishes on the table - this number is reminiscent of the 12 apostles. On this bright day, Poles prefer not to work, and all establishments and shops operate at short hours.

Another important tradition of such dinners was the reading of a passage from the Bible about the birth of Christ. Usually one of the family members reads. Afterwards, everyone sitting at the table prays, then shares the special Christmas bread - payment.

Oplatka is a very thin bread, almost like paper, which is illuminated in the church especially for this day. Often such bread is decorated with pictures from the life of Christ himself. It is usually handed out by the family member who read the Christmas passage - while others break off and chew pieces of the payment, he pronounces wishes. At the end, all those present congratulate each other on the occasion of the birth of the Lord's son, kiss and hug each other.

Another custom of this holiday is the need to leave one place free for a traveler who accidentally looks into the house. On this day, no one should be left alone - the Poles invite their neighbors who have no one to spend the evening with to celebrate.

Much attention is paid to the decoration of the house and its decoration. On the afternoon of the 24th, Polish residents wash their homes in preparation for a clean holiday, after which they proceed to decorate it. The main attributes are festive garlands, decorations and a decorated Christmas tree. The table must be covered with a white tablecloth, and hay must be placed under it. Poles also light candles.

As for the dishes served, they are lean, and there should be no alcohol on the table. As mentioned above, the number of dishes is 12, but some families cook more or less. There are many recipes for Christmas dishes, but the most popular are fish, especially carp and herring, mushroom soup, dried fruits, cabbage, and peas. For dessert they serve gingerbread, poppy seed roll and compote. But after 12 o’clock, when the 25th comes, meat dishes and alcohol are served on the table. In general, in preparation for celebrating Christmas, Poles usually fast.

It is also customary to exchange small, but useful and pleasant gifts during this time. Most often, gifts are placed under the tree, and presentation takes place after dinner. There are exceptions only for children who would rather receive their Christmas souvenirs. On such a happy day, adults give in and allow impatient kids to open their presents immediately after payment.

After dinner and presenting gifts, Poles love to sing songs - carols; at this moment a very sweet and kind atmosphere reigns in the house.

On the 25th and 26th, as a rule, Poles begin to visit each other and congratulate each other on the holiday of Christmas. And Christmas Eve is considered a family evening.

Another very important tradition of the celebration is visiting Catholic churches. On these days, services are held there - rorats. There is an atmosphere of miracle and real magic in the churches. Inside, houses made of straw and wood are installed, in which there are cribs, where on December 24 the figure of Jesus is placed. All Catholic churches must have a decorated Christmas tree. Everywhere there is an atmosphere of celebration and joy - truly, Christmas is perhaps the most beloved and revered holiday in Poland.

Polish New Year

Photo: How Christmas is celebrated in Poland

The New Year celebration in Poland, as in Russia, falls on the night from January 31st to January 1st. Another name for this holiday among the Poles is “Sylvester”. It is named after the Roman bishop of Rome, Saint Sylvester, who died in 335.

That year, there was real panic in the Catholic world because of the supposedly approaching end of the world. Believers were waiting for the arrival of Leviathan, who was supposed to devour this world. And all hope was placed on Sylvester. A legend arose about how this same bishop was able to defeat Leviathan in open battle. Since then, the New Year not only in Poland, but also in countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland and Israel, bears the name of this hero, who saved the world from imminent death.

The New Year is celebrated quite cheerfully and noisily, with masquerade processions of huge crowds of people.

What kind of entertainment usually characterizes this celebration?
1. The carnival season opens for this fun holiday. A huge number of jokes, competitions, and dances accompany these days.
2. The “kulig” begins. In Poland, this word is used to describe a round dance of sleighs, held just before the New Year.
3. The celebration always centers around the fire, where specially fried sausages on the fire become a favorite delicacy.
4. Among the treats these days, it is popular to bake donuts with jam and treat them to friends, and on the last day of the carnival festivities, herring is served.

New Year, unlike Christmas, is far from a family holiday, rather the opposite. Poles tend to celebrate it in the city center, accompanied by dancing, dancing and explosions of fireworks and firecrackers. Happy laughter can be heard everywhere and the satisfied faces of the Polish population flash.

Feast of the Three Kings

Photo: Feast of the Three Kings in Poland

January 6th became a holiday in Poland relatively recently – in 2011. This holiday is again directly related to religious events - the day when the Magi presented gifts to Jesus. The gifts were myrrh, gold and incense, and the Star of Bethlehem led the Magi to the baby. In Poland, these wise men are usually called kings.

This day is no less revered in Poland than other religious holidays. A visit to the church is considered obligatory; services are held there on this occasion.

Noisy carnivals pass through the streets. People chant the Kalends, carrying with them stars, mangers and everything that accompanies the story of the birth of Christ. In front of this procession are three kings, carolers, devils and other mummers. The tradition of celebrating this day in this way appeared recently, in 2009.

Previously, people illuminated the gifts of the Magi and the resin in churches with which they fumigated their households in order to protect themselves from dark and evil forces. Another tradition has survived to this day: to consecrate chalk, which is used to write the three letters KMB and the current year at the entrance of one’s house.

Many believe that these are the first letters of the names of those same kings - Casper, Melchior, Balthazar. Although there is no exact information about the names of these sages. But in fact, this is an abbreviation of a phrase, which, if translated into Russian, sounds like this: “may Christ bless this house.”

From the New Year until the beginning of Lent, which is called Ash Wednesday, since on this day the heads of believers are sprinkled with ashes, it is carnival time. At this time, noisy balls, dances, and sleigh rides take place throughout Poland. Poles have fun and have fun from the heart.

Photo: Lent in Poland

And then the forty-day Lent begins, which ends, as in Russia, with the holiday of Easter. The last Sunday before this clean day in Russia is called Palm Day, but in Poland this day is called Palm Day.

Believers visit churches, where they illuminate the twigs they bring and remember Jesus Christ. Afterwards, people hit each other with these branches and certainly wish for something good and bright.

After Palm Sunday ends, Holy Week begins. In the first three days, believers usually overeat and prepare their home for the celebration of Easter.

On Maundy Thursday, the Last Vespers of Jesus, his imprisonment and the betrayal of Judas are remembered. This day is necessarily accompanied by services at which the anthem is sung. It's called "Glory to God on High."

The next day of the Holy Week is Friday, and its traditions vary depending on the area. In some places this day is considered a mourning day - mirrors are covered with black cloth, in some areas it is customary to do nothing, but in some places, on the contrary, they begin sowing, considering this period favorable for such actions. There are no generally accepted rules.

But in churches on this day they hold the Divine Liturgy of the Torment of Our Lord. A cross covered with a purple piece of cloth is always placed in front of the altar. Everyone can venerate the cross of the Lord after removing the cloth, and during this time the altar is covered with black cloth.

Also in the churches they install the Holy Sepulcher, to which all believers come to pray. Such vigils can last all night, moving on to Saturday. On the last day before Easter, Poles illuminate food - colored eggs. And on Sunday comes the most revered holiday of the Christian world - Easter.

Easter

Photo: Easter in Poland

Poles look forward to this day with special reverence and joy. The holiday does not have a clear date - it falls on the Sunday following the first spring full moon.

On Saturday, Catholics go to churches to bless the food they bring in their basket. It is customary for it to contain seven products that have their own symbolism:
bread that brings good luck and profitability in business;
an egg as a symbol of the victory of life over death;
salt is a protector from evil spirits and evil spirits;
cheese is a symbol of friendship and the union of nature and humanity;
horseradish is a symbol of strength and strength;
the sign of the family is the sweets placed in the basket;
the lamb represents the victory of Jesus.

The basket itself is usually decorated with white lace, and the material from which it is made must necessarily be from natural ingredients.
From Saturday to Sunday, divine liturgies are held in all major churches as a dedication to the resurrection of Jesus. And in the morning, festive services begin, which are attended by all Catholics. On them, believers congratulate each other and treat each other to food from their baskets.

On this day, families prepare delicious food, the table is full of food, and for breakfast they always eat colored eggs - pysanky. A special decoration of such a table is a dough lamb covered with sugar glaze. Children receive gifts that, according to legend, are brought to them by the Easter Bunny. These are the Polish customs of celebrating this day.

Easter Sunday is followed by "Wet Monday". On this day, believers pour water on each other for good luck.

The Appearance of the Holy Spirit and the Body of God

Photo: How the Apparition of the Holy Spirit and the Body of God are celebrated in Poland

This holiday is usually called green, because of its symbolism - lush and lush greenery. This is usually a very active day, spent playing games in the open air, but the traditions of its celebration have already been forgotten in Polish cities. This celebration is celebrated mainly in villages and villages. Its date depends on the day of Easter.

Eleven days after the holiday, the appearance of the holy spirit begins to celebrate the day of God's body. In memory of the four evangelists, believers, together with the clergy, prepare four altars. They are usually installed not in the churches themselves, but in the squares behind them.

On this day there is a procession of people in bright and beautiful costumes. Candles are lit in all houses, and the streets are decorated with garlands, flags and flowers.

Ahead of the procession is a priest carrying a piece of bread, which symbolizes the body of the Lord. Next to him, little girls in snow-white dresses are scattering rose petals. This is a very bright and beautiful holiday that tourists love to visit.

Holidays in Poland in June 2017 are as follows:
1. Trinity is celebrated on June 4th.
2. On the 15th there is a local holiday called Corpus City.
3. June 23 is Polish Father's Day.

If you didn’t have time to attend the June religious holidays in Poland in 2017, then be sure to stay in the country until August 15th. This day celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Photo: Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Poland

The brightest and most beautiful celebration takes place in the Jasna Gora Church (Jasna Guzha), which is located in Czestochowa, where the Black Madonna, known to all believers, is placed - an icon of the Mother of God, which is endowed with miraculous properties. Not only thousands of Polish pilgrims, but also believers from other countries come to venerate this icon.

On this day, the cardinal himself reads sermons, and this event is broadcast on almost all Polish channels. The papal standard is also attached next to the state flag.

The day of remembrance of the dead falls at the beginning of November. Some time before the month begins, Poles go to the cemetery and tidy up the graves of their relatives and loved ones. And on All Saints Day itself - November 1st and 2nd, candles are lit in cemeteries in memory of people who have passed away. A visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a must.

The history of this festival goes back more than 2,000 years. At that time, the Celtic tribes celebrated this day as New Year. It was at this time, according to their beliefs, that the transition of life from autumn to winter fell. The Celts believed that it was then that people from the other world acquired the ability to visit the human world and vice versa.

What holiday is celebrated in Poland on November 30? The Ajeika holiday falls on this date. This last autumn day is a quiet and family holiday.

Photo: Celebrating Adzeika Day in Poland

The first mention of it dates back to 1557 - then this day was dedicated to the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The night from the twenty-ninth to the thirtieth of November, as then, is today considered mystical, calling to look into the future through fortune telling.

This holiday in Poland is especially loved by young and unmarried girls who dream of love and family. There are many ways to get to know your betrothed. For example, you can eat something salty before going to bed, and in a dream the man who gives the young lady water to drink will become her life partner.

Fortune telling with water and wax, which is very well known among us, is also popular in Poland. The girls drip candle wax into the water, but always through a barn key, which has a rather large hole. In the resulting figures on the water, they try to discern the features of their future chosen one.

In the company of several fortune-tellers, one could be charmed by animals. Each one laid out their objects on the floor, after which the animal was allowed into the room. Whichever item the pet goes to first, that girl will be the first to put a wedding ring on her finger.

Due to the mysticism inherent in this day, you should also think about protection from the machinations of evil spirits. To protect young maidens from harm, before going to bed, you need to draw a cross on the gate of the house where the inexperienced soul lives. The cross is usually painted with garlic - its pungent smell is sure to repel evil spirits.

And for those who consider fortune telling a sinful activity, you can read prayers for a speedy marriage, asking Ajeika to quickly send the groom to the girl.

Back in November, a public holiday is celebrated that has nothing to do with religion or faith. November 11 is Poland's Independence Day.

Poles are very cheerful people who love various holidays. In addition to the dates officially declared as holidays, the Polish population enjoys having fun on other days, for example, International Women's Day, Mother's Day, Grandmother's Day, Miner's Day, Valentine's Day.

Having looked at the reviews of tourists who visited some of the main holidays, we can conclude that this country loves to relax and have fun. And holidays in Poland are celebrated on a special scale.

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Every year since 1992, August 15 is an official holiday in Poland. This date falls on the day of the Polish Army and the Day of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It is celebrated on the anniversary of the events of the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, which became the decisive battle of the Soviet-Polish war.

Thus, the advance of Bolshevik troops further west was stopped in Poland.

Tadeusz Rozwadowski was appointed head of the General Staff of the Polish Army. He managed to organize an army that was disunited after several defeats and had lost hope of defeating superior enemy forces and prepared it for a counter-offensive.

By the way, many sources call Józef Pilsudski the commander in the Battle of Warsaw, this was due to the fact that despite the fact that at some point Rozwadowski essentially became the commander-in-chief, he continued to coordinate his actions with Pilsudski. By the way, the victory was also facilitated by the fact that in August 1919, a Polish unit under the leadership of Lieutenant Jan Kovalevsky broke the codes of the Red Army. Outstanding mathematicians, teachers from Lvov and Warsaw universities, and talented graduate students were involved in deciphering the radio signals.

How did the Battle of Warsaw take place?

The Bolshevik offensive on Warsaw began on August 12, 1920 by troops of the Western Front under the command of Tukhachevsky. However, he did not involve all the forces available to him in the operation - some of the armies fought for Lviv in the South-West.

Piłsudski planned to group the troops needed to stop the Soviet attack in the north of Warsaw, and the forces that were to be used in the counteroffensive in the south, behind the Wieprza Line. Such a dislocation was supposed to provide the opportunity for a wide, enveloping maneuver that would give victory. Several minor modifications were introduced into this concept, primarily concerning the strengthening of the northern flank, and on August 10 the Supreme Commander approved it as a valid operational directive.

On the morning of August 13, 1920, the battle for Warsaw began with the attack of the Red Army on Polish positions near Radzymin. The attack was repulsed, but in the afternoon Bolshevik units launched a coordinated attack on defensive positions near Radzymin, Wołomin and Ossow. Radzymin fell on the same day, in the evening, and Ossov - the next day.

On the march near Brest, the Red Army received an important document, which was found on the murdered volunteer commander Vaclav Drojowski - an order for a counterattack near Wiepsz, and detailed instructions with maps were attached to it. However, the Bolsheviks did not believe the documents that fell into their hands.

Soviet troops interrupted the first line of defense of the Prague bridgehead and moved in the direction
to Warsaw Prague. Generals Rozwadowski and Haller, in order to prevent the influx of enemy units through the gap in the Polish defense line, ordered the immediate attack of the 5th Army of General. Sikorsky from the side of the Vkra River. Its goal was to stop the Red Army in the positions it occupied and to prepare the conditions for the formation of a Polish defense on the Prague bridge.

At noon on August 14, the 5th Army struck from the Wkra line in the direction of Nasielsk, Nowego Miasto and Płońsk. The attack in the first two directions ended in failure. On the morning of August 15, Soviet troops broke through the front in the Borkowo area, inflicting serious damage on the Poles. In the north, towards Plonsk, the situation of the Polish troops was much better.

The bloody battles on Vkra on August 14 and 16 did not bring fundamental decisions on the northern flank of the front. Haller. The 5th Army held its positions and even moved them east, to the heights of Nasielsk. Serious changes, however, took place on the Prague bridge. On August 14, the Poles recaptured Ossy. The symbol of this battle was the heroic chaplain of the 236th Infantry Regiment of the Volunteer Army, priest Ignacy Skorupka.

On the evening of August 15, the Poles recaptured Radzymin and the lost defensive positions. Three days earlier, Józef Pilsudski had left Warsaw to take direct command of the maneuver strike group on Wieprze. The marshal planned to launch the offensive on August 17, but upon hearing the news of the defeat at Radzymin, he decided, despite his doubts, to postpone its start date to August 16. In order for the planned maneuver to succeed, it was necessary to act quickly and use the element of surprise, catching the enemy by surprise. In the early morning of August 16, a Polish counterattack began, aimed at the flank and rear of the Red Army units attacking Warsaw.

It was also important that as a result of the fighting, it was possible to disrupt the Bolshevik radio communications - the employees of the 4th Army headquarters tried to defend themselves, but were forced to burn the radio station and fled. Broken communications did not allow coordination of actions and the Western Front found itself in information isolation.

In addition, the Polish side jammed the frequency with which Tukhachevsky gave orders and continuously broadcast biblical texts - as a result, the reception of signals from Minsk by the second Soviet station was completely blocked, and the Red Army was disoriented.

On August 16, under the command of Pilsudski himself, a counterattack began. The defeat of the Western Front was severe - 25 thousand Red Army soldiers died, 60 thousand were captured by Poland and 45 thousand were interned by the Germans. Several thousand people went missing. In addition to people, the front lost many weapons, ammunition, vehicles and even 200 field kitchens. Official Polish losses are 4.5 thousand killed, 22 thousand wounded and 10 thousand missing.

Curious. that despite the popular name “Warsaw” the battle itself took place more than 400 km from the capital of Poland, therefore some historians recommend using the name “Battle of the Approaches to Warsaw”, since the capital was not the site of the fighting. The name “Miracle on the Vistula” also exists in the public consciousness. The author of this name was the editors of the newspaper Rzeczpospolita; the authors remembered the World War I battle near the Marne and drew an analogy that became popular.

What is the significance of the Battle of Warsaw?

The victory over the troops of Soviet Russia determined the independent status of Poland until 1939. If Poland had lost, then it would have suffered all the misfortunes that later befell Soviet Ukraine and Belarus: the Red Terror, the Cheka, collectivization, the Holodomor.

“Poland would have paid with millions of victims for the arrival of Soviet power. But we retained our independence, and the Polish army put an insurmountable barrier to the expansion of communism - it was stopped on the eastern borders of Poland. If communism had passed through Poland then, it would have had a great chance of spreading throughout Europe,” says Central European historian Yaroslav Shimov, talking about the significance of the Battle of Warsaw to Radio Liberty.

A military parade takes place on the main square of Warsaw and in other cities. There are speeches at rallies, concerts, film screenings, and exhibitions. During the holiday there is a place for folk festivities, thanksgiving prayers, theatrical performances, and dances.

Ascension of the Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Polish Army coincides with one of the brightest Catholic holidays - the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.

In the Catholic religion, a separate postulate states that after the death of the Dormition (death), the Virgin Mary ascended to Heaven and there was crowned the Queen of Heaven. The dogma was officially proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950 in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus and is widely celebrated. There is no such canon in Orthodoxy.

On August 15, believers bring herbs, wildflowers, vegetables and fruits to churches for blessing. The holiday is accompanied by solemn services, church processions and theatrical performances.

Although Poland is a tourist country, life and way of life in it are dictated primarily by national interests. And since most Poles are Catholics, religious holidays are very important for them. Accordingly, at this time you will not be able to go shopping or use most services. To avoid getting into trouble, it is better to find out in advance when holidays and non-working days are in Poland.

Weekend calendar

The Poles have 13 legally established holidays, most of them religious, 2 combine church and secular events, and only 3 are dedicated exclusively to civil dates.

During official holidays, large supermarkets and shopping centers, government and most private institutions are closed. However, cafes, gas stations, ticket offices, airports and train stations are operating as usual.

National holidays in the country largely repeat Catholic traditions and are determined by them, however, the days of the Constitution, Independence, and the national army are added, as in any modern state:

January 1 - New Year is combined with the church holiday of the Triumph of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is also called Sylvester's Day.
January 6 – Epiphany (Feast of the Three Kings).

May 1 – Labor Day.
May 3 – Constitution Day of Poland.
Green holidays (Pentecost - Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit).
May 31 is the Feast of Corpus Christi.

August 15 – Polish Army Day and church holiday – Ascension of the Virgin Mary.

November 1 is All Saints' Day.
November 11 – Independence Day.

December 25-26 – Christmas.

In Poland, a standard 5-day work week is practiced, but on Saturdays the most visited entertainment venues and shops are open even longer than usual. But since March 2018, Sunday has become an exception: a long-overdue law restricting trade on the last day of the week, which, by the way, is sacred for Catholics, came into effect.

On Sundays you can do shopping at the beginning and end of the month. The government plans to stop Sunday trading altogether so that all residents of the country have the opportunity to adhere to their religious principles. An exception was left for 3 pre-holiday Sundays: 2 before Christmas and 1 before Easter, and 4, which fall on sales - at the end of January, April, June and August.

Retail outlets will operate as holidays on Sundays: bakeries, small cafes, flower and souvenir shops, and wholesale markets may not be closed. Representatives of small or family businesses can work without the use of hired workers - the owner himself will stand behind the counter. Before Easter and on Christmas Eve (December 24), stores close at 14.00.

Holidays beloved by Poles

Statutory holidays are not the only opportunity to relax, have fun and enjoy the festive atmosphere, as there are many holidays loved and observed around the world.

In addition to internationally revered dates, such as April Fool's Day or the Days of Saints Nicholas and Valentine, the Poles also established their own holidays - National Education Day or All Souls' Day.

Popular Polish holidays

Month	date	Event
January (styczeń)	01.01	New Year, like all over the world
	06.01	Epiphany is a Christian holiday reminiscent of the appearance of an angel to the Virgin Mary and the message to her about the imminent birth of Jesus Christ. Official holiday. At the same time, processions are held in honor of the Three Kings - the Magi, who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
	21.01	Grandmother's Day - celebrated since 1964.
	22.01	Grandfather's Day - became popular a couple of years after the introduction of the previous holiday
	27.01	Holocaust Remembrance Day is not exactly a holiday, but it is important for the Poles, because it was on their territory that Auschwitz, liberated on January 27, operated. 1945
February (luty)	14.02	Valentine's Day - also known as Valentine's Day
March (marzec)	08.03	International Women's Day
April (kwiecień)	01.04	Easter is an important Christian holiday and day off, the date of which changes every year. Afterwards the Easter merry smigus-dyngus is celebrated - Easter Monday
April (kwiecień)	01.04	April Fool's Day or April Fool's Day
May	01.05	Labor Day – Poles call it “Majuwka” and go on vacation
	02.05	The Day of the Polish Flag and at the same time the Day of Polonia - Poles living abroad.
	03.05	Day of the Polish Constitution, which was adopted in 1791 and is the first in Europe.
	08.05	The day of remembrance and reconciliation, liberation from fascism is not a day off
	08.05	Pentecost or Green Holidays
	26.05	Mothers Day
	31.05	Corpus Christi
August (sierpień)	15.08	The holiday of the Polish army - reminiscent of the victory over the Red Army in 1920.
August (sierpień)	15.08	Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
October (październik)	14.10	National Education Day
November (listopad)	01.11	All Saints' Day, dedicated to the remembrance of ancestors
	11.11	National Independence Day
	30.11	Andrzejki - traditions tell girls to tell fortunes about their betrothed on this day
December (grudzień)	06.12	Mikolajki – St. Nicholas Day, famous for gifts and “delicious” traditions
	24.12	Christmas Eve, Polish name “Wigilia” – shortened working day
	25-26.12	Christmas
	31.12	St. Sylvester's Day combined with New Year's Day

Each of these holidays has special traditions associated with it. And although not all of them have weekends, Poles look forward to holidays to have parties, communicate with friends and family, and give and receive gifts.

Particularly popular is the cheerful Carnival - the period from the New Year to Lent, which Catholic Poland takes as seriously as possible. Since Easter holidays and Pentecost have floating dates, weekends need to be updated annually.

How to celebrate

All holidays are divided into church holidays with a familiar scenario that has not changed for centuries, and secular ones - everyone can decide for themselves how to celebrate them. Among them, those dedicated to family and loved ones stand out - although they are not designated as days off, they mean a lot to ordinary people.

The main one among family holidays is Mother's Day, which has been celebrated in Poland since 1923. Poles dedicate this day to mothers: they give gifts, say words that they sometimes forget to say in the turmoil of life, come to visit, organize concerts in honor of loved ones.

Grandmother's Day and the following Grandfather's Day do not cause such resonance. These are calmer, homely holidays, which emanate kindness and comfort. Although Poles spend the day at work, in the evening it is customary to visit their grandparents and spend more time with them rather than with everyday affairs.

International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries and reminds of women's struggle for their rights. Poles congratulate their relatives, friends, colleagues, and organize fun parties.

March 10 is Men's Day, which is becoming increasingly popular. This is a mirror reflection of the women's holiday - it is not for nothing that there is one day difference between them.

Main church holidays

Interesting traditions occur during the Christmas and New Year (in December and January) and Easter (in April and May) periods.

On Christmas Eve there is always a family dinner of 12 dishes - according to the number of apostles, and there is always special bread - payment, which is shared by family members. One empty cutlery is placed on the table for the lost traveler, and a small gift is prepared for him.
They spend December 25th with their family, and from the 26th until the New Year they go to visit friends and neighbors.
New Year - St. Sylvester's Day - is celebrated as everywhere else: with fun and festivities.
The last holiday is the Three Kings, which falls during the Carnival period: balls, dances and all sorts of entertainment. It ends before Great Lent.

After 40 days of Great Lent, Easter holidays begin. Before Easter there is Holy Saturday, during which food is blessed in special baskets.

Easter (Wet) Monday is a time of cheerful dousing with water and various games, which makes it a favorite day for young people.

After 50 days, the Green Holidays are celebrated, also known as Pentecost, then everything is decorated with young greenery.

Soon - at the end of May - beginning of June - Corpus Christi Day is celebrated, during which colorful carnival processions are held.

Independence Day

On November 11, 1918, the First World War ended, and Mr. Jozef Pilsudski took command of the newly created Polish army. In 3 days, he manages to expel German soldiers from the Kingdom of Poland, thus liberating the country from occupation. Also on November 11, he makes his famous speech about the desire for independence and creates the Provisional People's Government of the Polish Republic.

The Poles did not immediately receive independence, but they began to openly fight for it. A public holiday was introduced in 1937 - although not for long. After 2 years, the country was attacked by the Nazis, and then it became part of the USSR.

And only with the holding of the first elections in 1989, this holiday acquired a new breath as the day of Poland and its unification. Now it is an official holiday, which is marked by the president's speech, flag raising and ceremonial events throughout the country. And after the official part, mass celebrations and concerts are held, during which people take to the streets of cities to have fun together.

Conclusion

The Polish holiday calendar includes 13 holiday weekends and a number of unofficial dates that Poles enjoy celebrating. The main holiday periods are Christmas (New Year) and Easter.

The number of compulsory days off for Poles has increased: the ban on trading on Sunday, which came into force in 2018, provided opportunities for recreation for hired workers of numerous cafes, restaurants, and supermarkets. However, this does not affect the usual little joys - after all, small business leaders themselves can sell ice cream, baked goods or souvenirs.

Holidays in Poland or working on holidays: Video

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