Holidays in Poland 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 fourteen public holidays.
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 "" 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 (DzieÃ
 Nauki Polskiej), established in 2020
- 1 March - National Cursed Soldiers Remembrance Day (Narodowy DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci âÂÂÃ
»oÃ
Ânierzy WyklÃÂtychâÂÂ), established in 2011
- 24 March - National Day for the Remembrance of Poles Rescuing Jews under German Occupation (Narodowy DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci Polaków ratujÃÂ
cych Ã
»ydów pod okupacjÃÂ
niemieckÃÂ
), established in 2018
- 14 April - Baptism of Poland Day (Ã
ÂwiÃÂto Chrztu Polski), established in 2019
- 1 May - State Holiday (Ã
ÂwiÃÂto PaÃ
Âstwowe), public holiday, established in 1950
- 3 May - 3 May Constitution Day (Ã
ÂwiÃÂto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja), public holiday; first observed in 1919, disestablished in 1946, then reinstated in 1990
- 8 May - National Victory Day (Narodowy DzieÃ
 ZwyciÃÂstwa), established in 2015 to replace the old National Victory and Freedom Day
- 12 July- Day of Struggle and Martyrdom of the Polish Villages (DzieÃ
 Walki i MÃÂczeÃ
Âstwa Wsi Polskiej), established in 2017
- 1 August - National Warsaw Uprising Remembrance Day (Narodowy DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci Powstania Warszawskiego), established in 2009
- 31 August - Day of Solidarity and Freedom (DzieÃ
 SolidarnoÃ
Âci i WolnoÃ
Âci) set on the anniversary of August Agreement from 1980, established in 2005
- 19 October - National Day of Remembrance for Steadfast Clergy (Narodowy DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci Duchownych NiezÃ
Âomnych), established in 2018
- 11 November - National Independence Day (Narodowe Ã
ÂwiÃÂto NiepodlegÃ
ÂoÃ
Âci), public holiday; first observed in 1937, disestablished in 1945, then reinstated in 1989
- 27 December - Greater Poland Uprising Remebrence Day (Narodowy DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci ZwyciÃÂskiego 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 Ã
ÂwiÃÂto ZwyciÃÂstwa i WolnoÃ
Âci), 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 Ã
ÂwiÃÂto 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 PaÃ
ºdziernikowa Rewolucja Socjalistyczna), although it was not 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 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 â Public Employment Services Worker's Day, DzieÃ
 Pracownika Publicznych SÃ
ÂuÃ
¼b Zatrudnienia, established in 2010
- 8 February â Prison Service Day, Ã
ÂwiÃÂto SÃ
ÂuÃ
¼by WiÃÂziennej, established in 2010
- 22 February â Crime Victims Day, DzieÃ
 Ofiar PrzestÃÂpstw, coinciding with European Victims Day, established in 2003
- 2 May â Flag Day, DzieÃ
 Flagi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, established in 2004
- 2 May â Polish Diaspora Day, DzieÃ
 Polonii i Polaków za GranicÃÂ
, established in 2002
- 4 May â Firefighters Day, DzieÃ
 StraÃ
¼aka, coinciding with International Firefighters' Day, established in 2002
- 16 May â Border Guard's Day, Ã
ÂwiÃÂto StraÃ
¼y Granicznej, established in 1991 (this may coincide with Pentecost)
- 29 May â Veterans of Overseas Military Activities Day, DzieÃ
 Weterana DziaÃ
ÂaÃ
 poza Granicami PaÃ
Âstwa, coinciding with International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, established in 2011 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi)
- 12 June â State Protection Service's Day, Ã
ÂwiÃÂto SOP, established in 2018 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi)
- 13 June â Military Gendarmerie Day, Ã
ÂwiÃÂto Ã
»andarmerii Wojskowej, established in 2001 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi)
- 24 July â Police Day, Ã
ÂwiÃÂto Policji, established in 1995
- 31 July â Treasury Day, DzieÃ
 SkarbowoÃ
Âci, celebrated since 2008, established in 2010
- 15 August â Armed Forces Day, Ã
ÂwiÃÂto Wojska Polskiego, this holiday coincides with a public holiday (Assumption of Mary), established in 1992
- 29 August â Municipal Police Day, DzieÃ
 StraÃ
¼y Gminnej, established in 1997
- 1 September â Veterans Day, DzieÃ
 Weterana, established in 1997
- 21 September â Customs Service Day, DzieÃ
 SÃ
ÂuÃ
¼by Celnej, established in 1999
- 13 October â Paramedics' Day, DzieÃ
 Ratownictwa Medycznego, established in 2006
- 14 October â Teachers' Day, DzieÃ
 Edukacji Narodowej, established in 1972
- 16 October â Saint Pope John Paul II Day, DzieÃ
 PapieÃ
¼a Jana PawÃ
Âa II, established in 2005
- 21 November â Social Workers' Day, DzieÃ
 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. 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 â Polish-Romanian Solidarity Day, DzieÃ
 SolidarnoÃ
Âci Polsko-RumuÃ
Âskiej, established in 2023
- 23 March â Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day, DzieÃ
 PrzyjaÃ
ºni Polsko-WÃÂgierskiej, established in 2007 (this may coincide with Easter or Easter Monday)
- 24 March â National Life Day, Narodowy DzieÃ
 Ã
»ycia, established in 2004 (this may coincide with Easter or Easter Monday)
- 13 April â Katyn Memorial Day, DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci Ofiar Zbrodni KatyÃ
Âskiej, set on the anniversary of the discovery of mass graves in Katyn, established in 2007 (this may coincide with Easter or Easter Monday)
- 18 April â Coma Patients' Day, DzieÃ
 Pacjenta w Ã
ÂpiÃÂ
czce, established in 2012 (this may coincide with Easter or Easter Monday)
- 28 April â Day for Safety and Health at Work, DzieÃ
 BezpieczeÃ
Âstwa i Ochrony Zdrowia w Pracy, coincides with Workers' Memorial Day, established in 2003
- 27 May â Local Government's Day, DzieÃ
 SamorzÃÂ
du 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 â Foster Care Day, DzieÃ
 Rodzicielstwa ZastÃÂpczego, established in 2006 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi)
- 1 June â Day Without Alcohol, DzieÃ
 bez Alkoholu, established in 2006 (this may coincide with Pentecost or Corpus Christi)
- 4 June â Day of Freedom and Citizens' Rights, DzieÃ
 WolnoÃ
Âci 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 â National Day of Remembrance of Nazi Concentration Camps Victims, Narodowy DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci 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 â National Day of Remembrance of PoznaÃ
 1956 protests, Narodowy DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci PoznaÃ
Âskiego Czerwca 1956, set on the anniversary of the outbreak of PoznaÃ
 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 DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci Ofiar Ludobójstwa dokonanego przez ukraiÃ
Âskich nacjonalistów na obywatelach II Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, set on the anniversary of the "bloody sunday" in Volhynia, the culmination of the massacres of Poles in Volhynia, established in 2016
- 2 August â Genocide Remembrance Day of the Roma and Sinti, DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci o ZagÃ
Âadzie Romów i Sinti, set on the anniversary of the Roma and Sinti extermination at Auschwitz concentration camp, established in 2011
- 17 September â Sybirak's Day, DzieÃ
 Sybiraka, set on the anniversary of Soviet invasion of Poland, established in 1998
- 27 September â Polish Underground State's Day, DzieÃ
 Podziemnego PaÃ
Âstwa Polskiego, set on the anniversary of the formation of Service for Poland's Victory, established in 2013
- 4 October â Animals' Day, DzieÃ
 ZwierzÃÂ
t, coincides with World Animal Day, established in 2006
- 13 December â Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day, DzieÃ
 PamiÃÂci 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 on 14 February
- Cat's Day on 17 February
- TÃ
Âusty Czwartek on the last Thursday before Lent
- Ostatki on the last day of Carnival,
- Ash Wednesday on the first day of Lent,
- 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 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 on the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday
- Holy Saturday on the Saturday immediately preceding Easter Sunday - Ã
ÂwiÃÂconka is performed on this day
- Ã
Âmigus 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 on 23 June
- Kupala Night (Noc KupaÃ
Ây) on the night from 21 to 22 June
- Saint John's Eve "Noc Ã
ÂwiÃÂtojaÃ
Âska" on the night from 23 to 24 June
- Dog's Day on 1 July
- Power Engineer's Day on 14 August
- DoÃ
¼ynki in late August or early September
- Anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War in Poland on 1 September
- Anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland on 17 September
- Car-Free Day on 22 September
- Boy's Day (DzieÃ
 ChÃ
Âopaka) 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 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
- MikoÃ
Âajki on 6 December - on this day Santa Claus gives sweets to children
- Christmas Eve (Wigilia BoÃ
¼ego Narodzenia) on 24 December
- Sylwester on 31 December
See also
References