Public holidays in Poland

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 thirteen public holidays.

Public holidays

Note: The table below lists only public holidays i.e. holidays which are legally considered to be non-working days.

Date English Name Official Local Name (Informal Local Name) Remarks
January 1 New Year's Day Nowy Rok (Nowy Rok)
January 6 Epiphany Święto Trzech Króli (Trzech Króli) in effect since 2011
Sunday in Spring (movable) Easter Sunday pierwszy dzień Wielkiej Nocy (Niedziela Wielkanocna)
Monday following Easter Sunday Easter Monday drugi dzień Wielkiej Nocy (Poniedziałek Wielkanocny)
May 1 May Day Święto Państwowe (Święto Pracy) This holiday is officially called State Holiday (Święto Państwowe). However, it is unofficially called Labour Day (see below), and coincides with International Workers' Day.
May 3 Constitution Day Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja (Święto Konstytucji Trzeciego Maja) Celebrating the May 3rd Constitution
7th Sunday after Easter Pentecost Sunday pierwszy dzień Zielonych Świątek (Zielone Świątki) 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 don't give the right to another free day.
9th Thursday after Easter Corpus Christi dzień Bożego Ciała (Boże Ciało) This is a Catholic church Holiday
August 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny (Święto Wojska Polskiego) This is also Polish Armed Forces Day (Święto Wojska Polskiego), celebrating the battle of Warsaw in 1920
November 1 All Saints' Day Wszystkich Świętych (Dzień Zmarłych)
November 11 Independence Day Narodowe Święto Niepodległości (Dzień Niepodległości)
December 25 Christmas Day pierwszy dzień Bożego Narodzenia
December 26 Boxing Day drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia

May Holidays

Under communist rule, the 1st of May was celebrated as Labour Day with government-endorsed parades, concerts and similar events. Following the 1989 changes, the Sejm decided to keep this day a public holiday but to give it the neutral name of State Holiday. In addition, the 3rd of May was created as Constitution Day. The May holidays (1st, 2nd and 3 May) are called "Majówka" in Polish, a pun made from the May month name (it can be translated as May-day picnic[1]).

National and state holidays

The following are national and state holidays in Poland, although they are normally working days unless declared a public holiday:

Former national and state holidays

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.

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.

Other observances

See also

References

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