• January 1 – New Year’s Day, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
– international holiday, but also celebration in Catholic Church
• January 6 – Epiphany
– holiday imposed by Catholic Church, consecration of chalk, later on believers write with the chalk letters K+M+B or CMB on the main doors of their houses, in some places there is celebrated a new tradition of organizing Epiphany processions
• Ester (Sunday and Monday in Spring) – movable
- the most crucial Christian holiday – in memory of Christ’s resurrection. In Poland there is tradition of consecrating foods on Saturday before the holiday; the next day however is known also Wet Monday (in Polish it is called “śmingus-dyngus”) according to tradition of pouring other people with water.
• May 1 – Labour Day (International Workers’ Day)
– national holiday of international character, celebrated in Poland since 1950.
• May 3 - Constitution Day
– national holiday in memory of Constitution of May 3, the first constitution in Europe, and second in the World (right after the American Constitution)
• Pentecost Sunday – movable
– Catholic holiday celebrated on Sunday 50 days after Easter, also associated with folk tradition celebrated as welcome of the spring
• Corpus Christi – movable
– holiday celebrated in all Catholic Church 60 days after the Easter. In many Polish cities and villages are organized processions with the Blessed Sacrament
• August 15 - Polish Armed Forces Day, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Marry
– national holiday in memory of victory of Polish army over Bolsheviks in 1920; also Catholic holiday
• November 1 – All Saints’ Day
– holiday in Catholic Church in Poland, that and the next day (All Souls’ Day) people visit their relatives’ graves
• November 11 – Independence Day
– national holiday in memory of regaining the independence, after 123 years of annexation, on 11th November 1918, together with giving marshal Józef Piłsudski military authority
• December 25 - 26 – Christmas and Boxing Day
– one of the most important Christian holidays in memory of Christ’s birth; in Poland is celebrated Christmas Eve with feast of traditional, meat free dishes
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