Christmas Period in Poland (Boże Narodzenie)
Wigilia, the two public holidays (25–26 Dec), what closes, and how the Polish Christmas week works.
Updated 2026-01-20 · 1 min read
On this page
The calendar
- 24 Dec (Wigilia) — working day; shops close early afternoon; the family dinner at night.
- 25 Dec (Boże Narodzenie) — public holiday; church and family.
- 26 Dec (Drugi dzień Świąt) — public holiday; visits to family.
- 27–30 Dec — normal working days.
- 31 Dec (Sylwester) — working day; New Year's Eve parties.
- 1 Jan (Nowy Rok) — public holiday.
Wigilia traditions
- The dinner starts when the first star appears.
- 12 meatless dishes.
- Sharing the opłatek wafer with wishes.
- An empty place for an unexpected guest.
- Gifts after dinner (Święty Mikołaj).
What's open
- Shops closed 25–26 Dec; trade ban applies.
- Pharmacies, petrol stations open.
- Public transport on a holiday schedule; limited on 25 Dec evening.
- Pasterka midnight Mass on 24 Dec night.
Tips
- Many offices close 23 Dec afternoon; plan paperwork earlier.
- Trains and flights book up around Christmas — reserve early.
FAQ
- Which days are public holidays at Christmas?
- 25 December (Boże Narodzenie) and 26 December (Drugi dzień Świąt). 24 December (Wigilia) is a working day.
- Do shops open between Christmas and New Year?
- Yes, 27–30 December are normal working days. 31 December is a working day; 1 January is a holiday.
Sources
- gov.pl — Christmas holidays (updated 2026-01-12)
Read more
- Long Weekends in Poland: A Cheat SheetWhen public holidays create long weekends in 2026–2027, what closes, transport schedules, and how Poles plan getaways.
- Movable Feasts in Poland: How Dates Are CalculatedEaster, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, and other moveable holidays — why they shift each year and how the date is computed.
- Public Holidays in Poland (2025)Every non-working day in Poland for 2025 — including Wigilia as a new statutory day off from 2025, plus the Saturday substitute-day rule.