Poland Immigrant Info

Cultural and Special Days in Poland

Beyond the official holidays: the Polish days people actually celebrate — Andrzejki, Śmigus-Dyngus, Wianki, name days, and family days.

Updated 2026-01-15 · 1 min read

Cultural and Special Days in Poland
On this page
  1. Movable seasonal days
  2. Family and named days
  3. National remembrance
  4. Where to find events

These are working days, not public holidays, but they shape Polish social life and you will see events, markets, and traditions around them.

Movable seasonal days

  • Andrzejki (29–30 Nov) — St. Andrew's Eve, fortune-telling parties for young people; pouring wax through a keyhole to read the shape.
  • Wianki / Noc Świętojańska (around 23 Jun) — Midsummer wreath festival on the Vistula in Warsaw and across Poland; concerts, floating wreaths.
  • Śmigus-Dyngus (Easter Monday) — Wet Monday; people playfully splash water on each other. Bring a change of clothes.

Family and named days

  • Women's Day (8 Mar) — flowers and small gifts at work.
  • Mother's Day (26 May), Father's Day (23 Jun), Children's Day (1 Jun), Grandmother's Day (21 Jan), Grandfather's Day (22 Jan).
  • Name days (imieniny) — printed on Polish calendars; many Poles celebrate their name day as much as their birthday.

National remembrance

  • Independence Day (11 Nov) — parades, flags, official ceremonies; expect large crowds and some political marches in Warsaw.
  • Constitution Day (3 May) — national pride events.

Where to find events

City tourism offices publish annual event calendars. In Warsaw see warsawtour.pl; in Kraków see krakow.travel. Free outdoor concerts are common in summer along the Vistula boulevards.

FAQ

Are these days public holidays?
No. These are cultural days — normal working days, but marked with local events. Only the days listed in 'Public Holidays in Poland' are non-working by law.
What is a 'name day' (imieniny)?
In Poland, each first name has a calendar day (imieniny). Many Poles celebrate their name day similarly to a birthday, with flowers and a gathering. It is printed on calendars and celebrated at workplaces.

Sources

  1. warsawtour.pl — official Warsaw tourism (events calendar) (updated 2026-01-10)
  2. Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze (Polish Ethnological Society) (updated 2026-01-10)

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