Below is a list of major holidays celebrated in Poland and a little bit about them. Christmas and Easter are such large holidays they have their own separate pages, so see those for specific customs. In Poland the "Name Day" (imieniny) is considered more important than an individual's birthday (though among younger Poles celebrating a birthday is becoming more popular). Usually a family will get together and have a meal and maybe a little vodka for celebrating. If gifts are given, they tend to be chocolates or flowers. Wikipedia has a nice list of what names are celebrated when here, but I have added Walter, Mary, Joe and Stella's Name Days onto the calendar below.
Styczeń (January)
1 - Nowy Rok (New Years Day)
6 - Epiphany/Twelfth Night (more here)
21 - Grandmother's Day
22 - Grandfather's Day
Luty (February)
2 - Candlemas (more here)
12 - Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday)* (more here)
Marzec (March)
8 - International Women's Day
The day originally celebrated the social, political, and economic achievements of women in the workforce. It was meant as a day to show respect and appreciation for women. The holiday started as Socialist political event in 1917, and today the UN has a theme for every year. In 2014 that theme was "Equality for Women is Progress for All." In some countries the holiday has become a blend of Valentine's Day and Mother's Day where men give small gifts or flowers to the women in their lives.
29 - Palm Sunday* (more here)
Kwiecień (April)
2 - Władysław's Name Day
The name Władysław comes from Slavic words "volod" and "slav" which means "glorious rule."
4 - Holy Saturday* (more here)
5 - Easter Sunday* (more here)
6 - Śmigus-Dyngus* (Wet Monday) (more here)
13 - World's Day of Remembrance for Victims of Katyn Massacre
In April and May 1940, a series of mass executions of Polish Nationals were carried out by the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) and the Soviet secret police. The estimated numbers of deaths is around 22,000. Until Nov. 2010 the Russian government continued to blame Nazis for the massacre, but has since signed a statement that it was Stalin who signed the orders for the killings. In Wrocław, Poland, a composition by Polish sculptor Tadeusz Tchórzewski is dedicated to those killed at Katyn. Unveiled in 2000, it is located in a park east of the city's center, near the Racławice Panorama building. It shows the 'Matron of the Homeland' despairing over a dead soldier, while on a higher plinth the angel of death looms over, leaning forward on a sword. There are other memorials worldwide including in the US, UK, Ukraine, and Russia.
Maj (May)
1 - Majówka (May Day), Labour Day
Majówka means "May-day picnic" and is the name given to the holidays on May 1-3. May Day celebrates the arrival of spring and is usually celebrated with dancing, singing, and other merriment. During the People's Republic of Poland period, May 1st was Labor Day (it still coincides with the International Worker's Day), and in Poland is usually just referred to as "State Holiday." Workers are given the day off to enjoy themselves.
2 - Flag Day (see more)
3 - Constitution Day
Celebrates the declaration of the Constitution of May 3, 1791, one of the oldest Constitutions of its kind in Europe. The day's festivities often include parades (with military), concerts, public speeches from members of the government who will read the preamble of the Constitution, flag flying, cannon salvos, and the singing of patriotic songs. Workers are always given the day off. Officially a holiday since 1919. The first celebration was in 1792, but the day was not celebrated after the partitioning of Poland, or during the People's Republic of Poland periods.
9 - Victory Day
Officially a holiday in Poland since 1945, this day commemorates when Nazi Germany relinquished (some of) its sovereignty within its own borders to Soviet Russia. This holiday is celebrated in all previous Soviet states, though it is not a non-labor day.
24 - Pentecost Sunday*
This is the 7th Sunday after Easter. Although it falls on a Sunday every year, Poles are meant to take the day off from work, sometimes the following Monday will also be given as a day off. Often called "the Green Holiday," houses are decorated with greenery and flowers (to ensure a good harvest and ward off bad luck), and sometimes a young birch tree will be cut down and placed in the yard. Another custom, which is slowly becoming rare, is making processions to the fields, where the crops are blessed. In the evenings there maybe be singing and dances around bonfires.
26 - Mother's Day, Marianna's Name Day (1)
The name Marianna comes from Hebrew "Miryam" which means "wished for child."
Czerwiec (June)
1 - Children's Day
Celebration began in the 1950s, children still attend school this day (if a school day), but usually special activities are arranged such as field trips or outdoor plays. Children will also usually receive a small gift from their parents.
2 - Marianna's Name Day (2)
The name Marianna comes from Hebrew "Miryam" which means "wished for child."
4 - Corpus Christi*
The ninth Thursday after Easter. Houses, doorways, and windows are decorated with greenery, flowers, and holy pictures, and makeshift altars and shrines are built in the streets. At noon a procession leaves from every church with people walking behind the priest who is carrying the Blessed Sacrament. Many of the people are dressed in their regional folk costumes. The procession stops in succession at four altars at which Eucharist themed portions of the four Gospels are read. The shrines are also decorated with branches and members of the processions might pick twigs and leaves from them for good luck and happiness. Young girls scatter flower petals on the street in front of the priest while the young boys carry incense.
23 - Father's Day
21-22 - Ivan Kupala Day
The holiday begins in the evening on the 21st and ends on the 22nd. The name is the Russian equivalent of "John the Baptist." The holiday itself can be traced to pagan roots as a fertility festival. It was a time for young men and women to go out into the forests and fall in love. Today, mischief (done with good humor) ensues on the evening of the 21st and the 22nd is celebrated with water fights and other pranks (mainly by children).
23 - Saint John's Eve
The Feast Day of John the Baptist. In folk traditions, women make and wear crowns of wild flowers, that they will later place in the water to float away, and young men will swim out to claim one. The hope for the girl was that the man she was meant to be with would find her crown and rescue it from the water. Bonfires in the evenings are also made and sometimes young couples will jump over them holding hands, if the couple let go of each other it is considered a sign they will break up. Today there is music and dancing along with fireworks.
28 - Day of Remembrance of the Poznań June 1956
Commemorates the June 28, 1956 protests in Poznań, which were the first of several large protests by Poles against the Communist government. It is also known as the Poznań 1956 uprising or Poznań June (Poznański Czerwiec). It was declared a national holiday in 2006, marking the 50th anniversary of the event.
Lipiec (July)
(None)
Sierpień (August)
5 - Stanisława's Name Day
The name Stanisława comes from Slavic words "stan" and slav" and means "glorious goverment."
15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Polish Armed Forces Day
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates the bodily taking of the Virgin Mary into Heaven. This is a solemn feast day in the Roman Catholic Church. 250,000 people (on average) make a pilgrimage to the Jasna Gora Monastery of Czestochowa, home of the country's hallowed Black Madonna icon.
- Święto Wojska Polskiego is the name of Polish Armed Forces Day. Commemorates the 1920 victory over the Soviet Army at the Battle of Warsaw. Festivities include a large military parade (particularly in Warsaw), and showcases and remembrances for all branches of the Polish military (for peoples currently serving, veterans, and the deceased) take place. High ranking politicians lay wreathes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at the Józef Piłsudski Monument. Originally celebrated in 1947, the holiday was banned during the communist period and only reinstated in 1992 under the Third Republic.
28 - Day of the Polish Air Force
Celebrates the anniversary of pilot Franciszek Żwirko and his mechanic Stanisław Wigura's victory in the Challenge 1932, which was a major aviation event in pre-war Europe. Before this event, the Day of the Polish Air Force was celebrated on Nov. 5, commemorating the first flight of the Air Force. During the People's Republic period, August 23rd was the day the Air Force celebrated its first engagement in the East.
31 - Day of Solidarity and Freedom
Commemorates the Gdańsk Agreement of 1980. In 1980 the Polish economy crashed and fell into a depression. Unhappy with wages, workers of the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk went on strike in mid-August and demanded labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. Two weeks later, the government gave into the demands of the strikers, who had garnered much support from other workers on strike and other citizens. This agreement led to democratic changes within the communist political structure and created clear representation for workers' needs without the Communist Party interfering.
Wrzesień (September)
14-27 - Dożynki (Harvest festival)**
Celebrates the fact the work in the fields is done and all the grains are now stored for the coming winter. Large dozynki wreaths made from grain (wheat and rye) and decorated with flowers, ribbon, hazelnuts and the fruit of the Mountain Ash tree are brought by farmers and land owners to be blessed at the Harvest Mass. After Mass is a large communal feast with music, singing, and dancing. People may wear their region's traditional folk costume and single ladies will hope to be given a smaller version of the dozynki wreath to wear. After the celebrations the wreaths are taken home and displayed.
30 - Dzień Chłopaka (Boy's Day)
Celebrated by girls giving presents to boys. It was started by women so that there would be a day to appreciate the men in their lives (sort of a reverse Valentine's Day). Sometimes it's called "Boyfriend's Day."
Październik (October)
2 - Teofil's Name Day
The name Teofil comes from the Greek word "theophilos" which means "loved by God."
14 - Day of National Education (formerly Teacher's Day)
Celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the Komisja Edukacji Narodowej (Commission of National Education).
16 - Day of Pope John Paul II
Listopad (November)
1 - Dzień Zaduszny (All Saints Day)
Usually schools are closed and people are given the day off work. It is a day to remember the saints and also one's deceased relatives. The priest will often offer a blessing for the graves and families will go to the cemeteries to place flowers on their deceased relatives' graves as well as old and forgotten graves. Special candles in colorful glass jars are lit at night to help the departed find their way to Heaven. These candles burn until the next day, All Souls Day. Outside cemeteries in Warsaw are sold Pańska Skórka (the Lord's Crust) which is a pink and white candy similar to taffy. Doors and windows are left open so that spirits may enter the home and visit the family.
2 - All Soul's Day
Celebrations continue from November 1.
11 - Independence Day
Commemorates the start of the Second Republic of Poland in 1918, after 123 years of partition. This is a non-work day. Although the independence of Poland happened gradually, the 11th was chosen because it is the date Józef Piłsudski assumed assumed control of Poland. It became a national holiday in 1937, but was only celebrated twice before Nazi Germany overran Poland. After WWII, the Communist regime in Poland removed this day from the calender, and the holiday was only re-established in 1989. Of course, Poles during that period still held informal celebrations. Today it celebrates the re-emergence of the Polish state and honors the memory of those who fought for it. Beginning in 2008 there is a "March of Independence" in Warsaw where families, veterans, politicians, professional athletes, scholars and even the clergy participate. In 2011 over 20,000 people were reported to have participated in that march.
30 - St. Andrew's Day (Andrzejki) (more here)
Grudzień (December)
4 - St. Barbara's Day (Barbórka) (more here)
6 - St. Nicholas's Feast Day (Mikołajki) (more here)
24 - Wigilia (more here)
25 - Christmas (more here)
26 - St. Stephen's Day
Feast day commemorating the death of the first Christian martyr around 33 A.D. During this day, sometimes considered like a second day of Christmas, Poles will sing carols and re-enact nativity scenes.
31 - New Years Eve
Poles celebrate the coming of the new year like many other nations with parties and get-togethers with friends. Most Polish families have roasted turkey for dinner. And, of course, at midnight every one should drink a glass of champagne!
*This holiday moves from year to year based on the liturgical calender, the dates listed here are when the holiday falls in 2015.
** The harvest festival is a week long celebration usually falling within the given date range , but it is dependent on the actual harvest. In 2010, the celebrations were held the week of Sep. 13-19.