The Republic of Poland is identified by a great many symbols, but three of them are of greatest importance and are commonly recognized on the international arena. They include:

• The emblem of the Republic of Poland (White Eagle)
• The Polish national flag (national colours are white and red)
• The Polish national anthem (Dąbrowski’s Mazurka)

The Emblem of Poland

The coins issued by the first king of Poland, Bolesław Chrobry (died 1025), are known to have born the image of an eagle which ever since has undergone a good number of transfigurations. The emblem of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth also depicted an eagle. At the time of the rule of the last king of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski (died 1798), the eagle was holding a sceptre. The post-war communist government deprived the eagle of the crown. After democratic rule was reinstated in 1989, the eagle got the crown back and today it looks as pictured above in keeping with the provisions included in the Journal of Laws. The eagle is shown in the ready-to-fight position. One has to add that the Polish Army possesses its own versions of the emblem, each one characteristic of the Land Forces, Navy, and the Air Force.

The Flag of Poland

Originally, the Polish national colour used to be scarlet, regarded as the most noble of all colours. It was used as the symbol of dignity and affluence. Owing to the price of the dye necessary for obtaining the colour there were very few people who could afford it so the colour was worn by the richest gentry and state dignitaries.

White and red were first declared Polish national colours on the 3rd of May 1792. During the celebrations of the first anniversary of the approval of the first Polish constitution women were wearing white dresses and red sashes. Men were wearing white and red sashes. The colours referred to the emblem of the Polish Kingdom – white eagle shown against a red coat of arms.

According to the 1980 Emblem, National Colours and National Anthem Act as well as the State Seals Act, the Polish flag is a rectangular, red and white piece of fabric hoisted up a flagpole. According to the Article 6 Section 2 of the Act, a version with the emblem of Poland placed in the middle of the white stripe is also regarded as the flag of Poland. When the flag is hanging vertically the red stripe ought to be on the right-hand side and the white stripe ought to be placed on the left-hand side.

The National Anthem of Poland

Since February 26, 1927 Dąbrowski’s Mazurka, Polish patrotic song, has been an official anthem of the Republic of Poland. After the song originated, it was enthusiastically welcomed by the Polish Legions of the Napoleonic wars under command of general Dąbrowski. At the beginning of 1798 the song was also known across Polish territory occupied by Russians, Germans and Austrians. It was sung during November (1830) and January (1863) Uprisings. It was also known in the immigration circles in the 19th century and sung during 1905 revolution as well as World War I and II. The Mazurka was translated into 17 languages by the poets standing by the Polish people fighting for their independence. Its text is known in such languages as German, French, English, Russian, Hungarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, Lithuanian and Slovak.
 

The original lyrics to Dąbrowski's Mazurek, as written by Wybicki, included two additional stanzas (absent from the official lyrics to the Polish national anthem):
 

Sylwester

31st December and 1st January – the night on 31st December is colloquially called Sylwester in Poland and the beginning of the new year is celebrated by opening of a bottle of shampagne right at midnight. People meet either at homes or at parties in clubs, restaurants or even castles. Soon after new year toasts people go outside to admire firework displays.
 

Day of Three Wise Men

6 January – Day of Three Wise Men called in Polish Trzech Króli (literarly Day of Three Kings) – a religious celebration with church services. People write the letters K+M+B and the year on the door to their houses. The letters stand for the first letters of Kings’ names: Kacper, Melchior and Baltazar
 

Grandmother's and Grandfather’s Day

21 January – Grandmother’s Day and 22 January – Grandfather’s Day – on both days children think of and thank their grandparents fro bringing up, usually give them some presents and in kindergartens or primary schools children prepare shows for their grandparents.
 

St Valentine's Day

14 February - there is actually no tradition to celebrate that day in Poland although it is getting more and more popular. You can see shop decorations and people buying flowers or sweets for those they love.
 

Women Day

8 March – Women Day celebrated to show respect to women and their rights. It commemorates the women’s fight for equal rights. Usually women are given some flowers on that day. There are also some manifestations or parades and demonstrations organised by women and for them.
 

Prima Aprilis

1 April – All Fools Day known as Prima Aprilis in Poland - it’s a day when everybody plays jokes or pranks. There are also some fake or funny facts and pieces of information presented in the TV and radio news or published in the newspapers.
 

Easter

Easter - also an important religious holiday. The preparations begin earlier. The period of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and on that day all the churches hold services at which ash is sprinkled on the worshippers' heads. During Lent many Catholics give up some of their pleasures, for example eating sweets or drinking alcohol. Another significant day is Good Friday when people go to church to pray at the symbolic tomb of Christ. Holy Saturday is the time for preparing food and painting Easter eggs which are later taken to church in special baskets for consecration. Other products include meat, bread, salt and the Easter Lamb made of sugar or butter. The most important day of Easter is Sunday when lots of people participate in church services.
 

The Labour Day

1 May – the Labour Day – international holiday celebrated all over the world as the day of workers and working class. It used to be one of the most important national holidays. However, there are still some parades and demonstrations in many towns.
 

The Constitution of Poland Day

3 May – an important national day commemorating signing the Constitution of Poland in 1791 (the first constitution in Europe, the second in the world – after the USA constitution). After 1946 it was regarded as unofficial by the government and therefore, it was illegal to celebrate it. Since 1990 one of the most important national holidays in Poland.
 

National Education Day

14 October – National Education Day also known as Teacher’s Day – it’s a holiday for all people working in schools, a day-off for students of all types of schools
 

All Saints’ Day

1 November – All Saints’ Day – It’s a religious holiday, the day of remembrance about all those who died. On that day people visit the cemeteries where they put flowers and light candles on the graves. Very solemn and quiet day when people pray for the dead.
 

Independence Day

11 November - official national celebration commemorating regaining independence in 1918. On that day there are official parades or marches. The most important one takes place in Warsaw and is attended by the President and the government representatives. They lay down wreaths at the symbolic grave of an Unknown Soldier to pay tribute to all those who fought for the country and its freedom. There is also a parade of all military forces.
 

Andrzejki

Andrew's Night - celebrated on 30th November. It's not an official holiday so people don't have a day-off at work or school but they meet in the evenings for parties and foretelling the future. It's especially popular with unmarried girls who try to figure out who their future husbands can be. The most popular custom is pouring hot melted wax through a key hole into cold water and then looking at its shape and analyzing what it could mean.
 

Christmas

One of the most important holidays. It's similar to the worldwide celebrations as people in Poland also decorate Christmas trees, prepare lots of tasty traditional dishes, exchange presents and sing carols. The difference though is that main celebrations fall on the 24th December - Christmas Eve - when the whole families gather at traditional dinner. The celebration begins with the sharing the holy wafer by the family members while offering everyone good wishes. The dinner traditionally consists of twelve dishes like red borsch, fried carp, cabbage with mushrooms and a poppy-seed cake. What is important, no meat is eaten on that day. There is also a custom of leaving an empty plate for an unexpected guest and putting some hay under the tablecloth. At midnight people attend a special church service. On Christmas and Boxing Day people usually stay at home or visit their relatives.

Toruń

Toruń One of the most beautiful cities in Poland. It was founded in 1233 by the Teutonic Order Knights who were summoned by Polish dukes to embark on a crusade against the Prussians. In the 14th century it became a thriving commercial center, controlled trade on the Vistula, and belonged to the Hanseatic League. In the newly established Teutonic state Toruń was the second to Gdańsk only. After wars against Poland Teutonic Order renounced its claim to rule over part of Prussia and Toruń (1466). The 16th and 17th centuries were again a time of prosperity for Toruń. However, since the war against the Swedes (1700-1721), in which the city was partly destroyed, its gradual downfall began.

After the second partition of Poland (1793) Toruń was seized by Russia. The city was returned to Poland after World War I (1919). The older, historic part of the city, is situated on the right bank of the Vistula river. Viewed from the left bank the red-brick defense-walls, roofs of gothic tenement houses, and gothic church towers can be seen. The ancient walls, lit up by spotlights coupled with the soaring church towers, create one of the most picturesque panoramas in Poland. As for tourism, Toruń is one of the most historical and beautiful cities in Central Europe. Each year the city is visited by almost two million tourists from Poland and abroad. In September, 1994 the President of the Republic of Poland decreed Toruń a national heritage monument of Poland, and on 4 December, 1997 the city was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Toruń also belongs to the New Hanseatic League. In addition, the city cooperates with its 6 twin cities. In December, 2001, Toruń joined the elitist group of European cities honored with the European Council Flag of Honor by the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg. Toruń was granted this prestigious award in recognition of its achievements in the international arena and in promoting the idea of the European unity.

Nicolas Copernicus was born in Toruń. The Nicolas Copernicus University, established in 1945, is a thriving research centre in Poland. Over 35 thousand students of the university make Toruń the city of the young.

Apart from being an academic center, Toruń is one of the most prosperous cultural centres of the region. There are over 1000 various cultural events taking place in Toruń every year, earning Toruń the well-deserved name of “the city of festivals”. Once in Toruń you cannot resist visiting it again. The city is not only comfortable to live in, but also tourist-friendly. It is the young people, together with the red-brick walls, the Vistula and the greenery that create the special atmosphere of the town.