Archive for 'Holidays'

Let’s celebrate Dzień Dziecka! Guess how Polish kids get excited about June 1st, International Children’s day

Posted on 01. Jun, 2013 by in Countries, Holidays, Kids

Children’s Day is celebrated as International Children’s Day in Poland. Known as Międzynarodowy Dzień Dziecka in Polish, this special occasion is marked on June 1st every year. Since its introduction in Poland in 1952, the occasion has been easily adopted by the adults and kids and is largely celebrated in schools and other public institutions. The activities held on this day are dedicated to the children. It is great time for enjoyment, joyfulness and enthusiasm. All in all, Children’s Day in Poland complements Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

Children’s Day was introduced as International Children’s Day in Poland in 1952. The period coincides with the onset of the summer season in the country. Moreover, the school ends during this time. Though the occasion is a holiday for kids, they attend school not to study but to enjoy the festival. Special programs and activities pertaining to the festival are organized for the kids in schools. Some of them include outdoor plays and field trips. The entire first week of June is engaged in different festivities for the kids.

Parks and entertainment centers are beautifully decorated and lit offering games and activities for youngsters, thereby adding to the joys of the festival. Celebrations usually include delivering of speeches on children’s rights and well being. Various programs are telecasted on the television and parties are organized, especially for the kids on this day. Visits to cinemas and theaters are also organized by the schools. Parents purchase numerous small gifts, usually sweets, for their children.

Recently, Children’s Day celebrations in Poland have started special sessions in the Polish government. On this special day in the capital city of Warsaw, the Parliament is run by the children, instead of the regular Members of Parliament. Different debates are held on various matters every year – children’s rights and education, and other general matters like war, peace or tolerance.

The biggest Children’s Day celebrations take place in Kraków that begin about a month before the actual date of Children’s day. The Manggha Center of Japanese Art and Technology, situated in Kraków, Poland, organizes the Japanese Children’s Day in the beginning of the month of May. Children are exposed to different workshops organized by the Manggha’s staff. Kids are toured especially around the Manggha Centre and taught to do origami, draw Japanese letters and read Japanese fairy tales.

I always loved that day and celebrate it here in USA with my kids!

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

Happy Mother’s Day in Poland on May 26th!

Posted on 25. May, 2013 by in Countries, Holidays

Mothers Day 2013 is celebrated in various dates in over 40 countries all over the word. Mothers Day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece, where mother’s were perceived as a symbol of fertility and harvest. In the middle of Spring there was a custom to celebrate Mother Nature’s Day. People were burning their offerings and were paying homage to Rea – the wife of Kronos, who was also mother of the Universe and all gods. In ancient Rome, there was a custom to celebrate Hilaria, which were a holidays to worship goddess called Cybele, who was also perceived as gods’ mother….

Mothers Day in 2013

January 30, 2013

Israel.

February 10, 2013

Norway.

March 3, 2013

Georgia.

March 8, 2013

Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,Belarus, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine & Vietnam.

March 10, 2013

Ireland, Nigeria & The United Kingdom.

March 21, 2013

Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian territories, Israeli Arabs, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen & Iraq.

March 25, 2013

Slovenia.

April 7, 2013

Armenia.

April 19-29, 2013

Nepal.

May 1, 2013

Ira

May 5, 2013

Hungary, Lithuania, Mozambique, Portugal & Spain.

May 8, 2013

Albania & South Korea.

May 10, 2013

Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala & Mexico.

May 12, 2013

Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia & Zimbabwe.

May 15, 2013

Paraguay.

May 26, 2013

Algeria, Dominican Republic, France, French Antilles, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Poland, Sweden, Tunisia.

May 27, 2013

Bolivia.

May 30, 2013

Nicaragua.

June 1, 2013

Mongolia.

June 09, 2013

Luxembourg.

June 30, 2013

Kenya.

August 12, 2013

Thailand.

August 15, 2013

Costa Rica & Antwerp (Belgium).

October 14, 2013

Malawi.

October 14, 2013

Belarus.

October 20, 2013

Argentina.

November 03, 2013

Timor Leste.

November 24, 2013

Russia.

December 8, 2013

Panama.

December 22, 2013

Indonesia.

Mother’s Day is a special day, no matter when is celebrated:) It is great if you appreciate Her every day, just by saying :Kocham Cię Mamo” ( I love you mom).

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

When is Constitution Day celebrated in Poland?

Posted on 02. May, 2013 by in Calendar, Culture, History, Holidays

Many people in Poland celebrate Constitution Day (Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja or Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja), which commemorates the enactment of the Polish Constitution that came into effect on May 3rd, 1791.

Constitution Day is part of a holiday season known as Majówka, which also includes the May 1st/Labor Day holiday.Most of people take May 2nd off to celebrate both holidays (sometimes it becomes a really long weekend, especially when 1st is on Wednesday!) It is celebrated with military parades, spring concerts and family picnics. Many people also gather at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza) at the Piłsudski Square in Warsaw. The monument is dedicated to unknown soldiers who gave their lives for Poland.

Constitution Day is an official public holiday in Poland, so schools, banks, government offices and most private businesses are closed. There is a trade prohibition on public holidays in Poland. People intending to travel via public transport during public holidays must check with the public transit authorities on any changes to time schedules.

On May 3rd, 1791, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s constitution was adopted. It was the first constitution in modern Europe and second in the world, following the American one. It was a significant achievement of the Polish Enlightenment thinkers.

May 3rd was established as a holiday only days after the constitution was passed by the Grand Sejm (Polish Parliament). It was later suspended for many years due to the country’s partitioning, but was reinstituted after Poland regained its freedom in 1918. After World War II, in 1946, the communist authorities banned the holiday’s public celebration. The holiday was officially cancelled in 1951. Since 1990 the May 3 holiday has again been celebrated as an official statutory holiday in Poland.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)