In the Catholic Church, it is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as Our Lady of the Herbs. In turn, in the Polish national calendar, it is the Polish Army Day.
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Herbs)
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most important Marian feasts in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. It commemorates the assumption of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, into heaven, body and soul, after the end of her earthly life. Although the event itself is not recorded in the Bible, the tradition has its roots in ancient Christian writings and was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
Traditions and customs related to the feast of Our Lady of the Herbs
In Poland, the celebration of Our Lady of the Herbs has its roots in the folk custom of blessing herbs, flowers and crops, which are brought to churches in special bouquets. It was believed that blessed plants have protective and healing powers, and also bring blessings to the home and farm.
It is therefore easy to link the celebrations with old harvest festival rituals, which are still very much alive in Polish villages. They are connected with thanksgiving for the harvest and requests for further blessings. Today, although the nature of the holiday is mainly religious, elements of old folk traditions are still preserved.
Polish Army Day
August 15 is also Polish Armed Forces Day, commemorating the victory in the Battle of Warsaw in 1920 during the Polish-Bolshevik War. This battle, often called the “Miracle at the Vistula”, was the decisive battle that stopped the Bolshevik advance into Western Europe and secured the independence of the newly reborn Polish Republic.
This holiday was established by order of the Minister of Military Affairs in 1923, but in the times of the Polish People’s Republic its celebration was forbidden. It was restored in 1992 and since then has been celebrated as a day of glory of the Polish arms.
Traditions and celebrations of Polish Army Day
The main celebrations of the Polish Armed Forces Day take place in Warsaw, where ceremonial military parades, masses for the homeland and the army, and various patriotic events are organized. These parades attract thousands of spectators and are broadcast by the media, making them one of the most important events in the national calendar.
Yes, August 15 is a public holiday in Poland. Most employees will stay home on that day (this does not apply to those working in healthcare or emergency services, catering and hotel services, where service must be maintained). Many of them will not show up at work the following day either – August 16 is Friday, so those who have submitted holiday applications will enjoy a long, 4-day weekend.
According to Polish law, there is a ban on trade on public holidays. This means that most large stores, shopping malls and supermarkets are closed. There are, however, some exceptions. Small local stores may be open, provided that the owner or a person employed under a contract stands behind the counter. Petrol stations, pharmacies, flower shops and catering outlets may also be open.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated not only in Poland, but also in many other countries with a Catholic tradition, such as Italy, Spain, France, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia and Lithuania. In these countries, August 15 is also a day off from work and is celebrated with various local traditions and customs.
In some countries, such as Italy, this holiday is known as Ferragosto and has not only a religious but also a secular character. Ferragosto is a time for vacations and relaxation, and many businesses and institutions are closed for the entire week. Under still other names (instead of Matka Boska Zielna) it is celebrated by Czechs (Korzenna), Germans (Kwietna) or Estonians (Żytnia).
Polish Army Day is specific to Poland and is not celebrated abroad, although similar military holidays exist in other countries, celebrated on different days of the year to commemorate important national events for a given country.
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