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November 11^th – Polish Independence Day

Florianska street Krakow during the Independence day celebrations

The Polish Independence Day is very different from the American 4^th of July, with its happiness, feasts and fireworks. The atmosphere on November 11^th in Poland is more serious and solemn than plainly happy, although there seems to be a trend to loosen it up a bit and get rid of all the pompousness.

The Independence Day – November 11^th, 1918

Although the Polish temporary government, the Regency Council, had announced Polish Independence over a month earlier, the celebrations couldn't have been complete without one man – Jozef Pilsudski, perhaps Poland's most important independence fighter. Pilsudski came to Warsaw a day before November 11^th, and on the date that is now celebrated as Polish Independence Day he was appointed Commander in Chief of the Polish Forces and given the assignment of forming the first real Polish government after a 123-year period. November 11^th wasn't announced Independence Day until two years after Pilsudski's death in 1935. About that time, the largest of the Krakow Mounds, devoted to Pilsudski, was erected.

November 11^th in 2008

The 90^th anniversary of regaining independence was to be different than the traditional Independence Day Parade and putting flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Polish President announced that he would throw a great ball and invite all of this world's greats, including presidents of France and the USA to celebrate Polish Independence. For some unknown reasons (although it seems the invitations were sent out a tad to late), many of the guests-to-be either refused to answer, or simply refused to come, and the Polish Independence Day was celebrated with a gala concert with somewhat of a bitter aftertaste.

Oh, and by the way, November 11^th – or the Polish Independence Day – is a Public Holiday, so don't bother coming to work (or going to the bank of the post office, for the matter)