Whit Sunday in Poland

Whit Sunday, or Pentecost, is a Christian holiday to remember the Holy Spirit’s descent (Zeslanie Ducha Swietego) upon Jesus’ disciples. It is a national holiday in Poland seven weeks after Easter Sunday.

Jesus' apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, according to the New Testament in the Bible.

©iStockphoto.com/Ivan Burmistrov

What do people do?

Many churches in Poland open their doors for special services on Whit Sunday. Some people decorate their homes with greenery, especially branches with green leaves, hoping that God’s blessings will come to their families and homes.

Public life

Whitsunday 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.

Background

Whitsunday/Whit Sunday, or Pentecost, does not fall on the same calendar date each year but is set seven weeks after Easter Sunday. According to the New Testament in the Bible, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to “speak in other tongues” on the day of Pentecost. Whit Sunday is also celebrated in many other countries in the world.

Symbols

Pentecost is also referred to as the “Green Holiday”, as some houses in Poland are decorated with green branches to symbolize God’s blessing on these homes. Another symbolic tradition, which is becoming less common, is a procession to fields to bless crops.

About Whit Sunday in other countries

Whit Sunday Observances

Other holidays in May 2013 in Poland

• Labor Day / May Day ―Wednesday, May 1, 2013
• Constitution Day ―Friday, May 3, 2013
• Mother's Day ―Sunday, May 26, 2013
• Corpus Christi ―Thursday, May 30, 2013