Poles celebrated Independence Day in a whole variety of ways

Poland celebrates National Independence Day on November 11 to commemorate the day in 1918 when the Regency Council transferred command of the Polish army to Józef Piłsudski, marking the country's independence.

The holiday was officially established by the Polish Parliament in 1937, abolished in 1945, and was not officially observed throughout the communist period in the People’s Republic of Poland. It was reinstated in 1989, and since then, November 11 has been a public holiday.

A large white-and-red Polish flag has been flying over Rzeszów since Monday morning. The stratospheric balloon lifted the 10-meter flag to a height of 50 meters as part of regional celebrations for Independence Day. The flag remained in the sky until dusk.

This unique form of celebration was initiated by the Podkarpackie Innovation Center (PCI), and on Monday morning, the Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Władysław Ortyl, gave the signal to raise the flag. This display was made possible by the Supercluster team, whose project related to preparing stratospheric missions earned 2nd place in the first edition of the Podkarpackie NASA Space Apps Challenge in 2021.

In Kraków, Independence Day ceremonies began with laying flowers at the Monument to the Soldiers of Fighting Poland on Powiśle Street. Following this, a mass for the homeland was celebrated at Wawel Cathedral. After the service, national flags were distributed to attendees in the square in front of the Cathedral.

At noon, ceremonies took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with a Military Honor Guard, where state decorations were awarded, and Polish citizenship certificates were granted. Participants observed a parade featuring ceremonial vehicles from various uniformed services and formations of mounted cavalry. After the official proceedings, attendees enjoyed a traditional military pea soup.

For four hours, a special "Patriotic Tram" traveled around the Planty in Kraków. Meanwhile, the Independence Run launched from Błonia, with participants taking on a 10-kilometer course.

At noon, just before the trumpet call from the BugleTower, those gathered could listen to Poland's national anthem. Afterward, a concert began in the Main Market Square, featuring performances by Wojtek Łuszczykiewicz with the band VIDEO, Mattia and Elie Rosinscy (BeMy), Effy (Kasia Sawczuk), Arek Kłusowski, Carla Fernandes, and Marta Bijan.

At 5 p.m., the 89th Kraków Singing Lesson, titled "Joyful Independence," began on the same stage. During this concert, artists from the Loch Camelot Theater joined a singing audience in performing songs related to Poland’s Independence Day anniversary.

In Katowice, the celebrations started at 9 a.m. with a formal assembly featuring a military honor guard and flag-bearers gathered by the Józef Piłsudski Monument in Bolesław Chrobry Square.

At 10 a.m., the "Wujek Nine" Independence Run began from the Wujek Coal Mine, honoring the memory of the nine miners killed there by the police and army in 1981. As in previous years, a strong contingent from the Polish Mining Group participated in the run.

At noon, the Silesian Voivodeship Marshal, Wojciech Saługa, invited residents to the Silesian Stadium for a group singing of the national anthem. The program then featured a flyover by planes from the Silesian Aeroclub and a show by the "Żelazny" Aerobatic Team, followed by concerts. Performers included the "Śląsk" Song and Dance Ensemble, singer Urszula, and bands Modelki as well Varius Manx with Kasia Stankiewicz.

The event also showcased military weaponry, equipment, and skills of Polish soldiers and uniformed service members, along with a funfair for the youngest attendees.

The celebration of the National Independence Day was held in Wrocław from November 8 to 11, featuring numerous concerts. On Saturday, the band Kult performed at the Centennial Hall, while the Wrocław University of Technology Chamber Choir performed at the National Museum, where in addition to the solemn "Rota," songs like "Wojenko, wojenko" and "Pierwsza Kadrowa" could be heard. The culmination of the celebrations was a large concert featuring Polish stars in the Wrocław Market Square. Kayah, Kamil Bednarek, and Natalia Kukulska performed onstage.

Traditionally, on Monday, the Joyful Independence Parade marched through the streets of Wrocław. The procession began at Freedom Square and proceeded to the location where Wrocław's fight for freedom started, namely the former bus depot on Grabiszyńska Street, now the home of the Zajezdnia History Center.

On the same day, motorcyclists with flags rode through the city center. At 10 a.m., another traditional Wrocław event began – WrocWalk. Participants, equipped with maps, rediscovered the city on foot. Active time could also be spent on a free kayak trip or a guided boat tour through the center of Wrocław.

Also at 10 a.m., a rather unusual event began. It was organized every year by the Maślice District Council and the Maślice Volunteer Center. It is called "Love Your Neighborhood! November 11th Productively." The residents of the neighborhood come together to clean up the green spaces in their area.

The 22nd Independence Day Parade passed through the streets of Gdańsk. The march started from Podwale Staromiejskie, passing by the monument of King John III Sobieski, and ended in front of the Green Gate.

City Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, and the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Mieczysław Struk spoke from the stage set up on the Long Market. Lech Parell, the head of the Office for Veterans and Repressed Persons and one of the initiators of the Gdańsk Independence Parade, also addressed the crowd.

"We gather in Gdańsk because we are patriots, because our future and the future of the next generations are tied to Poland. We care about Poland. We want it to be prosperous, strong, and independent for the next thousand years. We want to live in it comfortably, happily, and peacefully," he said.

After the speeches, doves were released into the sky and the Polish anthem was sung, along with patriotic songs.

The 106th anniversary of Poland regaining independence was also celebrated in Sopot and Gdynia.

In the resort town of Sopot, a parade consisting of a column of cars and bicycles started from the State Fire Service (PSP) headquarters on Armii Krajowej Street and proceeded to the Kuracyjny Square. At the concert shell, the gathered crowd sang the national anthem.

In Gdynia, before the parade began, runners participated in the Independence Run through the city streets. The parade itself started at noon in front of the City Hall. Participants marched along Świętojańska Street to Kościuszko Square, where the national anthem was also sung.

An Independence Cycling Rally took place through the streets of Szczecin. Over 200 cyclists, dressed in national colors, set off at 11:11 a.m. from the Adam Mickiewicz Monument. The participants rode through the city center, laid flowers at the bust of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, and the event concluded with a picnic at Polana Miodowa.

"We are organizing the bike ride through the streets of Szczecin for the fourth time in celebration of Independence Day. This year, we had a record turnout. For the first time, the regional governor participated at the start," said Paweł Malinowski, president of the Szczecin Cycling Club Gryfus.

The West Pomeranian Voivode, Adam Rudawski, declared that he would take part in next year's Independence Cycling Rally. "I will ride with you, but we need to adjust the times because I have many duties that day," he explained.

The event was co-organized by the Gryfus Cycling Club and the Szczecin branch of the Institute of National Remembrance, which provided t-shirts and medals for the first 100 registered participants.

A few minutes after the white-and-red peloton passed through the city center, the Szczecin Independence March began. About 4,000 people marched from Solidarity Square towards Grey Ranks Square, where the bust of Piłsudski stands.

November 11th in Poznań is not only the National Independence Day but also a time for the joyful celebration of Saint Martin's Day. This year, the festive market took place at four locations around Św. Marcin Street and Aleja Niepodleglości. From 10 a.m., visitors could purchase Saint Martin’s croissants, souvenirs, and handmade crafts.

The main event of the celebrations was the parade, which began at the intersection of Św. Marcin Street and Ratajczaka Street. Leading the procession was Saint Martin, riding a horse and dressed in the attire of a Roman legionary. He was accompanied by artists, members of social and sports organizations, as well as students. The Mayor of Poznań handed the keys to the city to Saint Martin.

As part of the celebrations, various activities were organized, including art workshops, film screenings for both children and adults at the CK Zamek (ZAMEK Culture Centre in Poznań), castle tours, and an antiques fair at Masztalarnia. The event was accompanied by concerts held at several locations in the city center. At 7:30 p.m., the group Voo Voo performed at Adam Mickiewicz Square.

The celebrations in Łódź began with a morning mass at the Archcathedral. The mass, held in honor of the country, was led by the metropolitan archbishop of Łódź, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś.

After the service, the official ceremonies took place at the Katedralny Square in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended by regional and city authorities, parliamentarians, and representatives of local schools, organizations, and the armed services.

Residents of Łódź also celebrated the return of Poland's independence on the Włókniarek Łódzkich Square in Manufaktura, taking part in the Independence Picnic. The climax of the event was the arrival of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, who was welcomed by city and regional authorities. Together, they sang the national anthem.

Festivities were held throughout the Łódź region, including Pabianice, where the Polonaise of Independence was danced and a "living" flag was created. Participants also took part in the Pabianice Independence March, Rally, and Run.

In Zgierz, locals enjoyed a patriotic picnic and Independence Parade. Sieradz hosted a concert titled "In Tribute to the Independence," and in Piotrków Trybunalski, the town square was transformed into a scene from the time when Poland had regained independence, with a concert by Jan, the organ grinder from Warsaw (Kataryniarz Jan z Warszawy).

President Andrzej Duda began his day by laying wreaths at the monuments of the Fathers of Independence along the Royal Route, including those dedicated to Wincenty Witos, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Ignacy Daszyński, Roman Dmowski, Wojciech Korfanty, and Józef Piłsudski.

Jarosław Kaczyński, the chairman of the Law and Justice Party, also laid wreaths at these monuments, accompanied by former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, former Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak, and other prominent party members. Together, they also honored the memory of President Lech Kaczyński, Ronald Reagan, and Stefan Rowecki "Grot" by laying wreaths at their respective monuments.

In the afternoon, President Duda awarded state decorations at the Belvedere Palace for the National Independence Day. He and the First Lady also attended a mass for the homeland at the Temple of Divine Providence. At noon, the president took part in the ceremonial change of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

At exactly 11:11 a.m., the 34th Independence Run started in Warsaw, covering a distance of 10 kilometers. Approximately 19,000 runners, dressed in red and white shirts, created a symbolic national flag as they ran through Aleja Jana Pawła II and Aleja Niepodległości. The winner of the race was Levente Szemerei from Hungary, with a time of 29:10, while the fastest woman was Ukrainian Maria Mazurenko with a time of 33:00. Before the race, the national anthem "Mazurek Dąbrowskiego" was sung.

In addition to the main 10 km race, at 10:00 a.m., the "Mila Niepodległości" (Independence Mile) race was held on the symbolic distance of 1918 meters, commemorating the year Poland regained its independence. There were also youth races for participants aged 10-14, as well as competitions for people in wheelchairs with active propulsion systems and tandem bikes over the 10 km distance. For those interested in walking, a 5 km Nordic walking event took place.

At noon, the central National Independence Day ceremonies commenced in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The event was attended by President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia, and Senate Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska.