Poland has an official holiday calendar that designates non-working days. These include both religious and national holidays, and they are observed as days off regardless of employees' religions or beliefs. Here is a list of non-working days in Poland.
What Is a Holiday Calendar?
The Holiday Calendar is a list of days recognized as national and religious holidays. It includes both Catholic holidays and national celebrations. The most important holidays in Poland include Christmas, Easter, International Workers' Day, Constitution Day on May 3, Independence Day, and other religious observances such as the Feast of the Resurrection, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Holy Trinity Day.
The Holiday Calendar in Poland is established by the Government of the Republic of Poland and serves as the basis for determining non-working days and organizing related festivities and events. Public holidays apply to all employees, whether full-time or part-time, and cover those employed under both employment contracts and civil law contracts.
Read: Sunday and Saturday Work – What You Should Know
Who Can Work On Public Holidays in Poland?
Only employees in industries that are exempt from this restriction can work on public holidays. These include workers in:
- Medical services
- Law enforcement
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Transportation services
- Security services
Employers must obtain the employee's consent to work on a public holiday, and the employee is entitled to additional pay or time off in exchange for working on these days. For those on an employment contract, the pay for such days must be equivalent to a regular working day. This means that the employee will receive their regular pay plus additional pay or compensatory time off.
The situation differs for individuals employed under civil law contracts. They are not automatically entitled to additional compensation for working on public holidays, though the employer may choose to offer additional pay at their discretion.
Good to Know: Public Transport in Poland – How to Get Around the Country
For Which Holidays is There an Additional Day off?
According to the Labor Code, an additional day off is granted if a holiday falls on a Saturday. This day off can be taken at another time, as decided by the employer. The extra day off for a holiday on a Saturday is only given to employees for whom Saturday is already a designated day off.
Employees who work fewer than five days a week are not entitled to an extra day off if the holiday falls on a Saturday. Additionally, you are not entitled to a day off if the holiday falls on a Sunday, as it is already an official day off. If you are on sick leave during a holiday, you are entitled to an additional day off for that period.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays are there in Poland in 2025?
In 2025, Poland observes 13 public holidays. These holidays are recognized nationwide and typically involve closures of businesses, schools, and government offices. The list of public holidays in Poland for 2025 includes:
- New Year's Day: January 1 (Wednesday)
- Epiphany: January 6 (Monday)
- Easter Sunday: April 20 (Sunday)
- Easter Monday: April 21 (Monday)
- Labor Day: May 1 (Thursday)
- Constitution Day: May 3 (Saturday)
- Whit Sunday (Pentecost): June 8 (Sunday)
- Corpus Christi: June 19 (Thursday)
- Assumption of Mary: August 15 (Friday)
- All Saints' Day: November 1 (Saturday)
- Independence Day: November 11 (Tuesday)
- Christmas Day: December 25 (Thursday)
- Second Day of Christmas (Boxing Day): December 26 (Friday)
What is the most important holiday in Poland?
The most important holiday in Poland is Christmas (Boże Narodzenie), celebrated on December 25 and 26. This holiday holds deep cultural and religious significance, as Poland has a strong Catholic heritage. Christmas Eve (Wigilia) on December 24 is particularly special, often seen as the most meaningful day of the season, marked by a festive dinner, family gatherings, and traditional customs like sharing the Christmas wafer (opłatek) and leaving an empty seat for an unexpected guest.
What happens on May 3rd in Poland?
May 3rd in Poland is Constitution Day (Święto Konstytucji Trzeciego Maja), a national holiday commemorating the adoption of the Polish Constitution on May 3, 1791. This constitution was the first in Europe and the second in the world (after the United States), representing a progressive and democratic attempt to reform the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
