Assumption of Mary

The Feast of the Assumption has been celebrated in Poland since the earliest days of Christianity in the country. August 15 gained additional patriotic significance after the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, when Polish forces defeated the Soviet Red Army in a decisive battle that halted the westward advance of communism. This victory, often called the 'Miracle on the Vistula' (Cud nad Wisłą), was attributed by many to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. In 1992, August 15 was officially designated as Polish Armed Forces Day.

In the Catholic tradition, the Assumption celebrates Mary being taken up body and soul into heaven. In Poland, this day is also known as the Feast of Our Lady of the Herbs (Matki Boskiej Zielnej), and it is traditional to bring bouquets of herbs and flowers to church for blessing. These blessed herbs were traditionally believed to have protective and healing properties. Jasna Góra monastery in Częstochowa, home to the Black Madonna icon, hosts the largest celebrations, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

August 15 falls in the middle of summer, during the peak holiday season. Military ceremonies and parades are held in major cities, particularly in Warsaw. Many Poles combine the holiday with their summer vacation plans. Religious services are well attended, and pilgrimages to Marian shrines are particularly popular around this date.