Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost has been observed in Poland since the adoption of Christianity. The Polish name 'Zielone Świątki' (Green Holiday) reflects the pre-Christian spring traditions that were incorporated into the celebration. In the early Polish tradition, homes and churches were decorated with green branches and flowers, symbolising the renewal of nature and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The holiday always falls on a Sunday, between May 10 and June 13.

In traditional Polish culture, Pentecost was associated with nature and fertility. Homes were decorated with greenery, particularly birch branches, and floors were strewn with sweet-smelling calamus grass (tatarak). In some regions, young people would go into the forests before dawn to collect dew, believed to have healing properties. Churches are decorated with green branches and flowers for the special Pentecost mass.

In modern Poland, Pentecost is primarily a religious observance. Many Poles attend church services where the coming of the Holy Spirit is celebrated with special readings and hymns. Since Pentecost always falls on a Sunday, it does not create an additional day off from work, but it is still officially listed among Poland's statutory public holidays.