3 May is Constitution Day in Poland and marks the signing of the Polish Constitution on this date in 1791. It is generally regarded as Europe's first and the world's second modern codified national constitution. However, the constitution was to last for just a year as Poland was then partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria. Banned during the partitions of Poland, it was again made an official Polish holiday in April 1919. After the 1946 anti-communist student demonstrations, May 3 Constitution Day lost support with the authorities, who replaced it with May 1 Labor Day celebrations; in 1951, May 3 was officially removed from the list of national holidays. May 3 was restored as an official Polish holiday in April 1990, after the fall of communism.
For the occasion state representatives and top brass from the Polish armed forces take part in celebrations in Warsaw - they attend a ceremony by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
For the occasion state representatives and top brass from the Polish armed forces take part in celebrations in Warsaw - they attend a ceremony by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
This year celebrations were limited due to the national mourning which has finished recently.
On 3 May we also celebrate the feast od Mary, the Queen of Poland. Main religious celebrations always takes place in Czestochowa. For Poles, the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is a fount of miracles. The Holy Virign was acclaimed the Queen of Poland in 1656, after Sweden's invasion of the country in 1655. For 40 days, as the Swedes surrounded the monastery, the monks prayed to the Virgin for deliverance. The siege failed, and the Poles subsequently drove the Swedes out of the country. In gratitude, the reigning Polish monarch, Jan Kazimierz, dedicated his throne and the country to "the Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland."
As for the painting itself - its origins are unknown, but it may date as far back as 6th century Greece or Byzantium. The icon arrived in Poland in 1382 with a Polish army fleeing the Tartars, who had struck it with an arrow. Because of the icon of Black Madonna, Częstochowa is regarded as the most popular shrine in Poland, with many people making a pilgrimage there every year.
On 3 May we also celebrate the feast od Mary, the Queen of Poland. Main religious celebrations always takes place in Czestochowa. For Poles, the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is a fount of miracles. The Holy Virign was acclaimed the Queen of Poland in 1656, after Sweden's invasion of the country in 1655. For 40 days, as the Swedes surrounded the monastery, the monks prayed to the Virgin for deliverance. The siege failed, and the Poles subsequently drove the Swedes out of the country. In gratitude, the reigning Polish monarch, Jan Kazimierz, dedicated his throne and the country to "the Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland."
As for the painting itself - its origins are unknown, but it may date as far back as 6th century Greece or Byzantium. The icon arrived in Poland in 1382 with a Polish army fleeing the Tartars, who had struck it with an arrow. Because of the icon of Black Madonna, Częstochowa is regarded as the most popular shrine in Poland, with many people making a pilgrimage there every year.
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