Public holiday in Poland
Easter Monday in Poland
Monday, April 6, 2026
Local name: Drugi dzień Wielkiej Nocy
Nationwide public holiday
Easter Monday is a nationwide public holiday in Poland and the day after Easter Sunday. It is widely known for the water-splashing custom called Śmigus-Dyngus, especially among children and young people.
About Easter Monday in Poland
In Poland, Easter Monday is part of the Easter period and is observed nationwide as a public holiday. It sits immediately after Easter Sunday, so it is usually treated as a continuation of family and church observance rather than a separate seasonal event. The day is best known in Poland for its playful water-splashing customs, while many people also use it for visits with relatives, meals at home and quiet leisure.
History
The best-known Polish Easter Monday custom, Śmigus-Dyngus, combines older spring water rituals with later Christian Easter observance. Over time, the practice became associated in Poland specifically with Easter Monday and remained a familiar part of holiday culture into the modern era.
Traditions
The most distinctive Polish tradition is Śmigus-Dyngus, when people sprinkle or splash one another with water. The custom is especially associated with boys dousing girls in older folk practice, although in modern use it is often more playful and less gendered. In some places, small twigs or willow branches may also be used in connection with the old spring-water customs linked to the day.
How Easter Monday is celebrated in Poland
Many Poles spend Easter Monday with family, often after the previous day’s Easter meal and church observances. In towns and villages, lighthearted water fights may appear in public spaces, schools, courtyards and at home, although the scale varies widely by region and by family. Because it is a public holiday, the day is commonly used for visiting relatives, resting and continuing Easter gatherings.
Interesting facts
In Polish, the day is commonly associated with the name Śmigus-Dyngus. The custom is one of the most recognizable Easter Monday traditions in Poland and is often mentioned in accounts of Polish folk customs.
Dates in published calendars
Sources and verification
- 2027: Polish Public Holidays Act (consolidated text) · checked 20 Oct 2026
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.