Menu Close
Center for Urban History
6 Bohomoltsia Str. Lviv 79005, Ukraine

Polish national anniversaries

The second half of the 19th century in Europe was the time of nationalism, mass rituals and commemoration, which were to strengthen the position of the then elites. In celebrating birthdays of the emperors of Russia or Austria-Hungary, republican holidays in France or anniversaries of Germany's victories, official patriotism was complemented by the practice of honoring writers and other "national heroes." Through the involvement of large masses of the population (due to rail transport and the press) it was possible to turn subjects into nations.

Polish society did not remain aside from these processes. Celebrating the anniversaries of past victories proved to be a much safer activity than preparing for a new uprising. Besides, it was perceived as more patriotic than "organic work." Moreover, in the conditions of the division between Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary, the Polish elites emphasized the "construction of society" without challenging the existing empires.

>>> Read more

facebook icon twitter icon email icon telegram icon link icon whatsapp icon
post picture

Polish National Anniversaries and Celebrations

 During the period of Galician autonomy in Austria-Hungary, Polish elites learned to use the imperial ritual to promote their "national agenda." Acting as power (in the symbolic field), they seemed to become power themselves.
post picture

300th Anniversary of the Lublin Union

 The 1869 events are mainly associated with the beginning of raising the mound at the Vysokyi Zamok Hill. However, there was also another important aspect of the anniversary, namely, holding, or rather an attempt at holding a mass commemoration.
post picture

50th Anniversary of the November Uprising (1880)

 It was the first time the event was celebrated in this format and interpretation. It demonstrated the growing popularity of nationalist ideas and the loss of the conservatives' ideological monopoly in Galicia.
post picture

200th Anniversary of the Victory at Vienna (1883)

 The celebration in Lviv in 1883 was, on the one hand, a Polish patriotic event, since it was about the victory of King Jan III Sobieski. On the other hand, it was a celebration of the successful defense of Vienna, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the festivities were fully in line with imperial policy.
post picture

Honoring the Polish "Poet-Prophets"

 As befits a cult, a calendar of birthdays, deaths, book releases, or the publication of individual works was formed around national poets. This was common to both Poles and Ukrainians and allowed them to regularly "remember" poets and "educate" the younger generation.
post picture

500th Anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald (1910)

 The celebration of the victory of the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian forces over the "German" crusaders could not but contain anti-German overtones. Therefore, in order to avoid confrontation with the central government, the press used the phrase "victory over the crusaders," which allowed everyone, including officials, to save their faces.
post picture

Commemorations of the Polish January Uprising (1888, 1913)

 The anniversary of the January Uprising is an important date for the Polish national movement. Given the political situation and the level of freedoms in different parts of the divided Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (German, Austrian and Russian), it is natural that the most favorable conditions for celebrating such anniversaries were present in Galicia.