You probably noticed that the first week of May in Poland was a loooong weekend.
The day of May 3 is ‘Constitution Day’ in Poland, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution on May 3, 1791. It was the first Constitution to be passed in Europe and the second in the world (after the US Constitution passed in 1787). This event is considered to be one of the most important in the history of Poland. It had its further consequences… The adoption of this highest legal act provoked hostility of the Russian Empire, which in 1793 and 1795, together with Austria and Prussia, completely annexed Poland. Poland lost its independence for 123 years, only to regain it after the First World War in 1918.
The constitution passed on May 3 introduced a number of changes to the Polish system, in particular:
# heredity of the throne, which was to prevent foreign interference in the affairs of the Republic of Poland,
# improved the functioning of the state administration,
# gave new rights to all citizens.
Three original copies of the Constitution of May 3 are in the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw.
In today’s Poland, May 3 is a day off, and people celebrate by participating in parades, concerts, and public appearances. The Constitution of May 3, although it was only in force for a year at the time, gave Poland an impulse to adopt a modern Constitution on April 2, 1997, which is still in force today.
In KLUB DIALOGU Polish Language School we teach not only the Polish language, but also share our culture, tradition and lifestyle with students. You too – are very welcome to our School :)!
