Poland’s 100 years of Independence

Zwiazek Podhalan w Kanadzie recently took part in celebrations at Queen’s Park, commemorating Poland’s 100 years of Independence. With the Canadian Polish Congress, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto and dozens of Polish organizations, Toronto was one of hundreds of cities celebrating around the world.

Cały świat świętuje z nami 100-lecie niepodległości Polski. CN Tower, czyli symbol miasta a zarazem jedna z najwyższych wież na świecie, rozbłyśnie tego dnia na biało-czerwono.

Following the First World War and after spending 123 years divided amongst the German, Austrian and Russian Empires. Poland regained its sovereignty on November 11th, 1918. The experience of losing independence for over a century and fighting to get it back became a permanent part of Polish identity. In the interwar period, as well as during and after World War II, the memory of national uprisings and other manifestations of the struggle to maintain national identity did not fade. It can even be said that the Nazi occupation was incorporated into this symbolic order of things and in a way strengthened the independence tradition. In 1937, the symbolic day of 11 November (marking the end of the war and Piłsudski’s return) was proclaimed a state holiday. Despite the authorities’ attempts to question its importance after 1945, it returned to the state holiday calendar as the Polish Independence Day following the political transformation in 1989. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the reappearance of Poland on the map of Europe. To read more, click here.