Today is the National Day of Independence in Poland

 

Yes,, today is National Independence Day in Poland. In Polish, it is called Narodowe Święto Niepodległości. 

It was on this day in 1918, the last day of World War I, that Poland earned it's sovereignty again after more than 120 years of having effectively ceased to exist, having been absorbed variously into Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Russia. They finally broke free at the end of World War I, and the Second Polish Republic was established. 

For Poland, this is a bit like July 1st, better known as Canada Day, in that country, or the Fourth of July in the United States, or the 14th of July in France. Only, it is obviously a bit colder. Still, people in Poland generally have off from work on this holiday, and they celebrate. It is a major holiday.

Poland is a beautiful country, with a lot of both natural and architectural beauty. It does have a complicated history, with it's influence on neighboring countries, as well as the influence of those other countries, woven through the centuries. But through it all, Poland has persisted, and the Polish people have maintained their unique identity and independence through it all. Let us honor and celebrate that legacy on this national holiday of Poland.