What name is given to Poland’s national holiday on 11 November, commemorating the restoration of independence in 1918?

Poland’s national holiday on 11 November, commemorating the restoration of independence in 1918, is called National Independence Day.

The holiday marks Poland’s return as an independent state after 123 years of partitions by the Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, and Habsburg monarchy. The date is associated with November 11, 1918, when World War I ended and Józef Piłsudski assumed military authority in Warsaw.

Poland first established the observance as a public holiday in 1937. Authorities abolished it during the communist period, and it was restored in 1989 during Poland’s political transition. Modern commemorations include official ceremonies, military events, concerts, and public runs.

November 11 is also Armistice Day in several countries, but Poland’s observance has its own historical meaning. It celebrates the restoration of statehood rather than the adoption of a constitution.