All Saints’ Day in Poland
All Saints’ Day is observed in Poland every November 1 and is listed among the country’s statutory non-working days. Many people visit family graves, leave flowers and candles, and remember both loved ones and people honored in national memorials.[1][3]
Date and public-holiday rules
Polish law names November 1 as All Saints’ Day and a non-working day. Employees in some legally permitted services may still work. When November 1 falls on a Sunday, the Sunday itself does not reduce the standard working-time calculation, so employees do not receive an automatic substitute weekday off for the holiday.[1][2]
Religious meaning and remembrance
In Catholic teaching, November 1 is a celebration of the saints in heaven. The Polish bishops’ conference describes it as a day expressing the universal call to holiness. November 2, All Souls’ Day, has a distinct focus on prayer for the dead.[4]
In Poland, remembrance also reaches beyond family graves. People light candles at soldiers’ graves, memorial sites and the graves of people recognized for their contributions to Polish history and culture.[3]
Cemetery customs
Families visit cemeteries to tidy relatives’ graves, decorate them with flowers and candles, and pray. These customs make cemetery visits a central part of the day for many people in Poland.[3]
All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are connected in the calendar but have different religious meanings: the first honors the saints, while the second is devoted to prayer for the dead. In practice, visits to graves and remembrance often extend across both days.[3][4]
What closes and what may stay open
The holiday also affects shopping. Polish law prohibits trade and trade-related work in retail establishments on public holidays, subject to listed exceptions. These include petrol stations, pharmacies, flower shops, some bakeries and confectioners, food-service businesses, and stalls selling flowers, wreaths or candles at cemeteries.[5]
The ban is not a general closure rule for every service. Transport and some other work may continue under applicable rules. Check opening hours for individual services and businesses before setting out.[2][5]
Getting to cemeteries
Public transport plans vary by city. Kraków’s transport operator has documented extra bus and tram service to help passengers reach cemeteries during the All Saints period. Check the local operator’s notice for routes, timetables and any temporary traffic arrangements before traveling.[6]
Frequently asked questions
When is All Saints’ Day in Poland?
It is observed every year on November 1, the date specified in Poland’s public-holiday law.[1]
Is November 1 a day off work?
Are shops open on All Saints’ Day?
Retail trade is generally prohibited on public holidays, but the law lists exceptions, including petrol stations, pharmacies, some food-service businesses and cemetery flower or candle stalls. Check a specific shop before visiting.[5]
Does public transport run to cemeteries?
Arrangements depend on the city. Kraków’s operator has documented extra cemetery-bound bus and tram service for the All Saints period; check your local operator’s current notice.[6]
Sources and references
Sources used for All Saints' Day in Poland:
- Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 6 marca 2025 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o dniach wolnych od pracy- Dziennik Ustaw Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
- Czy pracodawca ma obowiązek wyznaczenia pracownikowi innego dnia wolnego od pracy w zamian za Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja przypadające w niedzielę?- Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy, Okręgowy Inspektorat Pracy w Katowicach
- Wszystkich Świętych i Dzień Zaduszny w polskiej tradycji- Ośrodek Rozwoju Polskiej Edukacji za Granicą
- Sekretarz generalny KEP: 1 listopada otwieramy się na blask świętości- Konferencja Episkopatu Polski
- Ustawa z dnia 10 stycznia 2018 r. o ograniczeniu handlu w niedziele i święta oraz w niektóre inne dni- Elektroniczny Dziennik Ustaw
- Wszystkich Świętych - komunikacja miejska- Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne S.A. w Krakowie