Constitution Day on 3 May is one of the most important national holidays in Poland, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of 3 May 1791 – the first modern constitution in Europe and the second in the world. The document was an attempt to reform the political system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and strengthen the state in the face of external and internal threats. In 2026, the 235th anniversary of its adoption will be observed.
Every year on 3 May, patriotic ceremonies are held throughout Poland, reminding people of the significance of this event for the country’s history and national identity. Masses, memorial ceremonies, wreath-laying ceremonies and cultural events are organised in many cities.
This year’s celebrations in Bolesławiec began with a solemn Mass, after which participants marched to the Monument to the Centenary of Regaining Independence on Bankowa Street. A formal ceremony was held there. The Bolesławiec Municipal Brass Band played the national anthem, during which the national flag was raised on the flagpole. This was followed by commemorative speeches and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to Independence.
City and county authorities, delegations from schools and municipal institutions, soldiers from the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment in Bolesławiec, and representatives of the police, municipal police and fire service took part in the ceremony. The Sunday celebrations provided an opportunity for a moment of reflection and to pay tribute to the authors of the Constitution and everyone who fought for Poland’s freedom.
The celebrations will conclude with an event at the FORUM Cinema, beginning at 12:40 p.m. The programme includes a lecture by Paweł Wcisło, a student at I LO in Bolesławiec, devoted to the Constitution of 3 May 1791.
The audience will then hear patriotic songs performed by Dominika Pietrzak, Wiktoria Eliaszewicz and Oliwia Janiec. The event will conclude with a piano concert by Andrzej Wierciński, held as part of the “Chopin Effect” series. Tickets can be collected at the FORUM Cinema box office.