National Independence Day. Celebration at the Monument to Marshal Piłsudski

Posted On: November 10, 2023

Delegation of Gdańsk authorities at the Monument to Marshal Józef Piłsudaski

photo: Grzegorz Mehring/gdansk.pl

Ceremony at the Monument to Marshal Piłsudski

Traditionally, on the eve of National Independence Day, the city’s official celebrations take place at the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Monument on Strzyża in Gdańsk. Previously at the Garrison Church of St. The Apostles Peter and Paul at ul. Sobótka in Wrzeszcz, Holy Mass is celebrated. for the homeland.

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women in uniforms armed with rifles stand guard

Polish soldiers take part in celebrations in Gdańsk

photo: Grzegorz Mehring/gdansk.pl

At 11.00 WIB the square in front of the monument was filled with ceremony participants, flag bearers, TNI, police groups and young people. The Gdańsk authorities were represented by the mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, the chairman of the Gdańsk City Council, Agnieszka Owczarczak, and Piotr Borawski, the deputy mayor of Gdańsk. Gdańsk city council members Emilia Lodzińska, Piotr Dzik, Michał Hajduk and Krystian Kłos were also present.

long-haired middle-aged woman wearing glasses and a coat, smiling in front of a microphone

Mayor of Gdańsk during celebrations of 105 years of Poland’s Independence

photo: Grzegorz Mehring/gdansk.pl

Gdansk traditions

The place at the foot of the monument to Marshal Piłsudski is a permanent place for patriotic celebrations. This year’s celebration has a rich atmosphere. The Polish National Anthem is sung. The “1st Brigade March” was also held. The ceremony on November 10 was also accompanied by prayers, remembrance and respect. At the end of the event, participants laid flowers at the monument and released doves symbolizing peace and soared into the sky.

PROGRAM Celebration of National Independence Day in Gdańsk

a group of women and men in the square released doves from their hands

Releasing doves as a symbol of peace

photo: Grzegorz Mehring/gdansk.pl

Marshal Piłsudski – one of the fathers of independence

This socialist and independence activist, born in the Vilnius region in 1867, was one of the creators of our independent homeland after years of partition. He was the creator of the Polish Legion, one of the armed formations created by Poles fighting in World War I. Piłsudski’s Legion fought on the side of Austria-Hungary. He was a soldier and politician. On November 11, 1918, he took power from the Regency Council in Warsaw and this date is considered a symbolic moment for regaining independence.

Józef Piłsudski in Gdańsk prison in Schiestange