This past Saturday, April 28th, was the beginning of Majówka.

Majówka is a nine (9) day weekend enjoyed by Poles.

A nine day weekend you say? How can that be?

The nine day weekend encompasses two full weekends (4 days) plus the Public holidays of May 1st, the “State holiday” (formerly known as Labor Day during the communist oppression) and May 3rd, the anniversary of the Polish Constitution of May 3rd, 1791 (2 days).

May 2rd is Polish Flag Day. While May 2nd is a National Holiday, it is not a prescribed Public holiday or ‘day off.’ Nevertheless, most businesses are closed May 2nd. (1 day).

Adding two personal vacation days during the week (2 days) grants you a total of 9 days off.

Now that doesn’t happen every year. The 1st and 3rd have to fall properly on the calendar, during the workweek, as they do this year.

What to do — na Majówka?

Pretty much anything but stay home.

Head to the mountains or the shore, hit the road for a countryside holiday. Get out to your działka (a country garden – many city dwellers in Poland own a small country plot that they use for gardening) and get your plantings in.

Can you imagine something like that happening in the United States? The production drumbeat goes on, often to the detriment of family, health, and communal wellbeing.