Happy Independence Day, Poland
Since 1918, the Polish have been celebrating on 11 November
11 November 1918 marked a new era of independence for Poland, so Poles across the world today are celebrating.
11/11 is a significant date around the world: in many Commonwealth countries including my homeland of Australia, it's Remembrance Day (commemorating war sacrifices) and personally for me, it's my second wedding day: my German husband and I married once in Germany, and today will do it again in Australia, for my family.
When we explained this to our relatives in Germany, a family member actually born in Poland piped up in excitement. "I'll remember your second wedding day!", she'd said, "because it's the same as our Independence Day!"
During the 19th century, the Polish map was torn up and the country ruled by Russia, Prussia and Austria. On November 11, 1918, the second Polish Republic was declared, and to this day, it's the date used to celebrate Independence Day in Poland - and by Poles who might live elsewhere.
You can read about Poland in our article about the Auschwitz camps, and more optimistically, you can look forward to articles in the near future about Warsaw and the increasingly popular destination of Krakow.
