3 May Constitution Day

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3 May Constitution Day
3 May
Frequencyannual

3 May Constitution Day (also 3rd May National Holiday;

fall of communism in modern Poland
.

Background

3 May parade in Bydgoszcz, Poland, 2014

The Constitution of 3 May 1791 is considered one of the most important achievements in the

Russo-Polish War of 1792. Historian Norman Davies calls it "the first constitution of its type in Europe"; other scholars also refer to it as the world's second oldest constitution.[a][1][2][3][4]

The 3 May Constitution was designed to redress long-standing political defects of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Constitution sought to supplant the existing anarchy fostered by some of the country's magnates with a more democratic constitutional monarchy. The adoption of the 3 May Constitution provoked the active hostility of the Commonwealth's neighbours, leading to the Second Partition of Poland in 1792, the Kościuszko Uprising of 1794 and the final, Third Partition of Poland, in 1795. In the words of two of its co-authors, Ignacy Potocki and Hugo Kołłątaj, it was "the last will and testament of the expiring Fatherland."[5]

The memory of the 3 May Constitution—recognised by

culture.[6]

The 3 May anniversary of its adoption has been observed as Poland's most important

civil holiday since Poland regained independence in 1918, along with the National Independence Day and the Armed Forces Day.[7] Its importance for the Polish people has been compared to that of 4 July to the Americans.[8]

Celebrations

dress uniform
during the celebrations of 3 May 2007

3 May was first declared a

fall of communism.[9] In 2007, 3 May was also declared a Lithuanian national holiday; the first joint celebration by the Polish Sejm and the Lithuanian Seimas took place on 3 May 2007.[12]

In modern Poland, this day, free from work, sees many parades, exhibitions, concerts and public figure speeches.

Polish culture.[13] It is also held in various other Polish cities as well.[citation needed
]

The holiday has been a focal point of ethnic celebrations of

Chicago Polonia.[15][16] In Minnesota, first celebrations date to the 1870s.[17] In San Francisco, the anniversary of the May 3rd Constitution has been observed annually for decades in the Music Concourse at Golden Gate Park.[18] In Buffalo, NY there is a Polish Happy Hour Buffalo event held every 3 May at the Adam Mickiewicz Library. There is free admission, free Polish food, Polish music played, and a reading of the preamble of the Polish Constitution in English and in Polish.[19]

See also

Notes

  • a
    History of the constitution
    for more information.

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-8377-0362-6
    .
  2. ISBN 978-0-307-38773-8
    .
  3. ISBN 978-90-481-2400-8
    .
  4. ISBN 0-19-820171-0
    .
  5. ISBN 978-90-411-3396-0
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-333-77475-5
    .
  7. ^ a b c d e f (in Polish) Rafał Kowalczyk and Łukasz Kamiński, Zakazane święta PRLu, Polskie Radio Online, 3 May 2008. Retrieved on 4 July 2011 (from the Internet Archive)
  8. ISBN 978-0-313-35778-7
    .
  9. ^ a b c d e "Konstytucja 3 Maja – rys historyczny" (PDF) (in Polish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2009., University of Warsaw. Retrieved on 4 July 2011 (from the Internet Archive)
  10. ^ a b c (in Polish) Adam Kożuchowski, Testament konającej republiki: Jak to było z Konstytucją 3 Maja, Polityka, 3 May 2011. Retrieved on 12 July 2011
  11. ^ (in Polish) Iwona Pogorzelska, "Prezentacja na podstawie artykułu Romany Guldon "Pamiątki Konstytucji 3 Maja przechowywane w zasobie Archiwum Państwowego w Kielcach."" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009. (4.14 MB) Almanach Historyczny, T. 4, Kielce 2002. Retrieved on 4 July 2011
  12. ^ (in Polish) Rok 2007: Przegląd wydarzeń, Tygnodnik Wileńszczyzny. Retrieved on 4 July 2011
  13. ^ a b c d (in Polish) Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja: „Nikt nie ma Polski na wyłączną własność", TVP.pl, 3 May 2011. Retrieved on 12 July 2011
  14. ^ "Witaj majowa jutrzenko". Śpiewnik Niepodległości (in Polish). Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b Polish Constitution Day – Chicago 2011 – Mayor Daley's Last Parade, Polonia Music. Retrieved on 4 July 2011.
  16. ^ Thousands Attend Polish Constitution Day Parade. CBS. 7 May 2011. Retrieved on 4 July 2011
  17. ISBN 978-0-87351-516-0
    .
  18. ^ "Annual Polish Constitution Day Celebration at Golden Gate Park". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2011. Annual Polish 3 May Constitution Day celebration at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
  19. ^ "May 3 Polish Constitution". ampoleagle.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016.
  20. JSTOR 564654

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=3_May_Constitution_Day&oldid=1159814932"