Every year on May 3, Poland celebrates an important public holiday — National Day of the Third of May (Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja) or Constitution Day of May 3 (Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja), dedicated to the anniversary of the adoption of the country's constitution in 1791.
The first Polish Constitution — is the oldest in Europe. It was adopted on May 3, 1791, six months earlier than the French one.
According to the Constitution, Poland was proclaimed a country under the administration of a hereditary constitutional monarchy and a parliament, which was elected for two years. A year later, as a result of the division of territory between Prussia, Russia and Austria, Poland lost its independence, and in 1918 the country was reunited again, and May 3 was proclaimed an official holiday. But only for a period of just over two decades — until the next capture and division of Poland.
The socialist government of Poland did not welcome the holiday, but patriotic Poles continued to celebrate Constitution Day under socialism, albeit unofficially. In 1990, the May 3 Constitution Day was revived and officially declared a public holiday.
An integral part of the holiday were prayer services held in Catholic cathedrals throughout the country. There are also visits to memorials, and concert programs are organized in theater and concert halls and open areas.