Polish Heritage Day in UK

The idea is to organise a wide range of events promoting Poland during the first weekend after Poland’s Constitution Day – 3 May. The first edition of the Polish Heritage Day is planned for 6-7 May. It will be coordinated by the Polish consulates in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

In a letter to Polish organisations in the UK, Polish Ambassador Arkady Rzegocki wrote that the position of the almost one-million-strong Polish community is not commensurate to the country’s extraordinary potential.

“By demonstrating to our neighbours our openness, tolerance, commitment and friendly attitude, we are overcoming the stereotypes and display our resolve to have a say on how the affairs of our neighbourhoods are run,” Rzegocki wrote.

The organisers of the Polish Heritage Day hope that groups of Poles, as well as Polish organisations, schools and parishes will come up with special events across the UK, and that on 6-7 May, Polish national flags will be displayed in Polish homes and, in cooperation with local authorities, also on public buildings.

According to official data, the number of Poles living in the UK has topped the 980,000 mark. In 2003, a year before Poland joined the European Union, the Polish community numbered a mere 44,000. (mk/rg)