Halloween in Poland: Do Poles Celebrate It? Numbers and Traditions

At the end of October, pumpkins, costumes and sweets appear in Polish shops. A few days later, the same shelves fill up with grave candles (znicze) and chrysanthemums. For many people who came to Poland from Ukraine, this comes as a surprise: do Poles celebrate Halloween at all? And is it appropriate to join in?

The short answer: Halloween exists in Poland, but it is not a public holiday or a Polish tradition. It is mostly entertainment for children and young people. The day that comes right after it is far more important: 1 November, All Saints’ Day. Below we explain what the research says, how these days differ and what is worth knowing if you work in Poland.

How many Poles celebrate Halloween? 2024 survey results

According to a survey by the Instytut Badań Pollster from October 2024, 31% of Poles celebrate Halloween, and 58% have never celebrated it. At the same time, 63% have a positive or neutral attitude towards the holiday. So Poles are not exactly protesting, but they are not celebrating en masse either.

Source: Instytut Badań Pollster for MANAGER+ magazine, 25.10.2024, online survey, 1,030 adults.

What do those who celebrate do? Most often they buy sweets (40%), carve pumpkins (36%) and decorate the house (27%). “Trick or treat” evokes mixed feelings: 49% of Poles consider children going around the neighbours risky, while 36% consider it safe.

Another survey, carried out in September 2024 by Havas Media Network, shows that only 12% of Poles think Halloween fits Polish culture. This reflects the mood well: Halloween is tolerated as entertainment, but many people do not treat it as “their own” holiday.

Halloween and All Saints’ Day: why they are two different days

Halloween (31 October) is an evening of fun. All Saints’ Day (1 November) is a day of remembering the dead and one of the most important holidays in the Polish calendar. That is exactly why some Poles look at Halloween with reluctance: they fear that cheerful entertainment is displacing a serious tradition.

On 1 November families travel to the graves of their loved ones, often to the other end of Poland. They bring flowers, most often chrysanthemums, and light candles. In the evening the cemeteries glow with thousands of lights. It is a calm and serious day: at the cemetery people do not speak loudly and do not come in costumes.

In 2026 Halloween falls on a Saturday and All Saints’ Day on a Sunday. It is best to do your shopping for Sunday and the start of the week on Saturday, 31 October.

And what about Ukraine?

In Ukraine, too, Halloween is not a public holiday. It is celebrated mainly by young people in big cities: parties in clubs and cafés, costumes, decorations in language schools. There is no nationwide survey on how many Ukrainians celebrate Halloween, so we do not give any numbers here.

The Ukrainian tradition has its own days of remembering the dead, above all the spring Provody after Easter. So the Polish All Saints’ Day may feel close in spirit to many people from Ukraine, even though it falls at a different time.

Working in Poland? 5 practical tips

1. Do your shopping on Saturday. Shops are closed on 1 November, and this year it is a Sunday. On Saturday, 31.10, the shops will be busier than usual, so it is better to go in the morning.
2. Check your schedule. In workplaces that operate continuously, shifts may also fall on the holiday. Confirm your schedule with your coordinator.
3. All Souls’ Day is an ordinary working day. On 2 November (a Monday this year) workplaces, offices and shops operate as usual.
4. Plan your journey. Around 1 November roads and buses are overcrowded, traffic arrangements change near cemeteries, and every year the police run the “Znicz” campaign and check drivers more often. Leave earlier.
5. Respect the mood of the day. You can celebrate Halloween at home or with friends. At the cemetery on 1 November, behave calmly, without costumes and loud music. An evening visit to a large cemetery is open to everyone and shows Polish tradition well.

Most common questions about Halloween in Poland

Is Halloween a day off in Poland? No. 31 October is an ordinary day; shops and workplaces operate as usual.

Is 1 November a day off? Yes, it is a public holiday. Shops are closed, but some workplaces operate continuously.

Is 2 November a day off? No, All Souls’ Day is an ordinary working day.

Do children in Poland go from house to house for sweets? In some neighbourhoods yes, but not everywhere. Almost half of Poles consider it risky, so not everyone will open the door.

Looking for a job in Poland?

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Sources

• Instytut Badań Pollster for MANAGER+ magazine, 25.10.2024
• Havas Media Network – CSA, September 2024 (Dziennik.pl)

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