Poland (nationwide, notably Kraków and rural villages) · usually late March
Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny)
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Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny)
When is Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny) 2027?
Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny) usually runs late March. Exact dates are not announced yet.
How the dates are set: First day of spring, 21 March, or the fourth Sunday of Lent in some towns.
Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny) schedule
- Every year on March 21: The drowning of Marzanna used to take place on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In the 20th century the date was set to March 21, the first day of spring.
- On the day: Kindergarteners and school children prepare Marzannas for contests or drown them in rivers during field trips with their classmates.
Source: realpolandtours.com
History of Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny)
Marzanna is the Polish name for a Slavic goddess of winter, plague and death. The custom of drowning or burning her effigy survives in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania, and is meant to chase winter away and make spring come sooner. The effigy is traditionally made of straw, white linen or folk costume, and ribbons and beads.
Source: kissmeimpolish.com
Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny): questions people ask
When is the Drowning of Marzanna?
It takes place on March 21, the first day of spring. It used to be held on the fourth Sunday of Lent.
What is the Drowning of Marzanna?
It is an old Slavic custom in which a straw effigy of the winter goddess is set on fire and thrown into a river or lake to chase off winter and welcome spring.
Is the Drowning of Marzanna still practiced?
Yes, mostly by young children. Kids make a Marzanna doll, take it to the nearest riverbank, set it on fire and throw it in, under adult supervision.
What is Truant's Day in Poland?
It is an unofficial occasion on the first day of spring when students skip school to celebrate the end of winter. It falls on the same day as Marzanna.
What are the superstitions about Marzanna?
Do not touch the doll while it is in the water, and do not look back toward it on the way home, or you risk bad luck or illness.
Sources: realpolandtours.com, wpna.fm, kissmeimpolish.com
About Marzanna drowning (topienie Marzanny)
Poland burns and drowns winter in a straw effigy every spring equinox.
On or around March 21, Polish communities parade a straw effigy of Marzanna, the winter goddess, to a river, then set her alight and toss her in to hasten spring. It is oldest and liveliest in small towns and villages, though Kraków hosts organized processions too. The ritual is pagan in origin but still practiced with real warmth by schoolchildren and families.
Know before you go
- Timing shifts to the nearest weekend around the equinox in many towns.
- Dress warmly, riverside crowds gather in still-cold March air.
- Kraków airport sits 15km from the old town where several neighborhoods hold their own Marzanna walks.
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