Harvest Festival in Poland: what is this traditional holiday?
- Damian Brzeski
- Sep 6
- 11 min read
Crisp air, the smell of fresh bread, a crown of ears of corn, and a colorful procession—sounds like folklore? Yet, the Harvest Festival is more than just a festival: it's pagan magic, Christian gratitude, and communal ritual all woven into one day.
Where did the wreath and bread come from, who are the Starosta and Starościna, and how has this holiday survived through the centuries—from the manor house, through the Polish People's Republic, to today? Discover the meaning of Harvest Festival before you blend into the crowd again.
What is the Harvest Festival?
Imagine the scene: crisp, late summer air, a blaze of colors from folk costumes shimmering in the sun, and the booming sound of a brass band leading a solemn procession.
The absolutely incredible, earthy aroma of freshly baked bread hangs in the air, and the tall, intricately woven wreaths catch the eye. This isn't a scene from a historical film, but the living, pulsating present of the Polish countryside.
This is the Harvest Festival – one of the most important agricultural holidays in Poland, also known as the Harvest Festival or the Thanksgiving Harvest Festival .
Swito is a profound expression of gratitude for harvest time , a celebration of the hard work of farmers, and a powerful ritual that binds local communities together like nothing else. These traditions connected to the land have endured for centuries.
I invite you on a journey that will help you understand the spirit of this holiday. Where did these joyful harvest festival ceremonies come from? What stories do such simple things as the harvest wreath and bread tell us?
And how is it possible that this traditional Polish holiday has survived for hundreds of years, still remaining a living element of our identity?
When is the Harvest Festival?
The Harvest Festival doesn't have a single, fixed date in the calendar. It's a movable holiday, inextricably linked to the end of the harvest, so its celebrations fall between mid-August and the end of September .
For many communities, the symbolic beginning of this time is the feast of Our Lady of the Herbs (August 15), when thanks are given for the harvest for the first time by blessing herbs and grains in churches.
In practice, the final date for the Harvest Festival is chosen by the local organizers – the municipality or parish . The date is almost always set for a weekend, most often a Sunday , to allow the entire community to participate in the festivities.
August is usually the month of municipal and parish harvest festivals, while September is the month of larger celebrations at the district and provincial levels, as well as the most solemn ones – the Presidential Harvest Festival , which concludes the entire season of thanksgiving for the harvest.
Who's Who and What's What: Key Figures and Symbols of the Harvest Festival
To fully experience the magic of the harvest festival , it's worth getting to know the main characters of this spectacle – both human and symbolic. The entire harvest festival ritual revolves around several key elements.
The Starosta and the Starościna – honorary hosts of the harvest festival
The ceremonial masters of the harvest festival are the Starost and Starostina . These are not actors! They are individuals chosen from the local community to represent all the farmers. The role of Starost of the harvest festival is extremely honorable. They are usually respected farmers, and their election is a public expression of appreciation for their hard work.
It is they who lead the colorful harvest festival procession and ceremoniously present the two most sacred symbols to the host of the harvest festival , who is usually the head of the village, the mayor or the parish priest.
Harvest wreath – a crown woven with gratitude
The harvest wreath is perhaps the most visually spectacular symbol of the Polish harvest festival . What the harvest wreath symbolizes is, above all, the abundance of the entire harvest and the hope for prosperity in the future.
In the past, preparing harvest wreaths was a task for the best harvesters , who wove them from the last tuft of grain deliberately left in the field. Over time, the simple form evolved into a majestic crown.
Today, making a harvest wreath is a true folk art, and the process of creating a harvest wreath itself can be an intergenerational experience.
After the celebrations, the harvest wreath was traditionally stored in the barn until spring, and the crushed grains were mixed with new sowing grain, thus closing the symbolic circle of life.
Modern harvest festival celebrations cannot be complete without competition – numerous harvest wreath competitions are organized.
The prestigious Competition for the most beautiful harvest wreath or the Harvest Crown Competition attracts talented artists who present the most interesting harvest wreaths , which are often true works of art.
The ceremonial handing over of the harvest wreath to the host is one of the most important points of the program.
Bread – a symbol that must be shared fairly
Harvest bread , baked from flour from freshly harvested grain, is a powerful symbol of life and community. During the ceremony, the Starost and Starostess present it to the farmer, asking him to "manage so that no one ever lacks."
This moment of sharing bread is the culmination of the harvest festival and a symbolic renewal of the social contract.
A journey through time, or how the harvest festival has changed over the centuries
The history of the harvest festival is like a mirror reflecting the history of Poland. How the festival was celebrated, who led the ceremony, and what it symbolized reveal a great deal about social structure, beliefs, and politics over the centuries. Let's follow this evolution step by step.
Pre-Christian Roots: Magic, Spirits, and the Circle of Life
The origins of the harvest festival date back to deep pagan times . For the ancient Slavs, the end of the harvest was not only an occasion for joy, but above all, a key magical moment.
The purpose of the rituals, known as Okrężne (from the ritual circumambulation of the fields) or Wieniawcowe , was not so much to give thanks, but to ensure the continuity of the vital forces of the earth .
Field Spirits and the Last Ear of Grain: It was believed that harvest spirits and fertility demons dwelt in the grain. To avoid offending them and to preserve their power for the coming year, the last handful of unharvested grain was left in the field. This clump, called a "quail , " "beard," or "goat," was decorated, an offering of bread and salt was placed beneath it, and then ceremonially cut. It was believed that the harvest spirit, which had to survive the winter in the form of grain, took refuge in it, only to be reborn in spring.
Wreath as a Symbol: The first wreaths were simple bundles of grain from the last ear of grain, which the harvesters carried to the farmer's home. They had magical powers – they protected against disease and ensured prosperity.
Harvest Festival: the lord, the peasants and the sacred order
With the development of the manor and farm economy in the 16th century, harvest festivals began to be organized in the form that became the basis of today's tradition. The holiday acquired a hierarchical character.
Ceremony and Tribute: After the harvest, a colorful procession formed, led by the best harvester (the head woman) carrying a wreath. The procession proceeded to the manor, where the wreath was presented to the heir as a symbol of the harvested crops and proof of a job well done. This was an act of homage and recognition of the lord's authority.
A Feast and Temporary Equality: In exchange for their hard work and loyalty, the landowner organized a lavish feast for his subjects, complete with food and alcohol, known as a roundabout . This was one of the few times of the year when rigid social barriers were briefly erased. The lord danced with the best harvester, and his wife with the head reaper. Although this was only a temporary illusion of equality, it represented a significant reward and respite for the peasants.
People's Day and Identity Manifestation (19th and 20th Centuries)
In the 19th century, with the abolition of serfdom and the awakening of national and class consciousness, the character of the harvest festival underwent another transformation.
Peasant Harvest Festival: Peasants, now landowners, began organizing peasant harvest festivals —independent of the manor. The festival became a powerful manifestation of their dignity, pride, and identity. They were often organized by peasant parties and the vibrant Agricultural Circles . The harvest festival became an opportunity not only for thanksgiving but also for demonstrating the political power of the peasantry.
The Presidential Harvest Festival and its National Dimension: During the interwar period, the holiday's status was elevated to a national one. In 1927, President Ignacy Mościcki organized the first nationwide Presidential Harvest Festival in Spała . This gave the tradition a patriotic dimension, uniting the nation around respect for the agricultural labor that was the foundation of the reborn state.
Harvest Festival in the Service of Propaganda (PRL)
After World War II, the communist authorities recognized the holiday's enormous propaganda potential. They adopted it but completely changed its meaning.
Secular ritual and the cult of work: Harvest festivals in the Polish People's Republic were completely stripped of their religious dimension. Instead of giving thanks to God, the goal was to glorify socialist agriculture, the implementation of the five-year plans, and the worker-peasant alliance.
A New "Host": The traditional host of the harvest festival (squire, mayor, parish priest) was replaced by the First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR) or another high-ranking government official. The Central Harvest Festival , often held with great pomp in enormous stadiums, became a carefully orchestrated spectacle demonstrating the power and success of the people's government.
Return to the roots and a new identity (after 1989)
The fall of communism brought a true renaissance of the authentic harvest festival. The holiday was "reclaimed" by society.
Two Pillars of Rebirth: This return to roots had two dimensions. First, a key religious dimension was restored – the harvest festival thanksgiving mass once again became the focal point of the celebrations.
Secondly, there was a return to locality . Local governments, parishes, and local communities took the initiative, allowing the holiday to regain its authentic, communal character, far removed from centrally controlled propaganda.
Today's harvest festival beautifully combines all these historical threads: pagan respect for nature, folk joy, Christian gratitude, and a civic sense of community.
Harvest Festival today – from mass to joyful festival
So what does the modern form of harvest festival celebrations look like? It's a fascinating fusion of the sacred and the profane. The day of the harvest festival, celebrated with great pomp, almost always begins with a solemn mass.
Afterwards, the harvest festival moves to the open air and transforms into a joyful folk festival .
It is also worth knowing that harvest festivals are organized at various levels, and each commune tries to organize the harvest festival in a unique way, cultivating its local traditions .
Larger harvest festivals are of a regional nature (such as the annual harvest festival of the Łódź Voivodeship ), and the most solemn are the central harvest festivals , including the prestigious presidential harvest festival , often held at Jasna Góra or in Spała.
This is when the harvest festival takes place with the participation of the highest state authorities.
And how do others celebrate? The Polish harvest festival compared to harvest festivals around the world.
While the Polish harvest festival is unique, the concept of giving thanks for the harvest is universal and present in almost every culture. It's fascinating how different societies express the same gratitude.
Let's take a closer look at a few examples to see how our harvest festival compares to global traditions.
Thanksgiving (USA and Canada) – Gratitude for History and Family
This is probably the most famous Thanksgiving holiday in the world, but its character is fundamentally different from our harvest festivals.
Roots: Thanksgiving isn't a celebration of the agricultural cycle, but rather a commemoration of a specific historical event —the legendary 1621 feast that the Pilgrims from Plymouth are said to have attended with the Wampanoag Native Americans. Therefore, it is a national and historical holiday.
Character: Unlike public and communal harvest festivals, Thanksgiving is a private and family celebration . Its center is the home, not a square or church.
Symbols and Rituals: The main symbol isn't the sharing of bread, but a whole roasted turkey , symbolizing abundance. It's accompanied by cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and sweet potatoes. The rituals are secular and domestic: sharing a meal, watching American football, and parades (like the famous Macy's parade in New York City). The day after the holiday, the commercial frenzy known as "Black Friday" begins.
Erntedankfest (Germany, Austria) – gratitude in the heart of the parish
The German and Austrian harvest festivals are culturally closest to us, but here too there are significant differences in emphasis.
Roots: Like the harvest festival, it has roots in rural and Christian traditions.
Character: This event is strongly focused on the church and parish community . It is usually more modest in nature than the nationwide central harvest festivals in Poland and rarely involves the highest state authorities.
Symbols and Rituals: The central focus is the service, during which beautiful thanksgiving altars ( Erntedankaltar ) are built in churches, decorated with fruits, vegetables, grain, and bread. A harvest crown ( Erntekrone ), very similar to our wreath , is also often worn . After the service, local processions, fairs, and festivals are organized.
Sukkot (Jewish Tradition) – Gratitude in a Fragile Tent
Also called the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Ingathering (Chag Ha-Asif), Sukkot is one of the three great pilgrimage holidays of Judaism.
Roots: It has a dual meaning. It is a harvest festival, a celebration of the harvest in ancient Israel. But more importantly, it commemorates the 40-year wandering of the Israelites in the desert after the Exodus, when they lived in temporary shelters.
Character: It is a deeply religious and theological family holiday.
Symbols and Rituals: The main ritual is building and "dwelling" in a temporary shelter ( sukkah ) for seven days. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of human life, our dependence on God's care, and our historical journey. Another important ritual is the blessing over the Arba Minim (Four Species)—a branch of palm, myrtle, willow, and citron fruit (etrog), which symbolize different types of people united in service to God.
Mid-Autumn Festival (China and East Asia) – Gratitude to the Moon
It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, celebrated in Vietnam, Korea and other countries in the region.
Roots: This is an ancient harvest festival, inextricably linked to moon worship . It is celebrated on the day of the autumn equinox, when the moon is at its brightest and fullest.
Character: Like Thanksgiving, it is primarily a family holiday , a time for reunions and meetings with loved ones.
Symbols and Rituals: The most important symbol is mooncakes —round, sweet pastries with a thick filling, often with a yolk embedded in the center, symbolizing the full moon. They are given as gifts to family and friends. In the evening, families gather to gaze at the moon, eat the cookies, and light colorful lanterns.
Jamu Festival (Nigeria, Ghana) – Gratitude for the King of Tuber
In many West African countries, especially among the Ibo people of Nigeria , the most important harvest festival is the Yam Festival.
Roots: Yam is the "king of plants" there—a staple of the diet and a symbol of wealth. The festival marks the end of the crop cycle and the beginning of a new season. It is also a way to honor ancestors and earth gods.
Character: It is a deeply communal and spiritual celebration .
Symbols and Rituals: The focal point is the ritual sampling of the first yam from the new harvest. This is typically performed by the king, chieftain, or the oldest male in the community. Only after this ceremony can the rest of the people begin to partake of the new harvest. The festivities are accompanied by colorful masquerades, traditional dances, music, and a sumptuous feast.
It's worth being invited!
The Harvest Festival is a living thread that connects us to our ancestors. It's a testament to how central land, work, and community have always been to our identity. It's a beautiful celebration of farmers and all who benefit from the fruits of their labor.
Therefore, if you ever have the opportunity to celebrate the harvest festival , do not hesitate for a moment.
Let yourself be carried away by the colorful procession, taste a piece of blessed bread and feel the powerful spirit of gratitude that so beautifully defines the customs of the harvest festival and this unique Polish tradition.
very good introduction! I have learned a lot from it!