For Poznań, 11 November, which is Poland's National Independence Day, is a double celebration with St Martin's Name Day providing a second reason to celebrate. The commemoration of the country's regained independence goes hand in hand with a focus on charitable action, concern for others, good neighbourliness and openness. Each year, the Św. Marcin Day celebrations attract large numbers of Poznań residents, alongside guests from elsewhere in Poland and beyond.

"Do Good" - the motto that has accompanied the event for several editions - alludes to the legend of St Martin, who, while serving as a Roman soldier, tore his cloak and gave half of it to a destitute man. The story is said to have inspired Walenty, a local baker, to make crescent-shaped pastries for those most in need. From this arose the custom of baking St Martin's croissants, which now contain white poppy seeds, dried fruit and nuts among their ingredients and enjoy protected status as a regional product across the European Union.

This year, the St Martin's celebrations will take the shape of a Name Day Town, open from 11 am to 9 pm. The town will occupy the central part of the junction of ul. Święty Marcin and Aleja Niepodległości, as well as Plac Adama Mickiewicza and the Open Courtyard in front of the Castle. It will extend from ul. Fredry and ul. Kościuszki as far as ul. Składowa and ul. Skośna. Attractions will be spread across the whole site, among them the St Martin's Fair.

Following a one-year hiatus, the St Martin's Parade will once again make its way along ul. Święty Marcin, ul. Składowa, ul. Towarowa and Aleje Niepodległości. Twenty-four organisations will take part, among them theatre companies, school groups, sports clubs and musical ensembles. Some 300 participants will march in the parade, accompanied by moving figures and installations. Also appearing will be Poznań's celebrated billy goats, mounted Uhlan lancers, Bamber women, figures from the St Martin legend, a brass band from Swarzędz and large-scale floats featuring Mother Earth, Pegasus and more.

The Castle Cultural Centre's Theatre Studio, Circus Ferus and pupils from the Łejery school will bring the city's symbols to life: the Warta River, Ignacy Jan Paderewski appearing on a balcony, and Cegielski Works workers. The Ukrainian Spring Association will display an embroidered tablecloth inscribed with the words "Do Good", while banners created by children and elderly participants in art workshops held at the Castle will be carried above the crowd. Leading the parade will be St Martin, who will first receive the symbolic keys to the city from the Mayor of Poznań on the main stage in Plac Mickiewicza.

For the first time, the procession will be streamed live online and shown on screen in the Castle's Grand Hall. The broadcast will feature a commentary introducing the themes and figures on screen, allowing people around the world to join in Poznań's celebrations.

The Pogłosy Choir, under the direction of Joanna Sykulska, will sing a work composed specially for St Martin's Name Day, its lyrics written during literary workshops for youngsters, with music by Sambor Dudziński. The performance will bring the procession to a close and lead into the musical programme that follows.

Music will fill the streets throughout St Martin's Name Day. Soon after 11 am, Ptaszkowie Śpiewali will appear on the main stage at Plac Adama Mickiewicz with family-friendly songs inspired by the natural world. Next comes a good-natured musical face-off between generations: the young rapcore group Czemoo will perform, followed immediately by Poznańskie Senioritki.

The second part of the musical programme will commence as soon as the parade has passed by. Audiences can expect performances by the Smolik/Kev Fox duo and the Poligrodzianie Folk Dance Ensemble. Katarzyna Nosowska will take the stage at 6 pm. DJ sets will round off the Name Day celebrations.

The Castle will be alive with cultural activity. Family workshops and performances will run from 11 am to 6 pm, and in the Passage Vestibule visitors may dress up as St Martin and pose for a photograph on an authentic imperial throne. A family field game will lead participants through the Name Day Town. There will also be ticketed attractions, including the exhibition The World as a Herbarium: Nature in Art from the 17th to the 21st Century and a screening programme for Polish Cinema Day at the Pałacowe Cinema.

"Charity Street" in front of the Castle will provide space for NGOs, encouraging visitors to get involved in the activities together. At the Zamek (Castle) tram stop, guests may step aboard a vintage tram from the 1950s and hear stories about the Poznań June 1956 worker protests. Artistic, acrobatic and circus acts will take place throughout the town. Visitors may also wander along "Good Old St Martin Street", an attraction zone organised by the Castle Cultural Centre's partners in the St Martin Coalition, which extends from ul. Gwarna to ul. Ratajczaka.

The Name Day Town will be a mass event in a format designed to safeguard both safety and accessibility for the broadest possible public. Admission will be free, with access via five entry points. As has become standard at many large festivals, entrants to the site will be subject to security checks. Any prohibited items will be seized and may be placed in complimentary storage.

Accessibility is a particular priority for the organisers. Selected events will be translated into the Polish Sign Language, an induction loop will be provided for hard-of-hearing visitors, while a viewing platform for people with limited mobility will be installed at Plac Mickiewicza. The Castle will offer a quiet room, giving neurodivergent visitors a comfortable place to take a break from the overwhelming noise and bright lights. Two information desks will operate during the celebrations: one in the Castle itself and the other at the corner of ul. Święty Marcin and Aleje Niepodległości.

Mateusz Malinowski
translated by Krzysztof Kotkowski

St Martin's Name Day
11 November, from 11am
ul. Święty Marcin, Aleja Niepodległości, Plac Adama Mickiewicza and the Open Courtyard in front of the Castle

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2026