Join the Three Kings' Procession Through the Old Town
On January 6, Poznań fills with the colour and noise of the Orszak Trzech Króli — the Three Kings' procession that marks Epiphany in towns and cities across Poland. In 2027 the holiday falls on Wednesday, January 6, a national public holiday, so the streets belong to the crowds rather than the commute. Expect a procession of the Three Wise Men, caroling along the route, and Nativity scene reenactments, with the kings handing out candy and small treats to onlookers. Arrive early to find a spot along the route, and dress for a Polish January — the spectacle is outdoors.
Hear the Carols and the Epiphany Sermons
Epiphany commemorates both the Three Kings' visit to the infant Jesus and Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River, and the day's religious character is on full display. Local parish priests preach on the significance of the feast, and in churches across the city you can join carol singing that continues through the season. If you're in Poznań for the holiday, stepping into a parish church for the Epiphany Mass is one of the most direct ways to understand what the celebration means to the people around you.
Watch for the Chalk Marks on the Doorways
Keep an eye on the doorways of the houses you pass. On Epiphany, many Polish households mark their doors with the letters K, M and B, each separated by a cross — for the kings Kacper, Melchior and Baltazar. Some families place three small boxes above the door containing water, incense and chalk. It's a quiet, domestic counterpart to the public parades, and a reminder that the feast is observed in homes as much as in the streets.
Plan Around the Holiday Closures
- Date: Epiphany is celebrated annually on January 6; in 2027 that is a Wednesday, and it is a national public holiday in Poland.
- What's closed: schools, banks, government offices and most private businesses shut for the day, and a trade prohibition applies on public holidays.
- Getting around: public transport may run on altered schedules on the holiday, so check with the local transit authority before you set out.
- Wider context: the holiday was cancelled during the Communist regime and restored as an official public holiday across Poland in 2011 — which is part of why the processions feel so enthusiastically attended today.
Time Your Visit to the Epiphany Season
January 6 is the anchor of the trip, but the caroling and Nativity traditions that surround it belong to the whole Christmas season in Poland. Build your stay around the holiday itself so you're in the city for the procession and the church services, and treat the days either side as time to wander the Old Town at a slower pace. Because the day is a public holiday, plan your meals and errands around the closures — and confirm transport timetables in advance.
Start with the date: Wednesday, January 6, 2027. Book your travel so you're in Poznań for the procession and the Epiphany services, check the holiday transport schedules before you go, and leave room in your itinerary for the carols, the crowds and the chalk marks on the doors.