Miner's Day in Poland

December 4th in Poland sees the observance of 'Barbórka,' the local name for the feast day of St. Barbara of Nicomedia, patron saint of 'hard work and good death,' and therefore by extension: patron saint of miners.

In terms of observing the festivities as an outsider, Katowice's Nikiszowiec district is no doubt one of the best places in all of Poland to appreciate Barbórka, where each year its celebration is an all-out community event. Traditional Barbórka festivities in Nikiszowiec kick off early on the morning of the 4th when the residents of the district are awoken to the pounding drums and honking horns of mining marching bands as rank after rank of miners in full regalia wind through the neighbourhood.

The celebration begins with the morning mass. Miners in gala uniforms parade through the streets of the city with an orchestra. On this day, awards are given in the mining industry. Some miners receive an additional, 13th salary. Despite its dangers, or perhaps because of them, the mining profession has always held a high degree of prestige in Poland.