Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.
The Greater Poland Uprising broke out 106 years ago
As every year, the main celebrations on the anniversary of the victorious uprising took place in front of the Greater Poland Insurgents Monument. Earlier, representatives of the city, county and province authorities, among others, laid flowers at the Cemetery of Meritorious Greater Poland Citizens and under the plaques commemorating the heroes.
The culmination of celebrations - organized by the provincial government - took place at the Wielkopolska Insurgents Monument. At 4:40 p.m. - at the historic hour of the outbreak of fighting - sirens sounded as usual. Trams and buses stopped for a minute. Participants sang the anthem; the national flag was raised. - On December 27, we commemorate the heroes of the independence uprising of 1918, which was one of the few in Polish history to end in success. The Wielkopolska Uprising was a great victory of our ancestors, the inhabitants of Poznań and Greater Poland. It is thanks to their heroism that we live in a free and sovereign Poland today. I am glad that for several years the courage of the insurgents and their achievements have been commemorated as a state holiday: the National Day of the Victorious Wielkopolska Uprising - says Jacek Jaśkowiak, the mayor of Poznań.
Wreaths were laid at the monument by representatives of veterans' organizations, as well as central and local government authorities. The city was represented by Jacek Jaśkowiak - the mayor of Poznań, Grzegorz Ganowicz - the chairman of the city council and Mariusz Wiśniewski - the deputy mayor of Poznań.
- December 27 is the most important date in the Greater Poland calendar every year. On this day, we pay tribute to the heroes: the Greater Poland Uprising and all those who supported them during the Greater Poland Uprising. We express our pride in the insurgents' deed and joy in the victory - said Marek Woźniak, the province marshal. - We celebrate not only at monuments and cemeteries, but also during concerts, marches, runs, field games, historical reenactments and many other events. All of them are a good way to express pride and joy in the victory, if they are not directed against someone or something. The memory of the Uprising builds our regional identity, and we want it to be free from current political tensions. We hope that it will remain so.
The main anniversary celebrations were preceded by the laying of wreaths on the graves of Gen. Stanisław Taczak and Col. Wincenty Wierzejewski at the Cemetery of Meritorious Greater Poland Citizens, as well as in front of the plaques of the Commanders of the Greater Poland Uprising, Sailors of the Greater Poland Uprising and Ignacy Jan Paderewski. On behalf of the people of Poznań, flowers were laid by Mariusz Wiśniewski, Deputy Mayor of the City.
As part of the 106th anniversary of the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising, many events were prepared, the aim of which was not only to commemorate the heroes, but also to broaden the knowledge about the uprising itself. In front of the Museum of the Greater Poland Uprising 1918-1919, an insurgent camp was set up, where reenactors in period uniforms and, among others, historic 7.7 cm FK 96 nA and 7.5 cm Krupp cannons and a Field Kitchen from 1906 from the period of the Greater Poland Uprising, Fiat 18 BL 1918 were waiting for the residents of Poznań. On the 150th anniversary of the birth of General Stanisław Taczak, a cake was also handed out in front of the Museum. As part of the anniversary events, a walk in the footsteps of the independence uprising also took place. In turn, the youngest were awaited by the workshops "How Staś became a general, or the history of Stanisław Taczak".
A special concert took place at Wolności Square. You could hear the Marseillaise of Greater Poland, the March of the Poznań Children, or the Song of the Poznań People performed by the Gospel Joy band, which will take viewers back to the times of the victorious uprising.
Two more concerts are planned for the evening. At Wolności Square by Kasia Wilk - a vocalist, songwriter and composer living in Poznań, and at Kolegiacki Square - Śpiewanki powstańcze. The events will unite the residents of Poznań and Wielkopolska with the sounds of memory of the victorious Wielkopolska Uprising.
On the anniversary of the outbreak of the uprising, Poznań residents could also visit the Mound of Freedom.
The day before, it was possible to admire a reenactment of Ignacy Jan Paderewski's arrival at the Summer Station, and take a ride on a historic train.
The Greater Poland Uprising is celebrated not only in the region. On December 28 in Warsaw, at Marshal J. Piłsudski Square, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, flowers will be laid.
The Greater Poland Uprising broke out on December 27, 1918. It lasted 52 days and was an expression of extraordinary civic unification transformed into a fight for the freedom and independence of the country.
Poznań will host the largest space event in the world!
Efforts to achieve this lasted almost two years.
Now all the institutions involved - including the city - have received a prestigious award. As the City informs, the Organizing Committee of the International Astronautical Congress - IAC 2027 has been awarded the prestigious MP Impact Awards. This distinction was awarded in the "Campaign" category for promotional and lobbying activities related to obtaining the congress.
As indicated, the organizing committee consists of the City of Poznań, the European Space Foundation, the MTP Group, The Way and the Ministry of Development and Technology, the Polish Space Agency, the Poznań Convention Bureau with the support of LOT Polish Airlines.
"MP Impact Awards is the first competition dedicated to initiatives, campaigns and events that have a significant impact on the functioning and development of the meetings industry. Its aim is to distinguish and promote projects that are important at the local, national and international level. Among the winners are those that contribute to the development of the industry, addressing key challenges and solving problems," inform city officials.
"It is a great honor and satisfaction for us, because this project required the involvement of many partners, institutions and organizations. It proves that nothing is impossible - together we have achieved a great success" - emphasize the representatives of the city and the MTP Group.
Efforts to acquire the International Astronautical Congress IAC 2027 lasted almost two years. The final decision was made during this year's IAC 2024 Congress in Milan, where members of the International Astronautical Federation IAF unanimously indicated Poznań as the host of the event.
The Congress is the most important space industry event in the world, attracting thousands of participants every year, including scientists, engineers, representatives of agencies, companies and the private sector. " Its organization in Poznań is not only a huge prestige, but also a chance to promote the Polish space sector and strengthen the City's position in the international arena. Intensive preparations for this event are now starting," the city emphasizes.
Communication paralysis possible as two major renovations loom in Poznań
This concerns the reconstruction of the Chrobry Bridge and the second stage of the Center Project.
One of the key planned investments is the reconstruction of the Chrobry Bridge, which has been in the city's plans for several years. The facility is in a terrible technical condition, which requires its complete demolition and reconstruction. Work is to begin in the middle of the year and will last three years, which will certainly make life difficult for drivers.
Another major investment will start in the second half of the year - stage II of the Centrum Project, including the construction of a new tram route. The planned works will cover Ratajczaka Street on the section from the intersection with Królowej Jadwigi and Matyi Streets to Święty Marcin. The project will modernize the underground infrastructure and build a tram track in both directions.
"I don't think this is the most important investment in the city at the moment - after the great digging up of the city center. Now we see that entrepreneurs are licking their wounds, coming back to their senses, we want to dig up the city center again" - comments Przemysław Plewiński, councilor of the Left, Poland 2050. " I don't like the idea of cutting down the trees that are on Taczaka Street towards Stary Browar - these are old, tall trees" - he adds.
In turn, councilor Strzelecka draws attention to the benefits of the investment. " The analyses I have read show that the construction of a new section of the route will significantly shorten the travel time from Wilda to the north of the city, which will bring savings in the budget and benefits for residents" - she explains.
The renovation has been arousing many emotions from the very beginning. "Residents have many concerns about the timeliness of these works and their safety " - emphasizes councilor Dworek.
It is not yet known whether the long-awaited construction of the next stage of the tram route to Naramowice will begin this year. According to plans, the construction of the Berdychowska footbridge is to be completed in 2025, and work on the viaducts along Lutycka and Golęcińska streets is to be completed by the end of the year.
LEGO bricks tell history of Poland in a unique way
This is an animated history of the beginnings of Poland.
A second animated film has been created about the beginnings of the Polish state in the Piast land. It is the idea of the City of Gniezno. The legend of Lech, Czech and Rus was previously created using stop-motion animation, which gained recognition among children and is often used in history lessons. Now, another part of this extraordinary story is available and can already be watched.
"In 2025 we will celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave and Mieszko II as kings of Poland in Gniezno! However, these momentous events were preceded by other important moments in the history of our country. We can learn about them from the animations produced by the City of Gniezno," says Artur Krysztofiak, director of the Department of Promotion, Culture and Tourism of the City Office in Gniezno.
"The creators believe that now the two productions will gain an even greater number of recipients and will increase interest in the anniversary. After all, 1000 years ago Poland became a kingdom, gaining a crown, which to this day appears on the head of the eagle in our coat of arms. Poland became a united country important in the arena of Europe and the world at that time, which is particularly symbolic in the face of the beginning of the presidency in the European Union," he added.
All movies have an English subtitles.
Poznań’s lost and found accumulated 200 phones, 180 wallets, 12 bikes and a lot of cash in 2024
A variety of items end up at the City Hall's Lost and Found Office.
City hall employees thoroughly verify each item that reaches the Lost and Found Office. The assessment includes both its value and compliance with the regulations and rules that determine whether it can be deposited. Ultimately, only a portion of the lost items will be accepted - items with an estimated value of less than PLN 100, those found outside Poznań or by people from outside the city, will not be accepted. The office also does not accept items that have been deliberately thrown away.
"The trend of the office's popularity is noticeable - it is growing every year, which translates into an increase in the number of both reports of missing items and found items handed over in accordance with the jurisdiction," says Natalia Nowak, Senior Specialist for the Lost and Found Office. "At the same time, the rate of deposits returned to owners remains at around 30%," she adds.
Returning an item to its rightful owner is not easy. " Sometimes it is difficult to determine it - for example in the case of lost phones. The office asks operators to notify the owner that a given phone has been found and is waiting to be collected - but the operator does not always provide such information. The situation is similar in the case of loyalty cards, for example. However, office employees always do everything in their power to return the item. In the case of documents, the matter is simpler - they are sent to the unit that issued them. The City Office then requests the provision of address data in order to contact the owner," inform city officials.
As reported, the most frequently lost item is a phone - almost 200 of them have been registered this year alone. These are modern smartphones and iPhones, as well as older models. Wallets with their contents also often end up in the office - this year there were about 180 of them. " It also happens - not infrequently - that only cash is brought to the office. This year there was a record amount of it. Bicycles (12 of them arrived in 2024 alone), jewelry, headphones and even prescription glasses are also waiting to be collected at the office. Among the more interesting items found in 2024 were, for example, a ball with autographs or a transverse flute" - it was added.
In previous years, there have been even more unusual losses, such as a wheelchair, a stroller, a generator, guitars, a payment terminal, and a hammer drill with an angle grinder. Among the original and unclaimed items was a suitcase filled with new, unwritten Valentine's Day cards.
The Lost and Found Office operates in the city hall building at Plac Kolegiacki 17. You can bring items that have been found in Poznań there, but you must arrange a meeting in advance (by phone at 61 878 5382, 61 878 4014 or by email: brz@um.poznan.pl). The office is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m., to 3:00 p.m., - this is the best place to return a lost item or report a search for a lost item - because such records are also kept.
"The owners have two years to collect their items. They can do so when they prove their right to ownership of the deposit. They must also show their ID and pay a fee for returning the lost item. If no one collects the item within two years, the items are transferred to the person who found them - if they claim them within the specified time. If this does not happen, the owner becomes the City of Poznań" - inform city officials.
2024 in numbers – Poznan summary
Zofia and Jan are the most common names in the capital of Wielkopolska in 2024. Birth records also include fewer common names that were given only once, such as Manana, Onyx, and Scholastyka. Data on marriages and deaths are also known.
According to data from 2024, Zofia is in first place among girls' names (similarly to the previous year). In Poznań, 175 of them were born. Second place was taken by Maja - 148, and third by Antonina - 130.
In the case of boys, the first place - as in previous years - was maintained by Jan - 202 birth certificates. Right behind him was Franciszek - 199. Next came Antoni - 190.
The least common female names were Gracja, Scholastyka, Manana or Uma. For boys - Zlatan, Tigran or Escobar.
Births, marriages and deaths in 2024
In 2024, the Civil Registry Office issued 10,177 birth certificates: the most in January (972), and the least in November (751).
Last year, 1,451 marriage certificates were issued (the most in September - 248). There were also 158 weddings outside the premises of the Civil Registry Office.
In 2024, 7,376 death certificates were issued (the highest number in January - 726).
Prestigious meeting of specialists in Poznań
ICCA Central European Chapter Meeting is a key event in the meetings industry. In 2025, Poznań and the MTP Group will host this prestigious event, which will bring together specialists from over 20 European countries.
ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) is an association that has existed since 1963. It is one of the most important organizations in the meetings industry, associating over a thousand companies and institutions operating in business tourism. The MTP Group and Poznań Congress Center have been members of the association for over 6 years. At the turn of August and September 2025, they will host the prestigious ICCA Central European Chapter Meeting.
This is a very important event, serving to build and strengthen relationships and cooperation. For Poznań, it is also a significant step in strengthening its position and increasing its visibility in the international arena. The meeting will bring together ICCA members from over 20 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, from Switzerland to Kazakhstan. Its detailed program will be announced next year.
ICCA Central European Chapter Meeting 2025 is not only an opportunity to exchange experiences and gain knowledge, but also to promote the tourist and business values of Poznań and the region. This is another step on the way to building the City's position as one of the key players in the meetings market in Central and Eastern Europe.
- Having two unique destinations confirmed for 2025 and 2026 shows the incredible dynamics of our branch - emphasizes the ICCA Central European Chapter, pointing out the importance of choosing Poznań and Ljubljana (Slovenia) as meeting places in the coming years.
The 2025 meeting will be a celebration of cooperation and knowledge sharing among international leaders of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) industry. The success in acquiring this event was achieved thanks to the support and involvement of: the City of Poznań, Poznań Convention Bureau, Poznań Local Tourism Organization, Polish Tourism Organization and Poland Convention Bureau.
Time for a board game from Poznań
The most important monuments, tourist attractions and symbols of Poznań can now be discovered in a unique board game. In the new edition of the adventures, the super-detective Spy Guy moves to the capital of Wielkopolska to solve a criminal mystery.
The super detective faces a difficult task - he must catch a thief of valuable works of art who stole a real treasure of the National Museum in Poznań - the painting "Beach in Pourville", the only canvas by Claude Monet in Polish collections.
"Spy Guy Poznań" is a cooperative detective game designed for 1-4 people aged 5+. It is an ideal idea for an attractive way to spend time with your family (one game takes about 20 minutes). The game is played on a board folded in the form of a huge puzzle. Players wander among Poznań buildings and tourist attractions. The ability to cooperate, reflexes and observation count, because during the game you must find one of over 50 unique Poznań clues.
The game was created because of cooperation between the Poznań Local Tourist Organization and the company Trefl, and the project partners are Volkswagen Poznań, Stary Browar, Grupa MTP. It can be purchased at the tourist information point in Poznań and in the online store of the Poznań Local Tourist Organization.
The game includes:
- a large puzzle board (100 x 40 cm) with illustrations of about 20 Poznań buildings, such as the cathedral, the town hall and the Grand Theatre,
- Spy Guy and thief pawns,
- hourglass,
- 56 cards of unique Poznań clues with descriptions of their connection with the city,
- 10 character tokens,
- Polish-English instructions
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