Sunday, November 9, 2025 – Kumppanuuskeskus, Oulu
For the fourth time, the Polish community in Oulu gathered together to celebrate Poland’s Independence Day – November 11.
In previous years, the Association of Poles in Northern Finland invited the local Polish community to concerts of patriotic songs, but this year’s celebration took on a completely new form under the theme “Conversations about Freedom.”
The event began with a historical lecture by Arek Ćwiek, who presented the key events that led to Poland regaining independence in 1918.
His talk, interwoven with Polish patriotic and contemporary music, highlighted the emotions that accompanied the birth of the independent Polish state.
While adults listened to the lecture, our wonderful volunteer Anastazja led an art workshop titled “Where is My Home?”.
During the workshop, children talked about what home and safety mean to them and then created collages and “maps of my world” — artworks showing places where they feel they belong.
There was also a moment of fun — a Kahoot quiz about the birth of the Polish state, prepared by Arek Ćwiek, brought lots of excitement and a spirited competition right up to the final moments! 🎉
In the second part of the event, Arek Ćwiek led a moderated discussion exploring different dimensions of freedom — from historical to personal, from Polish identity and national belonging to the experiences of emigration.
The discussion was also inspired by contemporary songs about freedom, courage, and self-discovery.
During the event, participants also watched the documentary film “Niepodległość” (Independence, 2018), followed by a short discussion about how the regaining of independence was portrayed in the media of the time and how it shaped the image of modern Poland.
As always, our meeting ended with a delicious shared meal — wonderful cakes baked by members of our community, tasty snacks, and a hearty bigos prepared by Ewa and Giedek, to whom we send our warmest thanks! ❤️
It was another wonderful gathering of Poles living in Northern Finland, and we hope this tradition will continue for many years to come. 🇵🇱
The event was co-financed by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Helsinki through the Polish Community Fund of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
