Pulaski Day is celebrated in Chicago and Cook County on the first Monday of March. The day honors a Revolutionary War hero and the city’s vibrant Polish American community. Here’s what to know about the holiday, its history, and how it will be celebrated this year.
What’s closed for Pulaski Day?
All Chicago and Cook County government offices and courts will be closed on Monday, March 3. Chicago Public Library locations will also be closed all day.
Most schools, including Chicago Public Schools, will be open.
Post offices and banks will also be open as it is not a federal holiday.
Who was Casimir Pulaski?
Casimir Pulaski was a Polish military leader who fought against Russian control in Poland before joining the American Revolution. After meeting Benjamin Franklin in Paris, Pulaski traveled to America in 1777 and quickly became a key figure in the American Revolutionary War, according to the Chicago Public Library.
Pulaski organized and led the country’s first cavalry, earning him the title “Father of the American Cavalry,” according to the National Park Service. Pulaski died in 1779 from injuries during the Battle of Savannah.
His name is now a familiar sight in Chicago — seen on Pulaski Road, Pulaski Park and other landmarks.
What is Pulaski Day?
Pulaski Day, observed on the first Monday of March, honors Pulaski’s role in the American Revolution and celebrates the contributions of Chicago’s Polish American community. The holiday is held around Pulaski’s birthday, March 6.
Illinois established the holiday in 1977 under Gov. James Thompson. In 1986, the Chicago City Council passed a resolution introduced by Mayor Harold Washington to officially recognize it, following strong advocacy from local Polish organizations and community leaders.
Chicago’s Polish population — one of the largest outside of Poland — has long used Pulaski Day to celebrate Pulaski’s legacy and its cultural heritage. As of 2023, about 130,000 Chicago residents and more than 720,000 people in the Chicago metro area have Polish ancestry, according to the Census Bureau.
Illinois is the only state with an official Pulaski Day. However, New York City and Buffalo, New York, which have significant Polish communities, mark Pulaski’s contributions with parades held at different times of the year.
Pulaski Day was initially observed with school closures across Illinois, but that changed beginning in the early 2000s.
How is Pulaski celebrated?
Chicago’s celebrations center around an annual event at the Polish Museum of America. This year holds particular significance with Polish President Andrzej Duda attending the official ceremony — the first time a Polish head of state has participated.
“Having the president of Poland here is huge for us,” said Richard Owsiany, president of the Polish Museum of America. “It shows how important this day is — not just for the Polish community but for all of Illinois.”
The event will also feature speeches from officials including Sen. Richard Durbin, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, and Illinois Appellate Court Justice Aurelia Pucinski. The program will conclude with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at Stanislaw Batowski’s painting “Pulaski at Savannah,” which has been displayed at the museum since the 1940s. While the ceremony is closed to the public for security reasons, it will be livestreamed at 10 a.m.
“Pulaski has been memorialized in the U.S. for generations,” said Owsiany. “For almost 30 years, the museum has hosted this event to honor what he did for the country and to keep his legacy alive.”
What does Pulaski Day mean for the Polish community in Chicago?
For many in Chicago’s Polish community, Pulaski Day is about more than remembering a historic figure — it’s a chance to celebrate the heritage and come together.
“Pulaski came to the U.S. to fight for your freedom and ours,” said Bogdan Pukszta, executive director of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce. “For Poles like me, who were born in Poland, Pulaski is someone we grew up learning about. Here, it’s about sharing that legacy with the broader American community.”
Pukszta moved to Chicago in the early 1980s, just before Illinois recognized the holiday.
“When Pulaski Day was first established, all schools had the day off. That’s changed, but the meaning hasn’t,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate, reflect and catch up with the community.”
Events like Pulaski Day also help younger generations stay connected to their roots, said Pukszta.
“For those familiar with Poland, Pulaski is a hero. For Americans, he should be remembered as someone who fought for this country’s freedom,” he said. “This holiday bridges both identities.”
Chicago’s Polish community gathers for other key events like the May 3 Constitution Day Parade and Polish Independence Day in November — but Pulaski Day holds a unique place as a symbol of shared history between Poland and the U.S.
“It’s not just about Polish pride,” Pukszta said. “It’s about honoring someone who fought for both nations and recognizing the contributions of Polish Americans to Illinois.”