Catholic News

Thousands of participants with paper crowns gather on Castle Square in Warsaw during the Three Kings Procession on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2025. Credit: Pawel Kula/Fundacja Orszak Trzech Króli

Jan 5, 2026 / 05:00 am (CNA).

Nearly 2 million people will parade through streets Tuesday in one of Europe's largest Catholic public celebrations, as the Three Kings Procession marks Epiphany across 941 cities and towns nationwide.

The annual event, known as Orszak Trzech Króli (Three Kings Procession), draws participants who dress as biblical characters, wear paper crowns, and sing Christmas carols while following figures representing the Magi to nativity scenes set up in public squares. EWTN Poland will broadcast the main Warsaw procession live in English for the first time, beginning at 11 a.m. local time.

Last year, an estimated 2 million people participated in the processions across 905 locations in Poland and abroad, according to Vatican News. This year's event expands to 941 communities — 36 more than in 2025.

"We have prepared 600,000 crowns, 150,000 songbooks with Christmas carols, and 200,000 stickers," said Piotr Giertych, president of the Three Kings Procession Foundation. In Warsaw alone, about 50,000 participants marched in 2025.

From school project to national tradition

The first Three Kings street parade took place in Warsaw in 2009 as an extension of a nativity play performed by students from a local school. Since Epiphany became a national holiday in Poland in 2011, the processions have grown steadily, spreading to cities and towns across the country.

This year's slogan, "Rejoice in Hope," echoes the Church's Jubilee Year theme, "Pilgrims of Hope," which concludes Tuesday. The phrase comes from the 17th-century Polish Christmas carol "Medrcy swiata, monarchowie" ("Wise Men of the World, Monarchs") by Stefan Bortkiewicz.

"We are referring to the Jubilee Year, which ends on Jan. 6 in the Catholic Church and was held under the motto 'Pilgrims of Hope,'" said Anna Murawska, the event's director. "Therefore, during the procession, we will hear a lot not only about maintaining hope in everyday life, but above all — trusting God, His mercy, and meeting Him in heaven."

Polish President Karol Nawrocki and First Lady Marta Nawrocki sent a message to participants emphasizing the processions' message of reconciliation.

"May the image of three monarchs who, despite adversity, pursued their goal — peace and reconciliation — inspire us all to build relationships based on mutual solidarity, understanding, and respect," the presidential couple wrote.

The ceremonial procession draws on Poland's native traditions of nativity plays and caroling, while also incorporating elements from similar Epiphany parades in Spain and Mexico. Warsaw's procession begins at the Copernicus Monument and proceeds up Krakowskie Przedmiescie to Castle Square, where participants sing carols together in the city center.

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