Juwenalia

{{Short description|Polish students' holiday}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2023}} [[File:BACHANALIA UZ.JPG|thumb|Strange Vehicles contest during the Juwenalia at the University of Zielona Góra]] '''''Juwenalia''''' (Polish, from Latin ''Iuvenalia'' - ''Juvenalia'') is an annual higher education students' holiday in Poland, usually celebrated in May, before the summer exam session, sometimes also at the beginning of June.<ref>{{cite book|date=2001|first=Wincenty|isbn=83-88149-41-5|last=Okoń|location=Warszawa|page=157|publisher=Wydawnictwo Akademickie „Żak”|title=Nowy słownik pedagogiczny}}</ref>

The first Juwenalia were celebrated in the 15th century in Kraków. Juwenalia are celebrated in all colleges in Poland, with different names depending on a school or a city. At Medical Academies, they are called ''Medykalia'', at Academies of Economy - ''Ekonomalia''. At the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, they are called "''Kortowiada''", at the University of Opole they are called ''Piastonalia'', at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice - ''Igry'', at the Gdańsk University - ''Neptunalia'', at the University of Zielona Góra - ''Bachanalia''.

Juwenalia start with a triumphant parade of colorfully dressed students. The participants march from a college's campus to the city's main square, where in a symbolic gesture, the mayor of a city hands keys to the city's gates to the students. The three days are free from lectures and filled with concerts, parties, sports events as well as drinking.

==See also== * Culture of Kraków

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:May observances Category:Student culture Category:Polish traditions Category:Polish youth culture Category:Education in Poland Category:Annual events in Poland