On this day, 20 July 1797, Mazurek Dąbrowskiego is traditionally believed to have been sung publicly for the first time in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Written by Józef Wybicki for the Polish Legions under the command of General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, the song was born at a time when Poland had vanished from the map of Europe after the partitions.

And yet, from that loss came one of the most powerful declarations in Polish history:

“Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła, kiedy my żyjemy.”
“Poland has not yet perished, so long as we still live.”

Those words carried a message that would echo through generations: a nation is not defined only by its borders, but by its people, its language, its faith, its culture, and its refusal to surrender.

From the Napoleonic era to the fight for independence, through exile, occupation, and oppression, Mazurek Dąbrowskiego became a song of defiance, hope, and survival. In 1927, it was officially adopted as the national anthem of the Republic of Poland.

More than 225 years later, its message still resonates. It reminds us that freedom begins with identity, and that a nation lives on as long as its people remember their history and stand proudly in who they are.

At Polish Sue, we are proud to promote and preserve Poland’s remarkable history, ensuring that the stories, sacrifices, and values of previous generations continue to inspire future ones.

🇵🇱 “Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła…” — words that have united Poles around the world for over two centuries.

Text: Polish Sue