Polish pride runs deep in Hickory Hills, and now the city is making it official.
At its April 24 meeting, the Hickory Hills City Council proclaimed May 3 as Polish Constitution Day, paying tribute to one of the world’s earliest democratic milestones — and to the generations of Polish Americans who helped shape the southwest suburbs.
The May 3 Constitution introduced majority rule, civil rights and a government based on checks and balances — ideas that still shape democracies around the world.
May 3 marks Constitution Day in Poland, a national holiday that’s also celebrated by Polish-American communities in Hickory Hills, Bridgeview and Justice.
Hickory Hills is home to a strong Polish-American community, part of a broader tradition across nearby suburbs like Bridgeview and Justice. Local families continue to celebrate their heritage through businesses, churches and cultural events.
Polish Constitution Day marks the 1791 adoption of reforms that brought new civil rights and government protections to Poland. Although the constitution survived for only a year, it became a lasting symbol of the country’s fight for independence.
With the new proclamation, Hickory Hills joins communities across the country in honoring the spirit of freedom and resilience that Polish Americans have carried for generations.
There will be a Polish Pride Parade starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at Balbo and Columbus Drive in Grant Park in downtown Chicago.