A family from Lipnica Murowana, Poland, won the 2026 Palm Contest with a palm branch measuring 35.8 meters, continuing a nearly 70-year tradition.
Palm Contest Concludes with Record-Breaking Entry
The 2026 Palm Contest in Lipnica Murowana (Lesser Poland) concluded with a winning palm measuring 35 meters and 80 centimeters. The creation is attributed to Andrzej Goryl and his family.
This year’s competition featured 49 decorated palm branches.
A Long-Standing Tradition
The Lipnica Palm Contest has been held for nearly 70 years on Palm Sunday. The previous height record, set in 2019, was 37 meters and 78 centimeters, also achieved by Andrzej Goryl and his family from Lipnica Górna.
Similar Quality and Favorable Conditions
Agnieszka Żołna-Zdunek, director of the Municipal Cultural Center in Lipnica Murowana, which organizes the contest, stated that the entries this year were comparable in quality to previous years, and the weather did not hinder the event. She described the palms as numerous and beautiful.
Award Categories and Recognition
Andrzej Goryl and his family were awarded the top prize in the category for palms exceeding 22 meters, competing against two other entries. Other palms were judged in five additional height categories: children’s palms, small palms, 700 cm jubilee palms, medium palms, and tall palms.
The contest received honorary patronage from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
History and Craftsmanship of Lipnica Palms
The Lipnica Palm and Artistic Handicraft Contest, named after Józef Piotrowski, dates back to 1958, though competition among residents regarding palm length has existed for much longer. Historically, the length of a palm reflected the wealth of the household. Lipnica palms are among the tallest in the country, constructed from reeds wrapped in wicker, and adorned with paper flowers.
The tallest palms are reinforced with spruce poles, topped with a “wiecha” made of catkins and green brusznica branches, and decorated with colorful ribbons. Creating the tallest palms is a weeks-long process. The contest was initiated by Józef Piotrowski, who passed away in 1999—a poet and village headman for over 20 years.
Lipnica Murowana Celebrates 700th Anniversary
Lipnica Murowana is celebrating its 700th anniversary of its founding this year, having held town rights from 1326 to 1934. It is the seat of the rural municipality of Lipnica Murowana in Bocheński County, with a population of nearly 5,600 as of 2024. The village is home to the wooden St. Leonard Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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