The contemporary geopolitical changes, especially after the collapse of bipolar world distinction, are characterized by socio-political changes in many countries of different continents. One such country which pace of changes, especially in the socio-political area, is especially visible and draws attention from throughout the world is Rwanda. To comprehend changes in the political awareness of Rwandans one needs to understand a role played in this transposition by political rituals, especially national holidays. The aim of the article is to determine to what extent the ritual nature of national holidays celebrations in Rwanda influence the society, especially in the context of traumatic events of 2004 and how politicians use these celebrations for the realization of current political goals.

Creating a state’s symbolic space is one of the most important competencies of the authorities. It manifests itself in, inter alia, establishing topographies of memory (organizing sites of memory), erecting monuments, appropriate naming of streets, squares, public institutions and organization of the calendar of holidays. Holidays and celebrations are a great tool for communication between the authorities and the citizens, and one of the basic elements of the historical politics system of a state. The aim of the present study is to show – on the case study of the Polish calendar of public holidays in the 20th and 21st centuries – the mechanisms and tools used by the government to build a proper historical narrative.