Polish Taylor Swift Fans Send Warning to Foreign Swifties Ahead of Eras Tour in Warsaw
Polish Taylor Swift fans have an important warning for foreign Swifties traveling to Warsaw to see the Eras Tour this week.
Locals will be expecting to hear air raid sirens blast throughout the area at 5 p.m. on Aug. 1—the first of Swift's three nights in Poland's capital—but fans coming from other countries may be startled by the abrupt disruption that is scheduled to take place shortly before the concert commences, and resident fans want them to be prepared ahead of time.
The sirens are an annual commemoration of the Warsaw Uprising, marking its 80th anniversary. They'll be heard across the province of Mazowieckie for an uninterrupted minute, which is also typically treated as a moment of silence to honor those who rose up against the German army and tried to retake control of the city before the advancing Soviet army could, according to Britannica. The publication estimates as many as 40,000 Polish citizens died as a result, with over 250,000 people dying in the second uprising that followed shortly after.
Fans and Taylor Swift update accounts took to X in the days before the show to warn those getting ready to arrive in Poland of the sudden noise—which may also include an aerial tribute from the Polish Air Force, depending on their flight path—and to assure visitors that there's no need for alarm.
??| IF YOU’RE GOING TO ERAS TOUR IN WARSAW
on august 1st at 5 pm you’re going to hear air-raid sirens and in the meantime you’ll also see polish air force in the sky but don’t worry it’s just for the 80th anniversary of warsaw upraising, nothing is happening
please spread this pic.twitter.com/MY1ZMUN5h5— veronica?? (@thisisvertrying) July 29, 2024
Some also requested visitors honor the moment of silence with them, or at least "be respectful for this brief moment," explaining that "cars stop driving" and "people stop walking" when they go off. "You can join polish citizens and stand in silence for 1 minute," one account invited while advising, "Please remain calm! After sirens stop, everything will go back to normal!"
for people coming from abroad!!! this is happening every august 1st at 5pm and it’s called “W” Hour. if you hear the sirens pls do not panic! it’s to commemorate the lives lost in the warsaw uprising. pls stay silent for one minute with us ????#WarsawTSTheErasTour https://t.co/jHS0q5UJPf
— ? (@goldrushaze) July 24, 2024
??At exactly 5pm SIRENS will go off around the whole city. Cars stop driving, people stop walking for a minute. It’s a tradition to commemorate the victims & events from 1944 and happens every year. Those sirens are NOT a real alarm. You can join polish citizens and stand in…
— Taylor Swift Poland (@TSwiftNewsPL) July 30, 2024
If I may add, please try to be respectful for this brief moment. We are honouring the fallen freedom fighters. I'm not saying you have to be quiet but maybe don't laugh or dance during the sirens ??
— astrid???? ( ??? | warsaw n3 (@astrid_behr) July 28, 2024
One update account also advised fans to plan accordingly, as the memorial events taking place around the city, such as tweaks to public transit schedules, road closures and public speeches may cause delays in getting to the stadium.
??PEOPLE ATTENDING WARSAW N1??
You might experience changes in public transport, closed streets and numerous events such as public speeches etc spread all around the city! Please leave early for the show!
Details about changes in public transport that day you can find here: pic.twitter.com/rQ05O5CL8U— Taylor Swift Poland (@TSwiftNewsPL) July 30, 2024
Swift wrapped up a weekend in Munich, Germany, on July 28, and is enjoying a few days off before the Eras Tour picks back up on the first of the month.
