On 18 December 2024, the Library of the Pontifical John Paul II University, located at 10 Bobrzyńskiego Street, became the venue for an extraordinary event - a Christmas gathering for Erasmus+ students, organised by the International Cooperation Office (ICO). The event was a unique opportunity to celebrate Christmas together in an atmosphere of multicultural integration, joy and kindness.

The meeting began with a welcome from the Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation, Rev. Dr Andrzej Kielian, whose speech put everyone in a festive mood and emphasised the importance of community and mutual respect. The participants then had the opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful Polish traditions - the sharing of the Christmas wafer. Thanks to Urszula Leszyńska (Outgoing Mobility Coordinator) and Tomasz Kniazi (Head of ICO), who introduced the importance of this tradition in a very warm way, all students were able to wish each other, which created an unforgettable and warm atmosphere.

The event also included an inspiring presentation by Urszula, who took participants on a fascinating journey through Christmas customs from different corners of Poland. This variety of traditions showed how rich and beautiful Christmas culture is and how much we have in common. After this, it was time for something that always brings people together - delicious food. Traditional Polish Christmas Eve dishes such as aromatic borscht with ravioli, delicate carp and pierogi with mushrooms appeared on the tables, as well as wonderful Christmas sweets that won the hearts of the guests.

Another highlight of the programme was the Christmas Quiz, which provided plenty of excitement and international fun. The prizes were gifts brought by Santa Claus, which were presented to each of the participants. The highlight of the evening was the carol singing, which began with learning the first verse of 'Silent Night' in different languages, emphasising the global nature of the meeting. The students also had the opportunity to sing 'Feliz Navidad' and the traditional Polish carol 'Przybieżeli do Betlejem', which was sung at the request of one of the participants, Luca. Musical accompaniment on violin and guitar was provided by Aleksandra Mirek (Incoming Mobility Coordinator) Urszula, which added a magical touch to the whole event.

This unique meeting was not only an opportunity to celebrate together, but also to get to know each other, have a cultural exchange and strengthen the bonds between Erasmus+ students. Participants emphasised the extraordinary atmosphere of the event and its perfect organisation. It was an evening full of emotion, joy and shared experiences that will long remain in the memory of all present.