Cultural and social events (Christmas and Easter meetings, National Days, excursions)
The Department of International Partnerships and Educational Mobility - DIPEM ("Erasmus Office") together with the Erasmus Student Network puts a lot of effort in bringing Polish tradition closer to you, our international students. We organise Christmas and Easter meetings, since those holidays play a key role in the life of a Pole. You will have a chance to experience the spirit of those days. In the winter semester you will sing Polish Christmas carols, hear about Christmas Eve traditions, including its special menu. You will also taste typical Polish food such as pierogi. Of course, Santa Claus does not forget to visit. During the Easter meeting we acquaint you with the Polish tradition of preparing the Blessing Basket or the pagan tradition of painting eggs, and pouring water onto girls on Easter Monday, known as Śmigus Dyngus. It is also the time to share your experiences regarding important religious or national holidays in different countries.
When in Toruń – the town of Nicolaus Copernicus, the town known for its gingerbread - you must visit the Planetarium, and the Gingerbread Museum where you will have the opportunity to bake gingerbread cookies yourself.
Apart from Polish customs and holidays, we mention the typical Polish climate which can be very warm and sunny in the spring and summer time, as well as very cold and snowy in the winter, with the temperatures falling down to (-10) or (-15) C. If you are a fan of snowy weather, the Erasmus Office (DIPEM) and ESN organise iceskating or sleigh riding.
Moreover, the Erasmus Office (DIPEM) and ESN help arrange excursions such as “Szlakiem piastowskim” (the Piasts' Trail) including a visit to the first capital of Poland, Gniezno, as well as the impressive open-air Prehistoric town of Biskupin. We also encourage you to visit lovely neighbouring towns (e.g. Chełmno) as well as health resorts such as Ciechocinek or Inowrocław with their peculiar brine graduation towers: the tężnie solankowe.
Other activities offered to you are Polish dinners and International dinners organised by the Erasmus Office (DIPEM) and ESN, when students from different countries prepare their traditional meals.