Christmas holidays for international students of the Silesian University of Technology
Rice, chicken, beans, kutia, salads with mushrooms, stuffed cabbage and apple cakes - such dishes appear on Christmas tables in the home countries of our international students. Many of them will spend the upcoming Christmas in Poland for the first time.
Young people from almost all over the world study at the Silesian University of Technology. Students come from dozens of countries. Many of them will spend the upcoming holidays in Poland. We asked some of them how Christmas is celebrated in their countries.
Nkundinenza Yves and Niyigena Eric come from Rwanda. Yves studies Computer Science at the Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science, while Eric studies Cognitive Technologies at the Faculty of Organization and Management. In their country, Christmas is celebrated just like in Poland. - Just before Christmas, people decorate their homes, playgrounds and of course go shopping. On Christmas Day, we attend an early morning service after which we invite our friends and family to celebrate together,” said Nkundinenza Yves.
In Rwanda, just like in Poland, there is a tradition of giving gifts. However, completely different dishes appear on the table. “On holidays we eat rice, which in my language is called umuceri, chicken inkoko, beans ibishyimbo and many other types of our food tradition,” said Yves. “We also have rice and chicken on our table," adds Niyigena Eric.
Both students will spend the upcoming holidays in Poland for the first time. - I can't wait, I'm curious what Christmas looks like in another country – emphasizes Eric. – This time I will spend with friends and colleagues with whom I study – added Yves.
Anastasiia Pashko, Mariia Hrytsenko and Yuliia Sierikova come from Ukraine. Anastasiia and Mariia study Computer Science, while Yuliia studies Applied Linguistics.
- In Ukraine, Christmas is traditionally celebrated on December 25 or January 7, depending on the calendar. January 6 is Christmas Eve, which is also called Svyatyj Veczir. Tradition says that there must be twelve fasting dishes on the table, including kutia, borscht, dumplings and stuffed cabbage - said Yuliia Sierikova.
In Ukrainian homes, as in Poland, a Christmas tree is decorated and the house is decorated with a decoration made of a sheaf of wheat called Didukh, which literally means grandfather's ghost. On January 7, Ukrainians usually go to church, then visit relatives and greet each other with the phrase "Christ is born" and the response "Praise him". – There are two types of Christmas songs in Ukraine – traditional Christmas carols and Shchedrivky, i.e. songs related to New Year's rites. Children go from house to house singing songs in exchange for small gifts or sweets, added Yuliia.
Christmas lasts until January 19, when the Epiphany is celebrated in Ukraine.
- In Ukraine, Christmas is a family holiday and an opportunity to sing together. Young people go from house to house and sing songs wishing the household happiness. In my house, the most important thing is the Christmas dinner, which we prepare even for several days.
We have twelve dishes, among them kutia, which we make from poppy seeds and wheat with raisins, walnuts and honey. We always spend Christmas at my aunt's house, singing begins as soon as we enter, then we talk and have fun all evening. We come home late, when it's already dark, so you can see the stars and the moon. It's a picturesque image, especially when it's snowing. It is a magical evening, because we spend it with loved ones, family and friends - says Mariia Hrytsenko
Twelve dishes must also be on the festive table in the house of Anastasia Pashko. – We have, among others, kutia, catfish, chicken, salads with mushrooms and lots of apple cakes. We spend Christmas with our family, we give each other gifts, we sing Christmas carols, and we decorate our houses with colourful lights – said Anastasiia.
Anastasiia Pashko and Yuliia Sierikova will spend Christmas in Poland. – This will be my first Christmas in Poland. I will spend it with my boyfriend and his family – adds Anastasiia.
As every year in December, the Silesian University of Technology remembers about its international students and organizes a Christmas meeting for them. This year it was held in CKS Mrowisko. For the students, it was a substitute for the atmosphere of Christmas. – During this event, we want to introduce our culture to international students. At the common table, we talk about Polish customs, and they tell us about their own - said Beata Kurzawińska from the Foreign Languages Centre of the Silesian University of Technology.
Over two hundred foreign students from almost every corner of the world attended the Christmas meeting, e.g. China, Rwanda, Pakistan and India.
photos pixabay
