The dinner participants, who sat at tables full of traditional Easter dishes, were welcomed on behalf of the university's authorities by Dr Agata Włodarska-Frykowska, the University of Lodz Rector's Representative for International Exchange Programmes (14 April), and Dr Iwona Dembowska-Wosik, the University of Lodz Rector's Representative for ECTS Accumulation and Transfer system (15 April). They also extended best Easter wishes to all those gathered.
The international guests were familiarised with the customs of Polish Easter by employees of the International Relations Office of the University of Lodz, who talked about religious and folk customs characteristic of each day of the Holy Week (including the blessing of food, the ceremonial Easter breakfast, Śmigus-dyngus, i.e. the custom of pouring water on people at Easter). Then, there was a short quiz on the knowledge of Polish Easter customs for the international guests. Students who answered the questions correctly received the university gadgets.
The students from near and far corners of the world (including Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, France, Japan and Turkey) also tasted traditional Easter dishes (eggs, mazurek cakes, żurek soup with white sausage, etc.) and then started painting Easter eggs.
Currently, there are nearly 2,700 international students at the University of Lodz – 1,969 in full-time studies ending with a diploma and about 700 beneficiaries of the so-called short-term stays as part of various academic mobility programmes. In addition, there are 320 students who are just starting their adventure with our language at the School of Polish Language for Foreign Students of the University of Lodz.
Photo report of the University of Lodz Easter dinners
Source: International Relations Office, University of Lodz
Edit: Press Office, University of Lodz
Photos: Maciej Andrzejewski (Centre for Brand Communications, University of Lodz)