The Polish Culture Day @Christmas, held on Sunday, December 15th at @Droog, was a resounding success!
The event showcased beautiful music, delicious traditional food and drinks, and a wide variety of unique items—perfect for holiday gifts. There were also fascinating presentations about Polish Christmas traditions, offering guests a deeper insight into the customs and celebrations that make the season special in Poland. The warm and friendly atmosphere brought together people of different nationalities, creating a vibrant space filled with lively conversations and laughter. It was a true celebration of culture, community, and the Christmas spirit!

























Programme
17.50 – 18.00
Anka Koziel with a quartet: Polish jazz and Christmas Carols
18.00 – 18.05
Opening
18.05 – 18.25
What is Wigilia – Bozena Kopczynska
18.30 – 18.50
Anka Koziel with a quartet: Polish jazz and Christmas Carols
18.50 – 19.20
Break
19.20 – 19.35
How Poland Celebrates Christmas and New Year with Theatre – Kasia Lech
19.35 – 19.45
“Christmas Crescendo’’ Performance for two voices and paper – Michal Jurys & Tara Khozein
19.45 – 20.15
Break
20.15 – 20.30
Anka Koziel with a quartet: Polish jazz and Christmas Carols
20.30 – 20.50
Quiz about Poland
20.55 – 21.15
Anka Koziel with a quartet: Polish jazz and Christmas Carols
The food, featuring traditional Polish dishes, was made by Kamil Piasecki,
Founder and Owner of RestaurantAtHome.
During the evening there was a mini market offering Polish arts, crafts and a selection of other Polish products.
Music and Presentations
Polish Jazz and Christmas Carols
Anka Koziel with a quartet
Anka Koziel (https://ankakoziel.com) is a versatile vocalist, composer, arranger, and educator based in the Netherlands. She blends jazz improvisation, world music, extended vocal techniques, and experimental sounds to create unique soundscapes. Anka teaches jazz voice, odd meter combo, and jazz choir at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and is a certified Complete Vocal Technique teacher.
Her research focuses on timing and rhythm, particularly how odd meters enhance the sense of swing. Over her career, she has collaborated with renowned artists like Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, and Eric Vloeimans, and participated in diverse projects, including contemporary music, gospel, blues, salsa, and world music fusion.
What is Wigilia?
Bożena Kopczyńska
"Christmas Crescendo’’ Performance for two voices and paper
Tara Khozein
Michał Jurys
Michał Jurys (https://cargocollective.com/michaljurys) is an artist, performer and designer who works primarily with print and paper. He is interested in evoking stories in others, inviting them to dream and to share their perspectives. Currently Michał lives and works in the Amsterdam.
How Poland Celebrates Christmas and New Year with Theatre
Kasia Lech
Kasia Lech is a scholar, actress, storyteller, dramaturg, puppeteer, and Associate Professor of Global Performance History at the University of Amsterdam. Her research and creative practice explore theatre through practice-based and traditional scholarship, primarily focusing on verse, multilingualism, translation, migration, and cross-cultural encounters.
Kasia has performed internationally and co-founded Polish Theatre Ireland, a multilingual theatre company based in Dublin. She is executive director at TheTheatreTimes.com, a multi-awarded global theatre portal that aims to decolonise theatre criticism.
Polish Arts and Crafts
During the evening there was a mini market offering Polish arts, crafts and a selection of other Polish products.
Among others, the following artists and sellers took part in the market:

'Krakus'
Shop
Pottery from Bolesławiec
Paintings & Watercolors
Art & Ready – to – Wear – Creations
Hand-painted shawls, kimonos and cushions
Crochet enthusiast
Unique, handmade crochet handbags
made of cord
Publisher and bookshop
Polish books and Dutch translations of Polish literature
Pastry chef
Artistic cakes, mono desserts, pastries and cookies
Paintings in various techniques
Florist
Handmade Christmas decorations.
Partners and Sponsors
Project financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland in the Competition ‘Polonia and Poles Abroad 2024 – Events and Initiatives of the Polish Diaspora’.
This event was made possible by the support of various partners.








