CHRISTMAS WITH POLISH RADIO – EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS, MUSIC, AND REFLECTION

Polish Radio has prepared an exceptional schedule for this year's holidays, which will transport listeners into the world of Christmas melodies, touching stories, and inspiring conversations. Each station will offer unique programs, from classic carols to jazz interpretations and modern sounds. For three days – Christmas Eve and the first and second days of Christmas – music, tradition, and reflection will accompany listeners of all ages.

Jedynka:
The Christmas schedule of Radio Jedynka features plenty of carols, a festive atmosphere, and meetings with exceptional guests.
Guests of the Christmas 'Signals of the Day' on December 24 will include the Primate of Poland, Archbishop Wojciech Polak, and Professor Ewa Marciniak.
From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the program 'Christmas Eve with Jedynka' will be dedicated to traditional Polish and world carols in classic performances.
In the second part of the evening, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, carols in folk style.
In a special Christmas edition of 'Eureka', the guests of Katarzyna Kobylecka will discuss childhood and the youth of Jesus, recalling historical sources and apocrypha.
At 9:00 PM, Radio Jedynka invites you to 'Meetings at Jedynka – Themes'. Guests Agata Passent and Rafał Sławonia will be joined by actress Katarzyna Dąbrowska, writer Mariusz Szczygieł, and doctor Piotr Marianowski – on this special evening, they will discuss the miracle of birth, memories at the Christmas table, unsuccessful gifts, and successful theatrical performances, focusing more on joys than sorrows.
Between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM, Jedynka will take listeners on a festive journey to Czeremcha in Podlasie, where Catholic and Orthodox traditions intertwine in a unique way. The guests will be musicians from the Czeremszyna ensemble, who will present Eastern Christmas songs.
From 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Christmas Day, Jedynka invites you to meet Justyna Dąbrowska, a psychologist, Grzegorz Kasdepke, a writer, Ludwika Włodek, a journalist, and actor Przemysław Stippa. Martyna Podolska will talk with guests about what Christmas was like in their family homes during childhood and what it is like today. And how to spend Christmas with loved ones in joy and peace.
From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, carols in exceptional arrangements by Zbigniew Preisner will be featured in Maciej Szajkowski's program, which will be a continuation of the acclaimed album 'My Carols at the End of the Century'. 'In Search of Roads', an album released by Polish Radio, includes new carols created to the texts of Ewa Lipska and Jan Nowicki, interpreted by Edyta Krzemień, Beata Rybotycka, Maciej Balcar, and Jaśka Karpiela Bułecki with an ensemble, as well as small carol singers from Kielce and Kraków. The entire project was also supported by the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra, Leszek Możdżer on the piano, and the Choir of the Krakow Philharmonic.
On the second day of Christmas, Jedynka invites you to a meeting around the Christmas table. From 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Tomasz Prange and Martyna Podolska will discuss culinary traditions and exceptional Christmas flavors and dishes with Tess Capponi Borawska, chef Adam Chrząstowski, and for vegetarians, author of Kukbuk Natalia Mętrak-Ruda.
As a gift for listeners, Jedynka has prepared two exceptional musical meetings with Matt Dusik (on December 25 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM) and with Katarzyna Cerekwicka (on Thursday, December 26 at 5:00 PM).
Christmas in Program 1 of Polish Radio also includes programs from the Catholic Editorial Office, such as 'Family Jedynka' in the morning and the broadcast of the Midnight Mass from the Basilica of St. Cross in Warsaw.

Dwójka:
In the morning, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, Katarzyna Hagmajer-Kwiatek will host 'Dwójka's Morning' dedicated to Christmas Eve meetings. The guest will be Mikołaj Rykowski, the initiator of the 'Christmas Eve for the Lonely' campaign. After 8:00 AM, 'Dwójka's Morning' will also connect with Karolina Sierakowska, director of the Culture and Recreation Center in Łądek-Zdrój, to discuss the effects of the flood that affected the region and the needs related to reconstruction.
At 1:05 PM, a concert by Rafał Blechacz and the NDR Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alan Gilbert will be broadcast on Dwójka. The program will feature works by Fryderyk Chopin, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel, which will introduce listeners to the atmosphere of Christmas peace and joy.
In the evening, at 7:00 PM, we invite you to the 'Carols Concert', which will be hosted by Agata Kwiecińska. In this recorded event, the Polish Radio Orchestra and the Polish Radio Choir, conducted by Michał Klauza, will perform well-known Polish carols in new, original arrangements by Maciej Małecki. Listeners will have the opportunity to hear both classic melodies and lesser-known Christmas songs, such as 'Baby on the Straw'.
At 10:00 PM, we invite you to 'Conversations after Dark', where Michał Nowak will talk with Professor Piotr Domeracki from Nicolaus Copernicus University about the significance of Christmas Eve meetings in a philosophical context. These will be reflections on the meaning of meeting, which in Polish tradition is deeply rooted and full of emotions – from the planned to the unexpected.
The Christmas Eve night hours, from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, will be filled with the 'Night Zone' led by Hanna Szczęsniak. During this time, Dwójka listeners will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the sounds of music. The special guest will be Raphael Rogiński, a guitarist and composer. The program will be full of reflections on community, respect, and individuality, which take on special significance during the Christmas season.
On Christmas Day, at 1:00 PM, Dwójka invites you to meet the outstanding scenographer Allan Starski, who in conversation with Monika Zając will talk about his career, collaboration with great directors such as Andrzej Wajda, Agnieszka Holland, and Steven Spielberg, as well as the secrets of a scenographer's work and family influences – his father, Ludwik Starski, was a well-known screenwriter and lyricist.
In the afternoon, at 3:00 PM, in the 'Dwójka Philharmonic', works by Henry Purcell will be performed by countertenor Tim Mead and the ensemble Les Musiciens de Saint Julien under the artistic guidance of François Lazarevitch. The concert introducing the Christmas mood is a true feast for baroque music lovers.
In the evening, at 7:00 PM, there will be a special meeting with Maria and Maciej Wojtyszko. Father and daughter, who have been connected with theater for years, will talk about their passion for writing dramas and scripts. Their creativity has always been close to theatrical traditions, which continue to inspire them.
In the late hours, at 10:00 PM, in the 'Royal Flute', Róża Światczyńska will invite listeners to a conversation with Emmanuel Pahud, one of the most outstanding flutists of our time, who will talk about his artistic work and the extraordinary world of classical music.
To end the day, at 11:00 PM, in the program 'Caroling in Dwójka', Ewa Szczecińska will take listeners on a journey through caroling traditions from various corners of the world. Together with Marianna Krill, a specialist in Ukrainian Christmas traditions, we will hear both well-known Polish carols and lesser-known ones from various countries that enrich the Christmas atmosphere.
On the second day of Christmas, at 1:00 PM, Dwójka invites you to meet Kazimierz Orłoś, an outstanding writer whose work is full of sensitivity to the fate of ordinary people. In Jakub Kukla's program, Orłoś will talk about his work, love for literature, and how over the years he has created within the realm of realism, giving voice to those who do not fit into mainstream historical narratives.
In the afternoon, at 6:00 PM, in the 'Jazz Club Dwójka', listeners will have the opportunity to listen to a retransmission of the concert from the Kraków Jazz Week 2024 festival. Anja Lechner and François Couturier, masters of jazz and improvised music, will perform in an exceptional duo of cello and piano.
At 10:00 PM, the premiere of the radio drama 'She Slipped from the Chair. A Thin Curtain' by Krzysztof Bielecki will take place. It is a chamber story about an extraordinarily strong bond between mother and son. The author of the adaptation and music, as well as the director of the performance, is Michał Zdunik. The performers will be Wiktoria Gorodecka and Oskar Hamerski. A co-production of the National Publishing Institute and Program 2 of Polish Radio. Funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU.

Trójka
Christmas Eve in Trójka is a traditional meeting at the radio table, led by Barbara Marcinik. In an atmosphere of closeness and kindness, the program will be an opportunity to share Christmas wishes, reminisce, and listen to exceptional voices. This year, among the invited guests will be actresses Magdalena Zawadzka, Krystyna Janda, Maria Seweryn, and Olga Sarzyńska, as well as Paweł Sztarbowski, co-author of the series 'The Kingdom of Rospin', and writer Cezary Harasimowicz.
The program will also feature a special, 'experimental' version of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', which will be available around 9:00 PM.
The music of the evening will combine traditional carols with modern arrangements. For those longing for peace and beauty, poetry will also be prepared – including Czesław Miłosz's poem 'Gift' in an authorial performance.
At 11:00 PM, Jacek Hawryluk's program 'Tomasz Beksiński's Subjective Portraits' will air – a reflective story about one of the most important voices in the history of radio.
The first day of Christmas in Trójka will begin with night broadcasts dedicated to Tomasz Beksiński. Extraordinary archival recordings from the 90s will take listeners on a journey through music and literature, accompanied by poetic texts of Edgar Allan Poe and T.S. Eliot.
The morning will be filled with 'Musical Conversations' and Christmas meetings with guests. In the program 'At the Table', Renata Grochal will talk to Professor Antoni Dudek about the history of Polish politics after 1989, the role of women in public life, and the legacy of the past.
In the afternoon, Tomasz Łąda will host 'Christmas UKF Post', and after that, Michał Matus will take listeners on a journey through the history of the film 'The Deluge', which celebrates its 50th anniversary. The program will reveal the background of this production and its significance in Polish cinematography.
The afternoon will be a time for Christmas stories of medical miracles. Agnieszka Trzeciakiewicz in the program 'ONKO STORY' will talk about groundbreaking transplant surgeries in Poland, presenting conversations with doctors and patients whose lives have changed thanks to medicine.
In the evening, at 8:00 PM, listeners will be able to hear conversations about the book 'The Last Ball. Letters to and from Agnieszka Osiecka' with the participation of Hanna Bakuła and Artur Andrus.
The day will end with Anna Dudzińska, who will take listeners on a joyful journey to learn about indigenous peoples and their fates.
The second day of Christmas in Trójka will begin with archival, reflective broadcasts by Tomasz Beksiński, which this time will be a tribute to his mother, Zofia Beksińska.
In the afternoon, Mariusz Owczarek will host 'Christmas UKF Post', and Katarzyna Borowiecka will meet with Irena Santor to talk 'At the Table' about her artistic life, her most beautiful memories, and plans for the future.
The afternoon will be a time for philosophical reflections and discussions about values. Maciej Wasielewski, also in the series 'At the Table', will invite Professor Tadeusz Gadacz to the studio to discuss morality and universal truths that are worth nurturing, especially during the Christmas season.
In the evening, listeners will be able to listen to a retransmission of the birthday concert of Trójka from April 1, 2024, featuring Artur Andrus, who, in duet with Joanna Kołaczkowska, will ensure the right mood with a touch of humor.
The day will conclude with a conversation with Jan Englert – a legend of Polish theater and cinema. The artist will talk about his work, reflections on life, and new projects he is currently working on.

Czwórka
On Christmas morning, at 7:00 AM, the program 'Carp is also a fish', in which Małgorzata Bartas-Witan, along with an ecologist and theologian, will explore the symbolism of Christmas traditions, such as carp and the Christmas tree, bringing closer their Christian roots and trying to answer the question of what really lies behind these rituals.
From 8:00 AM, Michał Witak, known as Numer Raz, in the program 'Number Alone in the Kitchen' will invite listeners to culinary experiments.
A musical journey to the 'Land of Santa Claus' will be proposed by Duże Pe from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The program 'Playing from the Land of Santa Claus' is an unusual set of Christmas songs from Finland and other corners of the world. Next, Damian Sikorski in the program 'Christmas Songs Other Than All' (12:00 PM–2:00 PM) will showcase lesser-known but beautiful Christmas songs, featuring an exceptional guest – the young generation vocalist, Gree, who will present her Christmas song 'Znów kolęda gra'.
The afternoon will be filled with the program 'Last Christmaserska 4' (2:00 PM–4:00 PM), during which Kamil Jasieński will bring the spirit of 'Haters' 4' into the Christmas atmosphere, full of kindness, memories, and humor.
From 4:00 PM, Norbert Borzym in the program 'The First Club Star' will introduce listeners to electronic sounds.
The first day of Christmas in Czwórka will begin at 7:00 AM with the program 'The Power of Carols' by Przemek Goławskiego, where we will hear stories about the most popular carols and their significance as a connector between generations and cultures.
The afternoon and evening will be filled with an exceptional meeting at the microphone – at 4:00 PM Bert and Lex in the program 'Guests, Guests! With Lex to Bert' will discuss the festival market and the club music scene in Poland and around the world. The discussion will touch on social issues such as ageism and feminism in the artistic environment and the future of club music in 2025.
The second day of Christmas in Czwórka is a time for conversations with extraordinary personalities and discovering new perspectives on Christmas. At 7:00 AM in the program 'Christmas on the Road', Agnieszka Kozłowska-Łysko will talk with guests who spend Christmas abroad. At 8:00 AM, an exceptional Christmas series of meetings will begin under the common title 'Czwórka is Hosting', full of inspiring conversations. Ula Kaczyńska will invite Anię Iwanek – a vocalist combining her passion for music with pastry art. At 9:00 AM, Bartek Koziczyński will conduct an interview with Mariusz Duda, the leader of Riverside, who will talk about Christmas on tour, as well as the Lunatic Soul project. Next, at 10:00 AM, Kasia Dydo will introduce Rad Duet – fashion designers who will bring closer trends in Polish design. From 11:00 AM, Piotr Galus will meet with Tomasz Kammelem to discuss the power of words and their impact on life. In the afternoon, Jędrzej Rosiewicz will invite listeners to 'Smoke with Michał Pole', and at 1:00 PM Jacek Pasnik will interview Krzysztof Tubilewicz, who will talk about his radio journey and work with voice. The afternoon will belong to Marta Hoppe, who at 2:00 PM will have a conversation with Klaudia Leclercq ASMR about trends on TikTok, and to Kacper Zembrzuski, who at 3:00 PM will invite Wiktor Dyduła to talk about his creativity and Christmas inspirations.
The evening (4:00 PM–7:00 PM) will be filled with conversations with stars of Polish cinema – at 4:00 PM Marta Zinkiewicz will meet with Inna Sobal, and at 5:00 PM Marcin Radomski – with Vanessa Aleksander.
Kuba Jamrozek at 6:00 PM will address the important topic of the first shared Christmas in an adoptive family, talking with Maciej Liziniewicz. The series 'Czwórka is Hosting' will conclude at 7:00 PM with a conversation between Alicja Michalska and Kamila Wojtkiewicz about psychology and conscious living.
For Christmas evenings and nights (8:00 PM–7:00 AM), Czwórka has prepared special playlists that will enhance Christmas for those who celebrate in their own way – at home, on the road, or on the dance floor.

Polish Radio Chopin
Polish Radio Chopin invites you to Christmas meetings with music connecting the spirituality of Christmas with the mastery of great composers.
On Christmas Eve at 4:00 PM, Klaudia Baranowska will take listeners on a journey to the musical world of the Iberian Peninsula, presenting 'Oratorio sacro al Nacimiento de Cristo Señor Nuestro' by Pedro Martínez de Orgambide performed by The Harp Consort under the baton of Andrew Lawrence-King. The evening will be complemented by Christmas cantatas by Dietrich Buxtehude.
At 6:00 PM, Małgorzata Pęcińska will invite you to an exceptional Christmas Eve evening, during which both delicate pastoral music and Christmas masterpieces composed in honor of the Most High will be performed. The program will include Polish carols and phenomenal interpretations by the sextet The King’s Singers. A separate highlight will be a selection of Christmas works by John Eliot Gardiner, based on his memories of family Christmas performances.
The evening will conclude with a retransmission of a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio under the baton of Marin Alsop. At 9:00 PM, works such as 'Overture for Orchestra' by Grażyna Bacewicz, the VIII Symphony 'Journey' by Einojuhani Rautavaara, and the IX Symphony 'From the New World' by Antonín Dvořák will be performed.
On Christmas Day in the morning, Grzegorz Dąbrowski will fill the air with traditional Polish carols in masterful performances, while Klaudia Baranowska at 9:00 AM will present pieces such as 'Magnificat' by Mikołaj Zieleński or 'Ave Maria… virgo serena' by Josquin Desprez. At 11:00 AM, Małgorzata Pęcińska will invite you to a musical meeting featuring the work 'Oratorio de Noël, op. 12' by Camille Saint-Saëns and Polish carols performed by the National Philharmonic Choir.
To conclude the day, at 7:00 PM, Magdalena Łoś will introduce the music of the times of Fryderyk Chopin and ancient Christmas traditions, including the Christmas work 'The Childhood of Christ' by Hector Berlioz.
On the second day of Christmas at 2:00 PM, Adam Rozlach will present an archival conversation with Ewa Rubinstein, the daughter of the legendary pianist Artur Rubinstein, who will share memories of family Christmas traditions. At 4:00 PM, Kuba Borysiak in the program 'Chopin in Folk Style' will discover forgotten caroling traditions in Małopolska, enriching the program with recordings from the Brodów Ensemble and Adam Strug.

Polish Radio for Children
Christmas Eve – 'Sweet Morning' (9:00 AM–12:00 PM) On Christmas morning, Martyna Chuderska will invite the youngest to prepare together for the Christmas Eve dinner. The program will feature stories about Christmas traditions – both those we nurture today and those that once held special significance. Together we will decorate the Christmas tree, recall customs related to the Christmas Eve dinner, and talk about the dishes that appear on the Christmas table. This is a time to discover how rich and diverse our tradition is and to prepare for exceptional moments with family.
Christmas Day – 'Christmas Around the World' (9:00 AM–12:00 PM) On the first day of Christmas, Marta Powałowska will take listeners on an extraordinary journey around the world to discover how Christmas is celebrated in various countries. The radio sleigh will take us to Australia, Latvia, Japan, Venezuela, and Ukraine. Guests from these corners of the globe will share their customs, dishes, and ways to spend Christmas. Is Christmas celebrated everywhere? What do these days look like in places where instead of snow, tropical sunshine shines? We will learn what connects and what distinguishes traditions in different cultures.
The second day of Christmas – 'Christmas Zone' (9:00 AM–12:00 PM) On the second day of Christmas, Marcin Perfuński and Karina Terzoni will invite listeners to reflect together on what family is and how its image changes over the years. The program will include discussions on how Christmas traditions help build relationships and how nowadays we increasingly celebrate with friends rather than family. The hosts will suggest how to spend Christmas in a calm and joyful way, enjoying shared moments with loved ones.
In the evening at 6:00 PM, a retransmission of the concert of the laureates of the V Our Musical Source – a showcase of young talents that delighted the judges with their passion and musical talent will be broadcast.

Polish Radio for Drivers
On Christmas Day, Polish Radio for Drivers will accompany all drivers, helping them reach their travel destination safely. Listeners can count on weather reports and information about road incidents that hinder driving, accidents, and detours.

Polish Radio 24
During the holidays, Polish Radio 24 will feature Christmas greetings from guests who comment on important events on our air every day – politicians, experts, economists, journalists. During the holiday season, there will also be materials from the Catholic editorial office, selected reports from the Reporting Studio from 2024, as well as special editions of the station's flagship programs. As always, it will also be possible to hear the latest news and comments regarding events in the country and abroad.

Polish Radio for Foreigners
Invites you to special holiday editions of magazines, discussions about Christmas traditions and customs in various regions of Poland and the world. Polish Radio for Ukraine invites you to special programs dedicated to Christmas customs in various regions of Poland and Ukraine. In the program 'The Chest', Father Professor, trirytualist Marek Blaza SJ will introduce the ritual of Christmas in the context of Eastern and Western traditions. In the magazine 'Poland of Many Cultures' on Christmas Eve, we will learn how Christmas is celebrated in Lemkivshchyna, on the Polish-Ukrainian border, and how traditions brought from home in Donbas are still continued in Warsaw. Christmas in family circles, on the ski slope, or under a palm tree? How will Poles celebrate Christmas this year, and what about the Christmas specialties of Polish regions will we learn from the program 'On Journeys'. How do they carol in various regions of Ukraine, in the program 'Wytoky' will tell the founder and leader of the Ukrainian band 'Bożyczi', ethnomusicologist Illya Fetysov.

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Polish Radio is the largest public radio broadcaster in Poland. It broadcasts original music programs, journalistic, popular science, educational, social, entertainment, family, religious programs, as well as radio dramas and reports. It has five nationwide programs – Jedynka, Dwójka, Trójka, Polish Radio 24, and Polish Radio for Foreigners, and via the Internet, apps, and DAB+ system broadcasts: Czwórka, Polish Radio for Children, Polish Radio Chopin, Polish Radio for Drivers, and Polish Radio for Ukraine. The portal https://polskieradio24.pl publishes daily the most important news from the country and the world and provides unique special services, archival materials, and multimedia.