Ukrainian
Christmas
For the Ukrainian people, Christmas is the
most important family holiday of the whole year. It is celebrated solemnly, as
well as merrily, according to ancient customs that have come down through the
ages and are still observed today.
Ukrainian Christmas customs
are based not only on Christian traditions, but to a great degree on those of
the pre-Christian, pagan culture and religion. Ukrainian society was basically
agrarian at that time and had developed an appropriate pagan culture, elements
of which have survived to this day.
Christianity was
introduced to
Ukrainian Christmas
festivities begin on Christmas Eve, traditionally observed on January 6
according to the Julian calendar, and end on the Feast of the Epiphany (January
19). The Christmas Eve Supper or Sviata Vecheria (Holy Supper) brings
the family together to partake in special foods and begin the holiday with many
customs and traditions, which reach back to antiquity. The rituals of Christmas
Eve are dedicated to God, to the welfare of the family, and to the remembrance
of ancestors.
With the appearance of
the first star which is believed to be the Star of Bethlehem, the family
gathers to begin supper.
The table is covered with
two tablecloths, one for the ancestors of the family, the second for the living
members. In pagan times, ancestors were considered to be benevolent spirits,
who, when properly respected, brought good fortune to the living family
members. Under the table, as well as under the tablecloths, some hay is spread
to remember that Christ was born in a manger. The table always has one extra
place-setting for the deceased family members, whose souls, according to
belief, come on Christmas Eve and partake of the food.
A kolach
(Christmas Bread) is placed in the centre of the table. This bread is braided
into a ring, and three such rings are placed one on top of the other, with a
candle in the centre of the top one. The three rings symbolise the Holy Trinity
and the circular form represents Eternity.
A didukh (meaning
grandfather) is a sheaf of wheat stalks or made of mixed grain stalks. It is
placed under the icons in the house. In
After the didukh
is positioned in the place of honour, the father or head of the household
places a bowl of kutia (boiled wheat mixed with poppy seeds and honey)
next to it. Kutia is the most important food of the entire Christmas Eve
Supper, and is also called God’s Food. A jug of uzvar (stewed fruits,
which should contain twelve different fruits) and is called God’s Drink, is
also served.
After all the
preparations have been completed, the father offers each member of the family a
piece of bread dipped in honey, which had been previously blessed in church. He
then leads the family in prayer. After the prayer, the father extends his best
wishes to everyone with the greeting Khrystos Razhdaietsia (Christ is
Born), and the family sits down to a twelve-course meatless Christmas Eve
Supper.
There are twelve courses
in the Supper, because according to the Christian tradition, each course is
dedicated to one of Christ’s Apostles. According to the ancient pagan belief,
each course stood for every full moon during the course of the year. The
courses are meatless because there is a period of fasting required by the
Church until Christmas Day. However, for the pagans the meatless dishes were a
form of bloodless sacrifice to the gods.
The first course is
always kutia. It is the main dish of the whole supper. Then comes borshch
(beet soup) with vushka (boiled dumplings filled with chopped
mushrooms and onions). This is followed by a variety of fish - baked, broiled,
fried, cold in aspic, fish balls, marinated herring and so on. Then come varenyky
(boiled dumplings) filled with cabbage, potatoes, buckwheat grains, or
prunes. There are also holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls), and the Supper
ends with uzvar.
Text source: The Ukrainian
Museum,