Babas, babtsias, and babunias are always right but even they do not research and delve into the whys and hows, they just do. My mother-in-law would answer my questions on "why" with "bo tak maye buty" or "tak vse bulo" [that's the way it's supposed to be, or it has always been this way].

Over the last 30 or so years I have studied Ukr. rituals and traditions and their origins and symbolism. If you check the Ukrainian Weekly over the last 10+ years (the Christmas issues) and some issues of Forum: a

Ukrainian Review, you can read them.

It would take too long to explain all of this here. I'll try, very concisely.

Our traditions did not emerge 1000 years ago with Christianity coming to Ukraine. They were there from prehistoric times (whether we're descended from the prehistoric people is another story – but the rituals, the symbolism, oral tradition, folk art symbolism have their origins in the Paleolithic and Neolithic through later ages). At first the bishops and clergy fought the heathen customs, and even in the 16-17th c. still opposed blessing of Easter baskets, hahilky, koliaduvannia, etc. etc. Finally – as in other parts of the world, they gave up, and incorporated the pre-Christian with the Christian – because the people would not give up their traditions, which were around for so much longer. Dualism/dvoyeviria [i.e., two faiths] developed.

The traditions and rituals are layered, with old and newer appearing together. Most of our winter/Christmas rituals have their origin in the Paleolithic (hunter-gatherer) time, while Easter has agricultural, Neolithic roots. Think of the foods served at each special meal of each of these. To hunter-gatherers, the moon and stars were more important than the sun, which was vital to agriculturalists. Study the pre-Christian koliady for their lyrics, where the moon often appears more important than the sun.

Our Sviata Vecheria has nothing Christian about it, other than the prayer and the going to church afterwards. The rest is layers and layers of prehistory and its rituals. The hay and straw came to symbolize the manger, but they were there long before, representing agriculture (the plow/pluh placed in the hay under the table). The Apostles weren't present at Christ's birth -- what do they have to do with Rizdvo?

Over the centuries, the traditions blended. sometimes people liked to think that the Christian is "better" or more cultured than the early "pagan" stuff. So, for example, even pysanka symbols have been explained by some to be completely Christian, when we know very well that so few of the ornaments are religious, and are so much earlier than Christianity. It's a matter of knowing just what was passed on – and very often people don't know why -- long ago they did, but that was either forgotten, or replaced with Christian reasons.

I have always wanted to know the why behind all the fascinating, strange, even bizarre and impractical things we do in our special Ukrainian rituals. Still have a long way to go, but as I learn more, I find it fascinating that something from prehistory is so important that it was passed down through so many millennia, so that I in Canada, or someone in Brazil or Vladivostok will still be preparing kutia for Sviat Vechir, and so on. There is no need to judge or choose as to whether the Christian is better, and the old stuff bad. It just is, something from times before that has been given to us, the descendants. You can choose whatever you wish to do on Sviat Vechir. If you just went to church, would that be enough? how about saving all that time and not cooking so much, how about just ordering out Chinese or a pizza? ....... nope, didn't think so.

So, I can cite references till the koliadnyky come home, but that won't make a difference. as long as people celebrate the traditions, and respect what was passed on from so very long ago.