Ukrainian Christmas traditions

On the eve of Christmas, on January 6, the Ukrainian

people sit down to a generous but lean table. One of the
main traditions of celebrating Christmas is the Holy
Evening. After putting the house in order, Ukrainians
prepare twelve festive dishes in honor of the twelve
apostles.

According to tradition, housewives in Ukraine prepare

12 fasting dishes - in honor of the 12 apostles. One of the
traditional dishes - kutya - is prepared from rice or
wheat, supplemented with raisins, poppy seeds, nuts and
honey. There had to be borscht, fish, mushrooms,
dumplings with beans and cabbage, potatoes, uzvar.

The hostess tied herself with a handkerchief, rolled up

her sleeves, and began to prepare twelve festive evening
dishes: she ordered a stew, boiled peas, beans, fried
cabbage, fish, lindens, prepared barabol, mushrooms,
buckwheat porridge with hemp milk, cabbage rolls with
millet, cakes with poppy seeds and kutyu from pounded
wheat. Her children help her in everything, and most of
all, her eldest daughter. In this rich, but mellow evening,
the hostess presents the most important fruits of the field,
the city and the garden. Nibi gives an account to the new
year for his wealth in the past year.
At this time, the owner goes to water the cattle, gives
them fresh hay and lays down new straw. Then he
pushes the snow away from the house, clears the paths
and carefully inspects the whole farm. Nothing can be
outside the house this evening - borrowed or forgotten
somewhere.

As soon as the first evening star appeared in the sky, the

whole family sat down at what was said to be a rich
table. It was really rich - with 12 different Lenten dishes,
and hence the name "rich kutya" or "rich Christmas
Eve".

The first place was occupied by the owner, as was

appropriate, followed by other members of the family.
The Christmas Eve meal begins with a prayer, followed
by kuti. It is worth noting that it is forbidden to drink
alcohol on January 6.

During the festive dinner, they tried not to leave the

table, to talk quietly. Standing up, the head of the family
offered to remember the dead and invite them to the
Holy Supper. It was believed that it was at this time that
all close and distant family members should come to the
house, that is why seats were made for them on benches,
beds, chairs, dishes and spoons were placed. Following
the host, the whole family recited a prayer.
According to Ukrainian tradition, on this evening it is
customary to visit one's parents, godparents. In addition,
they go caroling on Christmas Eve.

Ethnographer Oleksa Voropai in his essay "Customs of

our people" writes that caroling does not begin in all
regions of Ukraine at the same time: in Pokutty, children
go caroling already on Christmas Eve; in the former
Hetman Oblast, Slobid Ukraine and Hutsul Oblast — on
the first day of Christmas, after the service ends in the
church. On the second day of the holiday, they go
caroling in the morning in Western Podillya. Children,
grown men and girls carol. And in Halychyna sometimes
even the landlords carol. But throughout Ukraine,
children are the first to go caroling.

Children and adults act out the scenes of Christ's birth,

distribute kutya around the houses and sing Christmas
carols.

It is customary to treat carolers and give them money.

Written by Anatolii Popovychenko