Hello, everyone! Orthodox Christmas is coming! In Slavic countries people celebrate this great holiday on January, 7. So let’s talk about different Christmas traditions in Orthodox countries, for example, about traditional Christmas dinner in Ukraine.
Christmas celebration begins in evening on 6th of January, on the Svyat-Vechir (Holy Night on Christmas Eve). It is the last day of the great Christmas Fast that is called Golodna Kutya. That’s why on this special evening dinner Ukrainians cook only lenten dishes (but fish and butter are permitted to use).
Traditionally there must be 12 meatless dishes on the table that symbolize the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. The main of these dishes is kutya, wheaten porridge with special ingredients. Every of its ingredients has its own symbolic meaning: grain symbolizes resurrection and eternal life, honey – health and sweet life, poppy seeds – prosperity and well-being of the family. Slavic people believe that the more sweet and tasty is kutya – the more fortunate and happy will be this year for the family.
The other dishes may be different but usually they are: uzvar (compote of dried fruits and berries), cabbage rolls, fish dishes, meatless borsch with mushrooms, buckwheat porridge, dumplings with cabbage, lenten pancakes and pies. This dinner begins when the first star appears at the sky, like a symbol of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Faithful Christians go to the solemn Christmas Mass to their church and other Ukrainians have different festivities (traditional Christmas songs, public theater and games) at the streets of their villages, towns and cities. The next day they have gift exchange and continue celebration with different meat dishes – sausages, poultry dishes, hot-pot, fish and meat in jelly, meat pancakes and pies, honey-cakes, honey cookie etc.
By contrast with New Year, Christmas in Ukraine is a family holiday. Ukrainians prefer to celebrate it with their close people. The whole family gathers around the festive table, forgives any hurts to each other and prays for the love, peace, happiness and mutual understanding.
So don’t forget to congratulate your special Ukrainian lady and her family on Orthodox Christmas this year!