The Day Before Christmas: How Ukrainians Celebrate Christmas Eve
On the evening of December 24, Christians in Ukraine celebrate Christmas Eve, a holiday rich in traditions. But at the same time, there are also many prohibitions.
This is reported by “Pryamiy” .
Christmas Eve is a special period before Christmas. The main tradition of this day is considered to be a family dinner. However, people sat down at the festive table only after the first star appeared in the sky. Until that moment, Ukrainians tried not to eat anything.
Traditionally, godchildren would come to their godparents for dinner. They would bring their kutia to the hosts, and in return they would receive treats.
The residents of the house would set the table, which would have 12 dishes. Since Christmas Eve was the last day of the Christmas fast, the food would also have to be lean.
Among the main dishes that graced the table were soup, dumplings, pies, cabbage rolls, sauerkraut or stewed cabbage, mushrooms, fish, and pancakes. Kutya, ceremonial bread, and uzvar took pride of place; they were placed under the icons.
By how the kutya was cooked, housewives determined what the coming year would be like: a well-cooked dish meant good luck, and a poorly cooked one meant bad luck.
In addition to food, a didukh was placed on the table — a sheaf of ears of corn, which represents the connection between generations, prosperity, and the spirit of ancestors.
On Christmas Eve, the owners of the house would cover the floor and the table under the tablecloth with straw or hay, put a head of garlic there, and sprinkle poppy seeds on the threshold, the area near the stove, and around the house. In ancient times, people believed that in this way they fought evil spirits and witchcraft.
When everything was ready for dinner—the rituals were done and the food was prepared—the family would sit down at the table. The first thing they would do was eat three spoonfuls of kutia, and then they would move on to other dishes.
It was believed that on this day the spirits of the dead descended to earth to visit their relatives. During dinner, sharp forks or knives were not used so as not to harm them, so people usually ate with spoons. After dinner, it was forbidden to clear away all the food; on the contrary, extra bowls were set out for the dead.
There are also a number of other prohibitions. In particular, you cannot quarrel, curse, cry, or do heavy work. Eating meat is strictly forbidden.
At the same time, one should not be stingy so that the next year does not seem poor, refuse hospitality so as not to invite trouble, and throw away leftover food that is blessed.
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