The Ukrainian Christmas festive days
according to the Julian calendar, start on 6 January, Christmas Eve, and end on
7 January, "Jordan" or Epiphany.
During the Soviet time it was not officially
celebrated in Ukraine. Instead communist government tried to substitute
Christmas with the holiday of New Year. But people did not forget their
traditions. After gaining it’s independence in 1991 Ukraine started to
celebrate Christmas officially as well.
Sviata Vecherya or "Holy Supper" is the central tradition of
the Christmas Eve celebrations in Ukrainian homes. The dinner table
sometimes has a few wisps of hay on the embroidered table cloth as a reminder
of the manger in Bethlehem.
Kutia (sweet grain pudding) is traditionally served at the Ukrainian Christmas
dinner table. It is often the first dish in the traditional twelve-dish
Christmas Eve supper (also known as Svyaty Vechir) and is rarely served at
other times of the year.
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