Christmas rituals in Ukraine

Christmas and New Year's holidays in Ukraine are rich in traditions that combine ancient rituals and modern customs. During these holidays, the emphasis is on family gatherings at a generous table (12 meatless dishes on Christmas Eve, delicious meat dishes on Christmas Day, and then olivier and other "traditional" dishes on New Year's Day). We should not forget caroling with a nativity scene on Christmas Day on December 25 (formerly January 7), as well as caroling and sowing on December 31 (New Year's Eve) and January 13-14 (Old New Year's Day). A little later, there's also the ice-hole diving on Epiphany. Today, Intent will talk about Christmas and New Year's traditions in Ukraine.

As a reminder, Christmas Eve was celebrated on December 24. The traditions and rituals of this holiday in Ukraine retain a deep symbolism, combining Christian canons with ancient folk customs. This event opens a long series of winter holidays...

<span><span><span><span><span><span>The main rituals of Christmas Eve</span></span></span></span></span></span>

-The firststar: the meal begins only with the appearance of the first star in the sky, which announces the birth of Christ. Until then, people observe a strict fast.

-HolySupper: the family gathers at the table, where 12 meatless dishes are served (according to the number of apostles or months of the year). The main dishes are kutia (wheat porridge with poppy seeds and honey) and uzvar.

On Christmas Eve, you should sit down to the table only when the first star appears in the sky.

It is advisable to recite the Our Father prayer before starting to eat.

During dinner, it is forbidden to talk a lot and loudly, as well as to leave the table.

Unmarried boys and unmarried girls should not sit on the corner of the table, otherwise they will be left without a date.

Dishes should not be washed down with water, only with broth.

PHOTO: !FEST

Until the dinner is over, it is forbidden to leave the table and especially the house, so as not to let evil spirits into the house.

You should definitely try a little bit of each of the 12 dishes, but you can't eat too much and eat the whole dish - otherwise the refrigerator will be empty all year.

There is also a custom to share prosvira, or slices of bread with honey, on Christmas Eve. The host has to go around to each family member and treat them, saying a wish from himself to that particular relative.

-Didukh: a ritual sheaf of oats, rye, or wheat is placed in the corner under the icons, a symbol of harvest, prosperity, and connection with ancestors.

Thus, it is desirable that on Christmas Eve dinner begins with bringing a sheaf of wheat or rye into the house. This sheaf is also called didukh, koliada, or grandfather, and it represents the well-being of the family. The sheaf is placed in the corner of the table with dishes.

- A talisman against evil spirits: garlic heads are often placed under the tablecloth at the four corners of the table to protect the family from sickness and evil spirits.

-Honoring thedead: traditionally, a plate of kutia and a spoon are left on the table for the souls of deceased relatives who are believed to come to dinner that evening.

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Ritual actions and entertainment</span></span></span></span></span></span>

- Caroling: After dinner or the next day, children and young people go from house to house singing carols and wishing the owners prosperity. In 2025, according to the new calendar, the main celebrations were on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 25 (Christmas).

-"Quacking": children under the table imitate the sounds of pets (quacking, meowing) to make sure that the household has cattle and poultry.

-Visitingthegodparents: children bring a "dinner" to their godparents and receive gifts and sweets for it.

As a rule, on Christmas Eve, godchildren bring a basket with dinner to their godparents. It must contain kutia and bread. Everything else is left to their own discretion.

During the greeting, one should say: "Christ is born!" and in response - "We praise him!" After the child has greeted the godparents, you should say: "Mom and Dad sent dinner. Good evening!" and hand over the basket with dinner.

In return, godparents give children fruit, sweets, money, or gifts.

There is also a belief that you cannot take home the dishes in which the dinner was brought. So, as a rule, it was brought in beautiful gift dishes.

-Blessing of thelivestock: the owner goes to the barn, treats the animals with festive dishes and blesses them for health.

Since it is believed that every animal can talk to God on Christmas Eve, the owners must go around their entire household (dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, etc.). Each animal should be thanked and treated with something tasty, so that when it talks to God, the animal will answer that it is living well with that owner.

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Dates in 2025</span></span></span></span></span></span>

According to the New Julian calendar, Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24, and Christmas is celebrated on December 25. Communities that follow the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas Eve on January 6 and Christmas on January 7.

The second Christmas Eve (Hungry Kutia) in 2025, according to the new style, falls on January 5.

Hungry Kutia is the name of the second Holy Supper, which is celebrated on the eve of Epiphany (January 18 in the old style, January 5 in the new style). It is the end of the Christmas and New Year cycle, accompanied by strict fasting and lean dishes, and the main difference from the "Rich Kutia" is modesty and fasting, as no butter or cream is added to the dinner, and the grain is boiled in water and sweetened with honey. After Christmas and New Year's rich meals, you need to rest...

Christmas kutia. PHOTO: !FEST

<span><span><span><span><span>Christmas in Ukraine</span></span></span></span></span>

The celebration is based on the Christian tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christianity came to Ukrainian lands in 988 with the baptism of Kyivan Rus by Volodymyr the Great. Since then, Christmas has become one of the main religious holidays.

Christmas traditions in Ukraine are celebrated on December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar or January 7 according to the Julian calendar. They are rich in customs and symbolism. One of the main traditions of the holiday is the Holy Evening with the preparation of 12 meatless dishes symbolizing the 12 apostles.

When Christmas is celebrated in Ukraine, ancient carols and the shimmering melodies of bells sound in churches, and tables are full of traditional treats. As the holiday approaches, villages and towns are filled with the spirit of folk festivities. Houses are filled with the aroma of dumplings cooked according to old recipes, and the smell of freshly baked kutia, a symbol of health, wealth and good luck in the new year, wafts through the air. In the evenings, families gather around the table to celebrate the birth of Christ, tell old stories, and make new memories.

Christmas or Koliada begins a two-week holiday (Sviatky) that lasts until January 6.

The fact is that the Christmas holiday later replaced Koliada, but left us with a legacy of ancient folk rituals that carry elements of festive, joyful mood, hope for a new bountiful harvest, fulfillment of dreams and desires, and, of course, carols.

Preparing for the holiday

It includes religious preparations, culinary traditions, and home decorations. It starts a few weeks before the holiday. The first and most important step is the Christmas fast, which begins at the end of November and lasts until the evening before the holiday. It lasts 40 days. During this time, believers refrain from eating meat, dairy and other animal products. It is believed that fasting cleanses the body and prepares the spirit for an important holiday by intensifying prayer.

Cleaning and decorating the house is considered to be the second most important. This symbolizes the readiness to accept the new year and new benefits. The Christmas tree is set up and decorated with toys, lamps, and sweets.

PHOTO: Ethnohata

Nowadays, the Christmas tree is decorated with toys, but before, it was decorated with homemade angels, snowflakes, sweets, and colored ribbons. Wax candles were placed on the branches on stands to prevent the tree from catching fire. Nowadays, garlands have taken their place. Later, foil toys and fabric decorations in the form of dolls and angels appeared among the Christmas decorations. Residents of western Ukraine often put a nativity scene with paper or wooden figures under the Christmas tree. Among the modern decorations, Christmas wreaths made of pine needles are popular, as well as patriotic toys with a trident, Petrykivka painting, or embroidery elements.

Gradually, the tradition of decorating with sweets and fruits faded into the background. Glass toys replaced it. Compared to real apples and oranges, they weigh less and don't bind the branches.

People start decorating the house a week before Christmas Eve. Traditionally, children and young girls played this role. After all, not only the Christmas tree and didukh (sheaf) are considered to be decorations, but also various straw decorations. Spiders, stars, crosses, and angels were made from it. Such decorations resemble three-dimensional structures in the shape of diamonds. They were made of 12 equal straws that were dipped in water beforehand so that they would not crack.

<span><span><span><span><span>Customs and traditions at Christmas</span></span></span></span></span>

There is no breakfast or lunch on Christmas Eve. No sewing, knitting, or physical labor is allowed on this day. On Christmas morning, it is customary to greet each other with the phrase: "Christ is born!". In response, we should say: "Praise Him!!! In the morning, there is a church service. On this day, people go to visit relatives and guests.

To celebrate Christmas properly, people honor traditional religious rituals and adapt to modern realities: they go to fairs, concerts, and themed events. Many people attend church services held on Christmas Eve and on the day itself.

PHOTO: Ethnohouse

Caroling is the most important tradition, during which groups of children and young people go from house to house, singing Christmas songs (carols), wishing their hosts happiness, health, and prosperity. For this, they are treated with sweets and small gifts.

During caroling, it is customary to dress up in various costumes and wish everyone Merry Christmas.

The word "Koliada" has three meanings: Koliada is the name of the holiday, Koliada is a didukh or Christmas sheaf, and koliada is a carol song. It was also believed that Kolyada is an ancient Ukrainian goddess of the sky who gives birth to the sun.

Christmas songs begin to be sung on Christmas Eve. The carolers take a star with them, which is fixed on a decorated stick. This is a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, which confirms the birth of Christ. There is laughter and merriment all around: children and young people walk around the yards singing carols and acting out comic plays. When the Christmas song is over, the owners of the house have to thank the carolers with sweets and coins.

Once upon a time, every Ukrainian family considered it an honor that carolers came to their house to wish them a Merry Christmas.

<i>Good evening to you, master, rejoice,
Oh, rejoice, O earth, the Son of God is born.
Cover the tables, and all the carpets, rejoice,
Oh, rejoice, O earth, the Son of God is born.</i>

<i></i>
PHOTO: depositphotos

Another Christmas tradition is known as the Vertep or puppet theater. It is created in a special box. Joseph and Mary lean over the cradle of the newborn Savior. Participants of the Vertep perform performances in the Christmas theme. The theater can be puppet or live, with real people playing the roles.

There is also a tradition: at midnight, on the night of January 6-7, you have to open the windows and doors to let Christmas come into the house.

Since fasting ends on Christmas Day, it is customary to cook 12 dishes, but not fasting ones.

On Christmas Eve, the whole family gathers for dinner to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Also on Christmas Day, churches hold 3 services: at midnight, dawn, and day, so you should visit a church if you are a believer.

On this day, it is customary to tell children biblical stories about the birth of Christ and to educate them spiritually in every way possible.

Before celebrating Christmas, you need to take care of buying gifts. This tradition also came from ancient times. Initially, gifts were given only to children. This was done so that children could associate pleasant joys with the birth of Christ. Today, adults also exchange gifts.

Young girls often wonder how Christmas is celebrated. They are interested in lifting the veil of the future and finding out what fate has in store. Fortune-telling continues throughout the entire Christmas season, starting with the Christmas Eve and ending with the Epiphany. Various paraphernalia are used to perform the rituals: snow, milk, wax, matches, jewelry, etc.

It should be noted that the Holy Week lasts 12 days from the day of Christ's birth. During this period, fortune-telling, giving, and various festivities take place. There is a belief that the heavens open on Christmas Eve. You can go out into the yard at night and address the higher powers with your most intimate wish. It should concern only you and not harm others. And then the dream will definitely come true.

Володимир Шкаєв