06/01/2022
Merry Christmas💫🎄
Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated on the 7th January is because, like many countries where the main Church is the Orthodox Church.
There are many traditions associated with Christmas, but the most important rituals that Ukrainians follow regularly are Christmas dinner and Christmas caroling.
The Christmas celebration begins on Christmas Eve. Family members cook Christmas dinner consisting of 12 fasting dishes that symbolize 12 apostles. The main dish at the festive table is kutia – a mix of boiled grains, honey, nuts, poppy seeds, dried fruits, and other toppings. This dish is usually eaten first. Other dishes present at the Christmas table might include mushrooms, fish, varenyky, potatoes, etc. The next morning after Christmas Eve is Christmas day. On this day the fasting ends, and Ukrainians go to church and visit their relatives. Another ancient custom is Christmas caroling or Koliada. During Koliada, children and young people visit neighbors, relatives, and friends singing traditional songs and giving the families best wishes. In return, hosts give Koliada participants presents such as sweets, fruit, or money.
Koliada participants wear traditional clothes and costumes. They also carry a handcrafted star that symbolizes the star that had appeared when Crist was born
