Christmas in Ukraine

1. Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated January 7 according to the Gregorian

calendar as in most of other Christian countries. Christmas holiday is
looking forward to both adults and small ones. It brings a lot of joys, fun
and sweets. The holiday is happy with its calmness, calmness and hopes
for a better future. Do we know how to celebrate it?
2.The Christmas Eve is called in Ukraine ‘Sviaty Vechir’ (Holy Evening)
sometimes also called ‘Sviata Vecheria’ (Holy Supper), which celebrated
January 6. People usually cook some tasty foods for this evening. There
should be at least 12 different foods on the table. The owner first sits at
the table, illuminates a Christmas candle and blesses dinner, after which
he tastes a Kutia and share out it to his family.
3. Those should mandatory include ‘Kutia’ -- the ritual food which is
prepared from cooked wheat and special syrup containing diluted honey,
grated poppy seeds, raisins and sometimes nuts.Also, on the table should
be borshch, varenyky, mushrooms soup, pampushkas, herring, pickled
mushrooms, cabbage, golybtsi, uzvar, beans, fish.
4.For this evening ,people decorate Christmas trees in their houses. . The
symbol of this celebrate is a green tree. The star, which is usually adorned
at the top of the tree, is a symbol of the Bethlehem star, which brightly
illuminated the way of the kings to Jesus Christ. Multi-colored balls, small
angels, garlands resemble candles and lights that shone on this holy night
for the Bethlehem shepherds. And now these lights burn in every house.
To make the holiday even more joyful and more fun, relatives put gifts
under the Christmas tree for each other. Kids hang sweets on Christmas
trees.
5. Another tradition exists in some regions of Western Ukraine to
decorate the table with ‘Didukh’ -- a sheaf of oats or wheat of special
shape: with four legs and numerous little bundles. It symbolizes
prosperity for the next year.
6. On the morning of January 7, Ukrainians are congratulated by the
phrase "Christ was born!" And in response, they say, "We are glorious!"
On this day, people usually visit the church, and also go to visit relatives
and friends. On the first day of Christmas, fasting ends, so Ukrainians are
sitting down for a truly festive table and singing carols.
7. Caroling is the most enjoyable children. Before they go to the house,
they ask for permission to sing. When the hosts agree, the carolers begin
to sing about the birth of Christ, as well as wish the masters happiness,
health and prosperity, for which they are given sweets and money. It is
believed that the more carolers will visit the home, the more generous
will be for the family a year.
8. The most popular carols in Ukraine are : ‘Dobryi vechir tobi’ ,’Nova
radist stala’, ‘Bog sia rozhdae’, ‘Nebo i Zemlia’ and others.
9. In evening people create so-called ‘Vertep’. These are scenes from
Bible of Jesus birth. They show little Jesus in manger, Mary, strangers
offering their gifts and Bethlehem star in the sky. Those verteps are
exhibited at public places, usually near or inside churches. At night
candles are installed inside verteps for people who come to church for
the night service can observe them.
 10.So, Christmas is favourite celebration in Ukraine . All people are
looking forward to this fest , becouse it approach whole family together.