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Photo: rubryka.com
January 6, Ukraine celebrates Christmas Eve
The night before Christmas marks the end of the forty-day fast and the beginning of one of the major Christian celebrations.
On Wednesday, January 6, Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Eve. This is the last day of Filippov’s fast, in which they prepare intensively for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
On the eve of one of the most important Christian holidays, a strict fast is observed until the first star appears. The tradition is associated with the legend of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of Christ.
The hostesses also clean the house and prepare 12 meatless dishes according to the number of the apostles, including kutia, uzvar, meatballs with cabbage and mushrooms, herring, fish, cabbage rolls, mushroom soup.
Christmas Eve traditions
Christmas Eve is spent with the family; it is not customary to visit on this day.
The owner of the house must sit down first. It is customary to start a meal with soych or kutya – porridge made from whole grains of wheat, barley, less often millet or rice with the addition of honey, dried fruits, nuts, poppy seeds.
Photo: prolviv.com
By tradition, the head of the family threw a spoonful of kutia on the ceiling. It was believed that if some grains stuck together, the year would be fruitful. Dishes were left on the table for deceased relatives and for those now not at home, and they also always lit a candle.
In Ukrainian families, a didukh made of spikelets was placed under the icons, symbolizing prosperity and wealth.
After the festive dinner, the family went to church.
On the eve of Christmas carols it was essential. Boys and girls went from house to house glorifying the birth of Christ and received money and food for it.
Photo: persha.kr.ua
Signs on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, they went out into the yard and looked at the night sky: if it was starry, the domestic animals would give birth and there will be many berries in the forest.
Knitting was strictly forbidden on Christmas Eve, it could scare happiness. The yarn was previously wound into tight balls so that tight cabbage heads were born.
It was believed that from that day the worst frosts of the whole winter arrived, so the trees in the gardens were tied with straw so that they would not freeze.
If on Christmas Eve it was clearly believed that there would be a good harvest in the next season. At the same time, a snowstorm was also considered a good sign and heralded the honey harvest. If by this day the roads were black, there would be a buckwheat harvest, and the frost on the trees heralded the grain harvest.
If you started a thaw on Christmas Eve, neither cucumbers nor millet will hatch.
Photo: pixabay.com
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