Christmas in Ukraine is traditionally celebrated on the 7th of January. However, every year more and more Ukrainians begin to celebrate this important holiday together with all of Europe on the 25th of December. This year the Orthodox Church of Ukraine will hold services on 25th of December.

In the Orthodox tradition, the holiday is preceded by a strict fast, which lasts from the 28th of November to the 6th of January.

The strictest fast is observed on Christmas Eve when it is customary to fast until the first star appears in the sky. This is connected to the legend of the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Saviour.

Having freed and cleansed during the fast from the “negative information” accumulated over the year, it’s time to “sow” the soul with the seeds of goodness and prosperity. Apparently, another Christmas tradition relates to this “sowing”.

From the evening of Christmas Eve or the morning of the 7th of January, it is customary to go from house to house and carol, scattering grains of rice, wheat, millet with wishes of health, happiness, and prosperity. In return, the hosts give delicious treats.

Traditionally, 12 Lenten dishes are put on the table – according to the number of apostles or disciples of Jesus Christ.

The main dishes on Christmas Eve are kutya and uzvar (traditional Christmas dried fruit compote), while others may vary depending on personal preferences.

Kutya is made from wheat with poppy seeds, honey, nuts and raisins. The dish has a deep symbolic content because wheat, like grain, comes to life every year, therefore it is a symbol of eternity.

Also, very often on the Christmas table you can find dumplings with cabbage and dumplings with potatoes, lean borscht, cabbage rolls (cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice), fish, various vegetable salads and pickled vegetables.

With regards to sweets – Christmas kalach is a traditional ceremonial bread made from white flour. Twisted and twisted dough with a hole in the middle, sprinkled with poppy seeds. With kalachs you may visit the baptized, relatives, parents. It’s a Christmas tradition to bring a kalach to your beloved ones.

After Christmas, the favourite entertainment of all teenagers comes: fortune-telling at Christmas time. This is the period from the 6th of January to the 19th of January, that is, from Christmas to Epiphany. It is believed that it is at this time that the doors to other worlds open and you can find out your fate.

I will give below the most popular version of divination for your future love:

You write as many names as you like on separate pieces of paper, roll them up and put them under your pillow before going to bed on Christmas night. In the morning, just get any piece of paper from under the pillow. From it you can find out the name of your betrothed.

And the simplest fortune-telling is a dream on Christmas night. It is on this night that the most prophetic dreams are dreamed!

Christmas is a traditional family holiday when all relatives gather for a dinner. This is the main similarity of Christmas in Ukraine and England. It doesn’t matter what dishes we have on the table on this day, the main thing is that relatives and friends are there for a sincere and warm conversation!