Getting treats for Christmas

Christmas in Ukraine is a family occasion during which all relatives congregate. They create a festive table with 12 traditional foods (like the apostles did), sing Christmas songs, reflect on all the good things that transpired in the previous year, and wish each other health and happiness. The custom of carolling is also observed throughout the Christmas season. Children walk from house to house, singing Christmas carols and wishing the hosts a Merry Christmas. The most significant aspect is "seeding" the floor with wheat or barley grains, which brings wealth and pleasure into the home. In response, the hosts must provide money, chocolates, or other delicacies to the carolers.

The dinner is usually served with 12 courses to commemorate Jesus' 12 disciples. Traditionally, the dishes do not contain any meat, eggs, or milk. The main course is frequently 'kutia,' a sort of sweet wheat porridge. Other foods include mushrooms, sauerkraut, red borsch (beet soup), 'varenyky' (Pierogi), 'holopchi' (cabbage rolls, made without meat in them during Christmas! ), 'pyrizhky' (cabbage buns), whitefish, and 'kolach' (special Christmas bread). Here is one of the things about Ukraine you should know when coming to this country.