Christmas in Ukraine: customs and traditions

(Christ+mass=Christmas- Mass of Christ`s birth). 1. Do you know what the word Christmas means? (Christ+mass=Christmas- Mass of Christ`s birth). 2. Do all countries celebrate it? (No, only Christians and Catholics do). 3. When do people celebrate this holiday? (January 7 or December 25). 4. Does your family celebrate Christmas? In what way?

What do you associate Christmas with? symbols holiday Jesus Christ Christmas star Church service Advent presents carols Christmas fortune-telling Christmas tree Christmas cards

Traditions of Christmas

Sviata Vecheria (Holly Supper) Didukh is a sheaf of wheat stalks. People put it under the icons. The stalks of wheat symbolize all generations of the family. Kutia (boiled wheat mixed with poppy seeds and honey) is the main food of the Christmas Eve Dinner and is also called God`s Food. There are twelve dishes for this supper in honour of twelve Christ`s Apostles. People don’t eat meat and don’t drink milk for Holly Supper. .

Caroling

Caroling-singing folk ritual songs. Carols came to us from ancient times. Our ancestors sang ritual Koliadky in honour of the Sun on the holiday called Kolo or Koliada. There are two main groups of Christmas songs in Ukraine: Koliadky which we sing on the Christmas Eve and shchedrivky) which we sing during at at Epiphany.

Vertep

Vertep- Ukrainian Christmas Puppet Theatre. It`s history began in the 17-th century. The theatre was probably founded by students of the Kyivan Academy. They made puppets of wood. They played a performance of two acts. The first was religious and told about the birth of Christ. The second act of the play was short and homorous. There was traditionally one character there who was just called “Kozak Zaporozhets”. Probably that role was based on Kozak Mamai, the legendary folk hero who was the defender of U,kraine. The puppet Kozak played the bandura and smoked a pipe. In his songs he sang about the history of Ukraine.

Christmas cards