What Are The 12 Courses In The Ukrainian Christmas Dishes?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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kutya; pickled Herring; beet salad;

bean salad with garlic

; marinated mushrooms; vinaigrette salad; cabbage rolls stuffed with buckwheat and mushrooms; borscht; deep fried white fish; oven-roasted cabbage; perogies with potatoes; perogies with sauerkraut and a special dessert called uzvar.

How many courses in a Ukrainian Christmas?

Christmas terms: ‘Sviaty Vechir', or Holy Evening is also called ‘Sviata Vecharia', Holy Dinner. It centers around a

twelve course

meal, the number of courses dating back to pagan belief and representing each full moon of the year.

How many courses do Ukrainian families eat on Christmas Eve?

While the women of the household are busy preparing the multicourse meal (sometimes

as many as 12 to 13 courses

, representing the apostles and Christ) that varies from family to family and region to region, the children are assigned the task of decorating the Christmas tree and searching the night sky for the first …

What is the main traditional Christmas dish in Ukraine?


Vareniki

is a traditional Ukrainian dish and for sure can be named the favourite one of the locals. It is a kind of dumpling with filling that you may find at many feasts. For Christmas dinner, it is cooked from unleavened dough and stuffed with chopped vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, cottage cheese or berries.

What are the 12 meatless dishes for Ukrainian Christmas?

  • Kutia. …
  • Borsch. …
  • Mushroom gravy. …
  • Varenyky. …
  • Holubtsi. …
  • Herring. …
  • Marinated mushrooms. …
  • Ukrainian Christmas Bread Recipe.

What is a typical Ukrainian meal?

Even though

borscht and salo

are the most popular dishes in Ukraine and indeed well beyond its borders, the traditional Easter bread paska well earns first place. Many Ukrainians are religious, so always greet guests with bread and salt, and paska is cooked in literally every kitchen before Easter.

How do you celebrate Ukrainian Christmas?

Ukrainian Christmas festivities

begin on Christmas Eve (January 6.) and end on the Feast of the Epiphany

. The Christmas Eve Supper or Sviata Vecheria (Holy Supper) brings the family together to partake in special foods and begin the with many customs and traditions, which reach back to antiquity.

What is Ukrainian Christmas called?

Christmas in Ukraine Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper by Jacques Hnizdovsky Also called

Rizdvo
Observed by Christians, many non-Christians Type Christian, cultural

Why is Ukrainian Christmas January 7?

Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated on the 7th January is because, like many countries where the main Church is the Orthodox Church,

they use the old ‘Julian' calendar for their church festivals

. … The star represents the journey of the Wise Men to find Jesus and that Jesus has been born, so Christmas can start!

What does Kutya symbolize?

Kutia is also called God's dish. It is cooked of decorticated wheat grains, poppy seeds, honey, walnuts and raisins. This dish is a symbol of unity of generations: past ones and coming ones. Also, it is a

symbol of life victory over death

.

What can I bring to Ukrainian Christmas?

If invited to a Ukrainian home, the Ukrainian gift giving custom is to bring

flowers

, a bottle of imported liquor, chocolates or pastries. Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped and do not expect them to be opened right away. Gifts are generally not opened when received.

Why do we eat 12 on Christmas Eve?

Why do Poles eat 12 dishes during the Christmas Eve dinner? Tradition calls for 12 traditional courses to be served during the Polish Christmas Eve. This number is a

symbol of wealth

, the 12 Apostles and a representation of the 12 months of the year.

What is the first dish in the Ukrainian 12 dish Christmas Eve supper?

The Christmas Eve is on the last day of the Christmas fast, so women cook 12 lean dishes, in honor of the 12 disciples of Christ. 8. Traditionally, the first dish that is eaten is

kutia

. Then you can try other dishes and drink uzvar.

How do they say Merry Christmas in Portugal?

Merry Christmas translates to Portuguese as “

Feliz Natal”

and although this is the most common way to express your Christmas greetings, you can also say “boas festas”. This literally means “happy holidays” and is more general, referring to Christmas and the New Year.

What are the 12 traditional Polish Christmas dishes?

  • Pierniki // Polish Gingerbread. …
  • Kapusta z Groszek // Cabbage with Split Peas. …
  • Jarzynowa Sałatka // Vegetable Salad. …
  • Karp // Carp: Fried or Baked in Aspic. …
  • Mushroom and Cabbage Pierogi. …
  • Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls // Gołąbki. …
  • Challah // Plaited Jewish bread.

How long does Ukrainian Christmas last?

Makowsky says Ukrainian Christmas Day also kicks off a

12-day

period of carolling and more celebrations, ending with the Epiphany liturgy on Jan. 19.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.