Christmas - bright and rich in traditions festival, which every year are looking forward to adults and children.A beautiful tree dressed, pretty gifts, melodious carols, tasty meal, a huge and mysterious Didukh divination - all the elements of the celebration, without which it loses its charm.In every country has its own traditions for Christmas.In Ukraine, they are as individual and authentic, but no less interesting, than in any other corner of our vast planet.
Preparing for the holiday
It began even during the autumn harvest.It was then harvested festive Didukh - tied with a ribbon sheaf of hay, which is decorated with various cereals: wheat, oats, and rye.Choose the most beautiful ears of corn, hay thus had to be necessarily soft and fragrant.Prior to the holiday, even for the New Year, trying to complete all of the most important economic affairs: domestic cattle forage, do spring cleaning in the house, whitewashed ceilings, painted chimneys and furnaces.
traditions of Christmas celebrations in Ukraine have their own unique twist.For example, the head of the family was buying his wife and children new clothes and new dishes.Women gathered in the evenings and wax collected on their own apiary, make beautiful braided candles, which are then decorated table on Christmas Eve and the room.Above them whispering special prayers and incantations, so they gained miraculous powers.Young boys and girls, in turn, were practicing carols ritual sewed outfits and master nativity scene.
Christmas Eve
morning of January 6 with the first roosters get up the whole family.The hostess took seven logs, which were postponed for seven weeks, and gently laying them in the oven.That they had to cook the main holiday meals - kutyu and uzvar.According to tradition, on Christmas Day in Ukraine, they lit the "live" flame, flint was used for this, or the old way: strike sparks with two bars of wood.Only in the XX century began to use the matches, but in the distant villages of the custom of "live" fire is preserved to this day.
owner of the house with the first rays of the sun to open all the doors and windows in the house, even the gate of the stables, sheds and barns.It was believed that the god of prosperity and harvest walks at this time on the ground and looks in those yards, where his welcome waiting.Cattle sprinkled with poppy seeds, to scare away evil spirits from her.Men before the actual holiday dinner lean entered in the hut Didukh previously sprinkled it with water, collected from the first morning dawn.Over sheaf sentenced prayer, asking God for health and wealth this year.
cooking dinner
It was a special ritual in which took part not only women but also their husbands and children.According to tradition, on Christmas Day in Ukraine (in English - Christmas Eve) was considered the main dish Kutya.For its preparation took pounded and soaked wheat and water, typed before sunrise.After Kutya cook, it added nuts, honey, poppy seeds and raisins.With regard Uzvara, it was made of harvested in autumn dried fruit: pears, apples, plums.
must have been present on the table and Knysh - pie filling.Over it laid out a small loaf, intended for the souls of deceased ancestors.Then the hostess to bake cakes lean, cooked in a new pot stuffed with mushrooms, dumplings with potatoes and other dishes.In total, they had to be 12. All holiday dishes laid out on the table, the laid elegant tablecloth, which was placed at the corners of cloves of garlic - it protects the family from a different evil, and from evil and the evil eye.
Didukh
Once the table was set, the head of the family and his eldest son's house drifts Didukh.At the threshold they were met by the hostess with a lighted candle in one hand and a Knyshov another.According to tradition, on Christmas Day in Ukraine, the children set Didukh on Penance, laid by hay.After this ritual malyshnya rolled on the floor, so that animals on the farm are not translated.
Didukh in ancient times was similar to the modern tree dressed up.He - a symbol of Christmas, so it's always held a place of honor at the head table.The tradition of celebrating Christmas in Ukraine indicate that the Slavs who lived in the area, believed in the miraculous power Didukh.They believed that after the harvest of the souls of the dead inhabit his relatives.
After solemn Didukh move out of the barn to the house were forbidden to do any household robots.The girls even took out to the streets of brooms and rags, so as not to succumb to the temptation.For three days people have fun and relax.The only thing that was allowed to do was to look after the cattle.
Lenten dinner
When all the rituals and ceremonies were made by family members dressed in elegant clothes, and eagerly awaited the appearance of the first star in the night sky - only then it was possible to sit down.A day before that people fasted - do not eat, drink only water - so it was particularly long-awaited moment.
What Christmas traditions in Ukraine related to Svyatvecherom?Firstly, after the manner of the first at the table sat the head of the family.Next in seniority others: parents, wife, children.Before you sit down, there are people blowing on a chair to pin down any chance of spirits that could nestle on them.Second, the owner is required to read a prayer, after which it was possible to eat for.Please try kutyu, then all the other dishes at a time.All this time in the middle of the table stood Knysh and stuck it lighted candles.
believed that if the house for supper come poor people - it's for good luck.A good omen was tossing a spoon kuti to the ceiling, people believed that the ritual will bring a wealth of cattle litter, and they therefore prosperity.
After dinner
According to tradition, on Christmas Day in Ukraine Svyatvecher ended with carols.People sang them first in the family, then ran to the house the whole gang with a den entertainers who want the owners of wealth, health and good luck, followed by a blessing of their singing ritual songs about the birth of Christ.The award received sweet treats or call penny.
sleep after dinner Holy nobody went.People tried to spend this time with your family.Leaving home was not taken: only children taking sweets from a table and carried them to their grandparents, parents and godfather.On the window sill all night burning candles they lit the way the souls of the dead who could look at the light.Also for them they left kutyu and other dishes on the holiday table.
After midnight, the girl wondered at her spouse: coffee grounds, mirrors, boots and logs.It is believed that on this night, you can maximize lift the veil of the future.It was impossible to quarrel, angry and say bad words, because that night they could hear the evil spirits that wander outside.
January 7
The next day, in the morning again came Kolyada.These were boys vinchuvalniki, girls could be welcoming hosts, only 8 of January.According to tradition, on Christmas Day in Ukraine (in English - Christmas Day) the guys generously pies, candies, apples and nuts.People went to church for the festive service, after which it was thought that Christmas came fully into their legal rights.
Celebrated its least three days: all this time, the locals went to each other's homes and sang Christmas carols and rested.Heads of families envelop with smoke candles at home from the temple, sprinkled holy water on the corners.Trapeznichat not lean and-fasting food.According to tradition, on Christmas Day in Ukraine January 7 Serve sausage, pudding, jelly, roast, lard, homemade yellow cheese, stuffed pigs and so on.Evenings were collected near the church and arranged festivities: circle dances, sang, danced, wanted everyone you meet happiness and good luck in the New Year.
