Tetiana Ponomar is a support worker with WRS and the Homes for Ukraine project. She came from Ukraine to the UK in 2022 and settled with a host family in Bromsgrove. She now lives with her children in Worcestershire.
Here, she sheds some light on what Christmas is like in Ukraine.
Speaking about Christmas, I imagine a peaceful Ukrainian frosty evening, the creaking of snow under the feet.
Children are walking down the street to their godparents. The smallest kids have their parents leading them. It is a Ukrainian Christmas tradition, we call it ‘to bring a dinner to your godparents’ on the Holy Evening (Christmas Eve). They do not bring the whole dinner, they actually bring only one dish – kutia.
Children recite a Christmas poem or even sing a Christmas song, praising Christ`s birth and wishing all the best. Kutia is a grain porridge with honey and dried fruit. This holy dish takes centre stage on a festive table.
Children like this tradition because in exchange they receive presents or money from their godparents.
In Ukraine, Christmas used to be celebrated either on December 24, as per the Gregorian Calendar, or on January 6, according to the Julian Calendar – the latter having been imposed during the Soviet era. In a significant shift in 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine adopted the Gregorian Calendar, officially setting the Christmas celebration dates to December 24 to 25.
12 dishes
Traditionally, there should be 12 dishes on Christmas table on the Holy Evening. Religious people have a 40-day fast before Christmas. It is forbidden to eat meat, dairy products, and eggs. Those who were fasting normally have 12 meatless dishes on their festive menu on Christmas Eve. Although nowadays, many Ukrainians prefer to have normal food with meat, sausages and pies. While adults are sitting around the table, children are opening their presents.
Unlike Christmas Eve, Christmas Day in Ukraine is celebrated lavishly. There is lots of meat and sweets on the table. There is no Christmas turkey but you can see long pork sausage typically cured and dried, hash browns with meat or mushrooms (deruny), different kind of salads or even pigs in blankets.
Singing praise and nativity scenes
Singing holds a significant place in a Ukrainian Christmas celebration. On Christmas Day young people wear traditional Ukrainian clothes and walk around the neighbourhood singing, praising Christ, and perform nativity scenes (vertep). Similar tradition is on New Year’s Eve. This time young people sing and wish others a happy new year. One of the songs singing this on New Year`s Eve is ‘Carol of the Bells’ (in Ukrainian of course). This worldwide Christmas carol is originally a Ukrainian traditional song which was written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich.
Christmas songs are not just songs performed on winter holidays, but special texts which symbolise the continuity of history and traditions, inspire hope for a brighter future and unite different generations of Ukrainians around them.
Christmas holidays end with the tradition of sowing. The main feature of sowing that distinguishes them from carols is that only boys or men are allowed to sow. The sowers should have bags of any grain with them, such as wheat or oats. Wishing all the best, the boys scatter the grain around the rooms. And, after they leave, the grain must not be swept until the sun goes down.
Ukrainian Christmas is filled with Christmas songs, children’s laughter, and family conversations at the table. It slightly differs from English tradition but there is one similar thing. We all believe in miracles and hope for a better future. We spend time making memories with loving people.
