Holidays always bring memories. Because it's traditions, some are old and being passed through centuries, some are newly started in one's family and therefore so special.
I'll tell you about my Christmas
Christmas is on the brink and its spirit is everywhere. This is the only holiday of the year that I celebrate with my family. It always has been, while I lived with them in the same town. And since the distance of 600 km separates us, I do my best to come celebrating every year (driving Ukrainian roads in winter is a critical test).
Because I miss those crazy times when a whole big family (it's up to 20 people!) gathered in a small apartments. Every year I freaked out and went crazy about lots of people at my place. Children shout, adults laugh, and sing, and as a junior hostess I had to cook, watch other's children (and my as well), and wash the utensil, all holidays. There was not a single empty, quiet corner in the house.
And because I know this is my daughter's most favorite holiday (except birthday, of course, which is just a few days earlier), and I know she want me to come, especially since her father's gone, and my has passed too. And granny, and both uncles. Few of us are left.
But you probably don't know that Ukrainian Christmas is not just a family gathering at a big holiday table, songs and gifts. It's a whole ritual, an action. In this part of the world, Christianity has softly replaced paganism, so we got an interesting combination as a result. From 1939, when we became part of the USSR, Christmas has been banned. That's why we always celebrated holidays with my uncle in the village, away from KGB agents (not a joke). Many families in Western Ukraine cherish and respectd the traditions of Christmas, even nowadays.
As you may know, in this part of the world, Christmas comes by old style, that is, on January 7th. But I dream of the day when the whole Christian world will celebrate it together, on the same day.
Actually, the Christmas miracle begins the day before. In contrast to the merry and loud Christmas Day, the Christmas Eve should be held in silence, harmony and good mood. The atmosphere on this day is very solemn and full of anticipation.
You cannot visit anyone on this day. Since I was a girl, and always helped my grandmother in the kitchen (in those days, only my grandmother cooked for us), I had so much to do that I still had no time to visit my friends. Even so, their parents wouldn't approve of it anyway. 😮
There was another tradition in my family, perhaps not so common. A good hostess should cook all 12 dishes on that very day. That's the real challenge!
DID YOU KNOW? Folklorists estimate that more than half a million Ukrainian folk songs have been recorded so far. UNESCO has a library of folk songs from around the world. There are 15.5 thousand songs in the fund of Ukraine. The second place takes Italy with 6,000 folk songs.
Since independence, a tradition to celebrate Christmas returned to the cities. Also, there is no one to visit in the village, who's passed and who's left. C'est la vie. But in our small apartment we sing as loudly as we sang in a country house. Hahaha. So our Christmas chants are remembered and known by all the neighbors of our apartment building. 😇 And when my dad was alive, he played an accordion as well. 😆
So what is Kutia?
It's without any doubt the main dish of Christmas Eve. No matter how many dished you managed to cook :) It's cooked from wheat. The ancient Greeks, who prepared it for the winter solstice, had a similar ritual dish made of grain. Sometimes it's called "Wealthy Kutia", because as you start the year, so will it continue.
So we put more ingredients. Nuts, grains and poppy seeds are symbols of fertility, a continuation of the genus. And, of course, the poppy is a protection against all sorts of troubles. Honey is a symbol of good and "sweet" life. Still add raisins.
This dish is prepared only once a year for Christmas. That's why it is the most delicious! Despite the simple recipe, cooked by each hostess it differs.
In addition to kutia, we serve dumplings with various fillings, fish and mushroom dishes. My favorite Christmas dish is borsch with ears. Even after lean Christmas Eve dinner, when on the next day you can eat various festive meat dishes, like brawn, sausage, roast pork, it is still the most delicious to me. Except... maybe brawn. I love it when I cook myself, only simmering takes 6 hours, and the whole time is ... about a day, LOL. Let me think. No, borsch with dishes wins as it's more healthy 😇
You wonder what is it. Ukrainian borshch is a sour soup made with beetroots as one of the main ingredients. "Ears" are dumplings stuffed with dried porcini mushrooms, fried with onions and garlic. Dumplings should be as small as possible. When serve, pour fluid into big cup and put few dumplings in there. Consummate of flavours and textures 😍 🔥
And now no kidding. It's physically tough and mentally challenging, and by nightfall my back and legs hurt terribly. But when I see the happy face of my mom and daughter, my brother and my husband satisfied with that smile, and joyful nephews (I have them 3+4 in total, and they are the sweetest kids in the world), even sister-in-law (hehe..). Yes, I know that I'm going to do the same for them next year. While I got them, while I'm needed :)
@zirochka