Christmas Eve and Christmas in Ukrainian Tradition and Contemporary Life

It is a day of inward reflection, family unity, and remembrance. The home is prepared in advance, and the festive supper begins with the appearance of the first star — a symbol of Bethlehem and the birth of Christ — which gathers the family together.

A special place in the home is given to the Didukh. It is made from wheat or rye sheaves, sometimes oats, bound with ribbons or straw ties. The Didukh embodies labor on the land, remembrance of ancestors, and the continuity of the family line. It is brought into the house with words of goodwill and placed in the honored corner, where it remains throughout the entire Christmas cycle, reminding the household of the bond between generations.

The central dish of Christmas Eve is kutia — grains combined with honey, poppy seeds, and nuts. It symbolizes life, abundance, and unity, which is why the meal begins with it. Alongside it is uzvar, a drink made from dried apples, pears, and plums, representing fertility and gratitude for the fruits of the year.

Lenten dishes are served at the table. By tradition, there may be twelve — corresponding to the number of the apostles — when circumstances allow. Families prepare as many dishes as their means permit: foods made from cabbage, mushrooms, beans, fish, and grains. What matters is meaning and order, not abundance or luxury.

A distinctive element of the Christmas season is the vertep. It exists both as an installation — a Nativity scene with figures of the Holy Family, shepherds, and angels — and as a theatrical performance. The Ukrainian vertep weaves the biblical narrative together with folk characters, vivid language, and imagery, through which ideas of the world, humanity, and justice are conveyed.

Today, Christmas Eve and Christmas unite ancient custom with contemporary experience, preserving the essence of a celebration that has endured prohibitions, calendar changes, and historical trials, while remaining a vital part of Ukrainian culture.