Why is there no meat on Ukrainian Christmas?

"The reason that they're meatless is that the animals that were in the stable when Jesus was born paid homage to Jesus, and to pay respect back to them, we don't eat any animal products at all," Holowachuck said, adding that they also symbolize the 12 apostles.
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Can you eat meat on Ukrainian Christmas Eve?

Ukrainian Christmas Eve is a very solemn family time, and just as important of a holiday, as Christmas Day. The day of Ukrainian Christmas Eve is a fasting day, thus no meat is consumed at all, and all the meals are small, and very simple.
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What food is served for Ukrainian Christmas?

First, Ukrainians eat Kutia, then borshch, holubtsi, dumplings, fried fish, cabbage, etc., and drink uzvar. As a rule, children bring dinner, for example, to godparents and grandparents.
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Why do Ukrainians leave all the food on the table after the Christmas Eve dinner for the entire night?

Eating kutia is a ritual that, according to Ukrainian tradition, unites the living and the dead. After the Christmas dinner, kutia should be left on the table for a night so that the spirits of their dead ancestors could also enjoy the family meal.
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What is Ukrainian meatless Christmas dinner?

Some families may have different foods here and there, but these are some of the more common side-dish offerings that round out the twelve:
  • Pyrizhky (cabbage buns)
  • Mushroom soup.
  • Kolach (braided bread in three rings on top of each other to signify the Holy Trinity)
  • Mushrooms and peas.
  • Dried fruit compote.
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Ukrainian Christmas Traditions



Why is Ukrainian Christmas different?

Christmas in Ukraine can be celebrated on the 25th of December or 7th of January. This is because different Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches within Ukraine use the old 'Julian' or the 'new' Gregorian calendars for their church festivals.
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What are the 12 dishes of Ukrainian Christmas?

12 Traditional Ukrainian Dishes for Sviat Vechir
  • Kutia. Kutia is a porridge made from unground wheat, rice, barley or oats with the addition of sweet ingredients like honey, jam, dried fruits, etc. ...
  • Borsch. ...
  • Mushroom gravy. ...
  • Varenyky. ...
  • Holubtsi. ...
  • Herring. ...
  • Marinated mushrooms. ...
  • Ukrainian Christmas Bread Recipe.
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What are some Ukrainian Christmas traditions?

Ukrainian Christmas traditions
  • Christmas lights in Lviv. ...
  • Traditional Christmas table in Ukraine, twelve meatless dishes. ...
  • Didukh – a symbol of Ukrainian Christmas. ...
  • Carolers in the Hutsul village of Kryvorivnia. ...
  • Celebration of Christmas in Ukraine. ...
  • Festival of Malanka. ...
  • Taking a bath in cold water on January 19.
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Do Ukrainians put up a Christmas tree?

Today, Ukrainians still adorn their Christmas trees with spider webs (decorative ones) and bejeweled spider ornaments. Keeping up with his tradition reminds them of all they have to be grateful for — even during difficult seasons or when funds are low. They also believe it will bring them good luck in the new year.
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Why is Christmas Eve no meat?

The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day. As no meat or animal fat could be used on such days, observant Catholics would instead eat fish (typically fried in oil).
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What is the most famous Ukrainian dish?

The national dish of Ukraine is borscht, the well-known beet soup, of which many varieties exist. However, varenyky (boiled dumplings similar to pierogi) and a type of cabbage roll known as holubtsi are also national favourites and are a common meal in traditional Ukrainian restaurants.
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What is Santa called in Ukraine?

Ukraine's Santa Claus is called Did Moroz (Father Frost) or Svyatyy Mykolay (Saint Nicholas).
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What is the most eaten food in Ukraine?

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.
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What religion doesn't eat meat before Christmas?

Sedevacantist Catholic practice

Abstinence from meat is practiced on all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday and the Vigils of Christmas Day and Immaculate Conception Day, as well as on Ember Days and the Vigil of Pentecost Sunday.
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Why do Polish people only eat fish on Christmas Eve?

The latter method is a tradition surrounding Christmas Eve carp in Slovakia, Poland, and Czechia. A symbol of good luck and classic meat-free meal for Christians, common carp makes a popular holiday dish in Central Europe.
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Why do Japanese people eat KFC on Christmas Eve?

The campaign started in the 70s to tempt tourists and expats with chicken on Christmas Day when they couldn't find turkey to eat, and was the the brainchild of Takeshi Okawara, the manager of the first KFC in the country, according to the BBC.
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Why do they put spiders on Christmas trees in Ukraine?

Have you ever wondered why some Ukrainian families place jeweled spiders on their Christmas tree? The tradition dates back centuries to a tale about a spider who, thankful for the warmth in the house provided by a poor family, spins beautiful Christmas decorations, saving Christmas and bringing good luck to the family.
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What do Ukrainians say on Christmas Eve?

The traditional Ukrainian Christmas greeting is 'Христос Родився' (Khrystos Rodyvsia - Christ is born) to which the response is 'Славімо Його' (Slavimo Yoho - Let us glorify Him).
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Are Ukrainians Catholic or Orthodox?

While nearly 80 percent of Ukrainians profess affiliation with an Orthodox denomination, some 10 percent of the population — particularly in western Ukraine — belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
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What are some fun facts about Ukrainian Christmas?

Ukrainian Christmas traditions

The Christmas celebration begins on Christmas Eve. Family members cook Christmas dinner consisting of 12 fasting dishes that symbolize 12 apostles. The main dish at the festive table is kutia – a mix of boiled grains, honey, nuts, poppy seeds, dried fruits, and other toppings.
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What religion are Ukrainians?

In Ukraine the dominant religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity (over 88% of religious population) and about 15,8% of the religious population in Ukraine are Catholics (mostly in Western Ukraine). In addition, nearly 500,000 Muslims and 400,000 Jews are estimated to live in Ukraine.
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How do Ukrainians celebrate Xmas?

Christmas carols.

Boys and girls prepare special songs and poems that they take from house to house, entertaining their neighbors in exchange for sweet gifts and coins. It is believed that the more carolers come to the house, the more prosperity and wealth there will be in the family over the next year.
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What do Ukrainians drink with dinner?

Horilka is usually distilled from grain (usually wheat or rye), though it can, exceptionally, also be distilled from potatoes, honey, sugar beets etc. One type of horilka, called pertsivka (Ukrainian: перцівка), is horilka with chili peppers.
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What is Ukrainian comfort food?

Borscht is the original staple of Ukrainian cuisine. This hearty soup is made from meat broth, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and beets, which give borscht its signature red color. Traditionally borscht is served with sour cream on top.
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What unusual things are eaten in Ukraine?

Holodets. This strange dish shocks tourists. But, for Ukrainians, it is the central dish served at all celebrations. Holodets is made of meat broth, frozen to a jelly-like state, with pieces of meat inside.
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