www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Christmas Eve Dinner

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Could anyone enlighten me on the traditions of the Christmas Eve Dinner? I've recently been exposed to this tradition (as this sentence just gave you the clue--I'm not of the blood) and am very curious as to what is conducted during the dinner. I have found vague explanations as to what it's all about. I'd really like to know more about it, since it seems to me it is very meaningful to the Slavs (are they the only ones who do this?). Most of my church's elders are either becoming ill or are like me, not of the blood, so this tradition has been nonexistent to me all my life until about a year ago. I'm pretty sure I saw a thread of this on the forum, but can't find it now. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

This may be of some help - http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/holidays/christmas/ukraine.htm

There's much more on the internet. Just go into "Search", type "Ukrainian Christmas" and away we go!

Thank you, Pavloosh

care packages containing prepared goodies for any Christmas Eve feast may be sent to me:
Jonn Mulry
P.O.Box 1522
Chattanooga, TN 37401-1522
thanx.
Much Love,
Jonn

You are very welcome "blessedbyzgirl"!
Christmas traditions among the Slavic peoples are indeed profoundly beautiful.
In three short weeks we will greet one another with "Christos Razhdayetsia"! / "Christ is Born"!
Hope you have a Blessed Christmas!

For Ukrainian Christmas Traditions see:

http://www.brama.com/art/christmas.html

For Recipes see:
http://www.brama.com/yonkersukrainianfest/food_recipes.html

Since I am a bachelor I bought this really great DVD and I find it first class. The chief is a male and there is nothing sissy about cooking at all.
Go to:
www.ukraivin.com [ukraivin.com]
and order the "Christmas Eve Traditional Ukrainian Cooking for Today's Modern Kirchen."

You can also search for "Holy Supper" to come up with plenty of resources.

Thank you all very much!

I now have a plethora of information. Since we have to adhere to the strict fasting rules on Christmas Eve, my family always used to go to a Mexican restaurant to have fish and shrimp (bizarre, I know, but when you live 60 miles north of that border, you are engulfed in the Mexican heritage, which is fine with me because I love it all), or just make shrimp cocktail. But I want a change this year, so when I found out about the Holy Supper (my heritage has traditions for Christmas Eve, but they aren't appropriate for the fast: German, English, Dutch, Swiss, etc...), I was very excited to try to prepare it for my family this year. I'm very certain I can pull off a small and simple version of it. So, thank you again for all your help! May God Bless you and your families as we all prepare for the coming of the Christ Child.

You can try some of the recipes here:

https://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbt...m&topic=0&Search=true#Post198490

Alexandr

"Ushka" are also "Little Ears" - served in Ukrainian borshch on Christmas Eve.

"Ushka are essentially little mushroom tortellini. They're filled with a combination of dried (and reconstituted, obviously) and fresh mushrooms, chopped fine and saut�ed with a bit of onion. The dough is the same dough that's used for varenyky, but instead of being cut into circles and folded into half-moons, it's cut into small squares and folded into ear shapes"

Above taken from:
http://www.whatweate.com/archives/2002/12/24.html