Ukrainian christmas when is it

When is Ukrainian Christmas and why? What a strange question! All Christians celebrate Christmas on the same day! Or do they? Nope, not in Ukraine. The Thanksgiving situation is clear: I mean, no pilgrims — no celebration. Unlike America and the vast majority of European countries, Ukraine celebrates Christmas on the 7th of January. It starts with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in the end of the 16th century. The situation between the Catholic and Orthodox churches was tense. You can't start eating the meal until the first star is seen in the sky.

So people especially the hungry ones! The star represents the journey of the Wise Men to find Jesus and that Jesus has been born, so Christmas can start! The meal normally has 12 dishes which represent Jesus's 12 disciples.

Traditionally the dishes don't have any meat, eggs or milk in them. The main dish is often 'kutia' a type of a kind of sweet porridge made of wheat. In the Western tradition, the big Christmas Day meal typically features turkey or ham. Makowsky says the Orthodox feast on Christmas Eve is usually meatless. The day Fast of Phillip lasts a little longer than the roughly 28 days of Advent leading up to Christmas.

Makowsky says Ukrainian Christmas Day also kicks off a day period of carolling and more celebrations, ending with the Epiphany liturgy on Jan. While he notes many Saskatchewan Ukrainian families will have exchanged gifts as part of Western Christmas on Dec. But, with Western traditions now so ingrained in many Ukrainian families, Makowsky chuckles as he admits some gift-giving often creeps in on Ukrainian Christmas, too.

The kids look forward to it, because of course they get a box of juice or chocolates — something like that. We deliver the local news you need in these turbulent times on weekdays at 3 p. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. We encountered an issue signing you up.