On the night of January 6–7, many of us will celebrate the joyful and heartwarming holiday of Christmas.
Undoubtedly, during this magical time, when snow lies outside the window, a Christmas tree stands in the house, and candles are lit, we want to believe in miracles and fairy tales more than ever. I’m sure our ancestors, who lived in the vast lands of Sloboda Ukraine, were no exception. But in today’s pre-Christmas article, I’d like to avoid the usual quotes from Sloboda carols and, even if only briefly, touch on how exactly this holiday was celebrated and what people believed in back then. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of information. It’s worth noting that in some details, certain Christmas traditions and customs could vary from one district to another.
So, on that time, the evening before Christmas was known by various names: “Svyatvecher,” “Rich Holy Evening,” “Rich Kutya,” and “Kolyada.” On this day, it was customary to observe a strict fast and not eat anything “until the first star appears.” Traditionally, kutya with honey and uzvar made from dried fruit were prepared, and they had to be cooked in new pots. On the eve of “Rich Holy Evening,” one of the children would bring clean hay into the house and place it in the “red corner,” clucking as they did so. This was done so that “the hens would cluck and the chicks would thrive.” The hay in the red corner, where the icons stood, also served as a reminder to everyone that Jesus Christ was born in a manger.
The lady of the house would take the kutya and carry it “to the corner of the room,” saying, “Kutya for the corner, and uzvar for the market,” and then place it on the hay she had brought. In the Kupyansk district, however, it was believed that this hay had to be stolen. Most interestingly, this hay from under the kutya was also believed to possess unusual properties. It was given to sheep and calves “so they would grow better,” added to the water when bathing children “so they wouldn’t get scabies.” It was placed in the nests of domestic fowl “so they would breed well,” and it was also used to stuff the pillows of the deceased. In some villages in our region, women, while carrying kutya, would also manage to tug at their children’s hair, saying, “May they be crested (like chicks), may they have tails, may they have ears.”
As darkness fell, oil lamps and candles were lit before the icons. And after prayer, the family, dressed in their Sunday best, would sit down at the table. It was customary everywhere for the father of the family or one of the elders to be the first to sit down at the table and call the sons to supper. Depending on the family’s means, the menu for the “Rich Holy Evening” included pies stuffed with cabbage, potatoes, peas, or beans, or ones smeared with honey or vegetable oil; thick cabbage with oil; a thin soup made from mashed peas, lentils, or beans; and baked fish. Whenever possible, they tried to prepare meat dishes made from pork or goose. And, of course, kutya and uzvar were on the table. They did not drink water during the meal, “so that they would not be thirsty in the fields in the summer.” There was also a belief that if one of the children sneezed during supper, they would be happy, and the parents would give them a little something. Interestingly, they always left a little kutya and uzvar in the bowls for “a share” (of happiness), “otherwise, maybe she’s hungry—she hasn’t eaten all year.” However, extra spoons on Sloboda Ukraine tables on Christmas Eve, unlike in the Catholic tradition, were not welcome at all. It was believed that they represented some kind of misfortune or bad luck, and they were called “zlydny.” For this reason, if such a thing happened, those wooden spoons were immediately and mercilessly thrown into the stove.
After the meal, the owner might go to the barn where the livestock was kept and see which way the cow’s head was facing; if to the east, it was believed she would calve in the morning; to the north—at midnight; to the south—at noon; to the west—in the evening. And the children would carry kutya with honey to their godparents, relatives, and neighbors. And not just any old way, nor in just any container, but in a bowl covered with a flatbread and tied with a towel. When presenting it to their godfather, they would say, “Father and mother have sent us with bread and salt; here you are, Father, your supper.” In response, the godfather would accept it and give the godchildren money or sweet treats. Not only children but also adults would go from house to house with kutya. They would also bring vodka with them and later take the host of the house they visited with them. So on Christmas Eve in the villages of Sloboda Ukraine, one could see groups of wanderers roaming from house to house all night long until the morning church bells rang. In some villages, a thief, a bride, or a groom would go out into the street at this time with a pie—to eavesdrop on conversations behind a soundproof wall. It was believed that if they heard the word “go” in such a conversation, they could safely hope that their plans would come to fruition. The bride could get married, the groom could wed, and the thief was predicted to have good luck in his thievery.
Traditionally, the arrival of Christmas marked the start of the holidays. Our ancestors believed that “Until
the water is blessed, you mustn’t even pick up an axe.” Incidentally, with the arrival of Christmas, the debris wasn’t swept out of the house but was swept into one of the corners. Then it was set on fire, and the smoke was used to fumigate the gardens to ensure a good harvest.
In the evening, young men and women would go from house to house caroling; upon approaching a home, they would say: “God, grant us a good evening! Shall we sing carols?” If the hosts agreed to welcome them, the carolers would sing: “Sir, master of the house, set the table, light the candles, place the kalachi—three guests will come to you: the first guest on Christmas Day—brought joy; the second guest on St. Basil’s Day—with Happy New Year; the third on Epiphany—John the Baptist blessed the water. Give us a long pie, without hands or feet, so it won’t run away into the snow. God, grant us a good evening.” After that, the carolers were given gingerbread, pies, or money. Sometimes, however, the hosts would play a prank and pour water into a bag they had set out.
It was also customary at Christmas to dance in circles in the streets and sing various cheerful songs.
For example, the girls would sing at this time:
Generous, generous
—Good evening!
To kind people
, may you have fun and
good health.
I know, I know where my sweetheart is—
at the end of the table,
wearing a new fur coat,
with a little sash on the coat,
and three little sable fur trims on the sash.
Also, during the Christmas holidays, girls in the villages would “lead the goat”—that is, they would form a circle, hold hands, twist around each other, and sing:
Come out, come out, Palazhenka,
and recognize your Ivan!
Your Ivan is a fine young man:
a bracelet on his right hand,
and a ring on his left—
his heart belongs to Palazhka.
To Ivan, my darling:
When he sings, it’s
like reading letters;
When he speaks, it
rings like a bell;
When he laughs, my
heart flutters.
And, of course, there were plenty of Christmas traditions in Sloboda Ukraine. Here are a few of them.
— If there is frost on the trees during the first three days of the Christmas holidays, it portends a bountiful grain harvest.
— If the kutya “rises above the rim” (that is, spills over the edge of the pot), there will be a good harvest. But if it doesn’t rise above the rim (sinks back down), it portends a poor harvest or misfortune.
— If young women fast strictly before Christmas Eve, they will find good suitors.
— If it snows on Christmas Eve, expect a bountiful harvest of apples, which will fall from the trees as often as snowflakes (the same applied to nuts).
Of course, these days, it’s up to each person to decide for themselves whether or not to follow all of this. The main thing is to have peace in your heart and loved ones by your side. After all, it’s not superstitions that make us happy. Merry Christmas to everyone!
