Ukrainian Christmas: Preserving and reviving ancestral traditions.
Christmas is one of the most cherished holidays for Ukrainians, steeped in profound traditions and symbolism. It intertwines pre-Christian beliefs, Christian rituals, and contemporary customs adapted to the challenges of the times.
UNN spoke with folklorist Yaryna Zakalska to learn more about the origins, transformations, and revival of Christmas traditions in Ukraine.
The Origins of Christmas Traditions in Ukraine
"The entire calendar cycle in Ukrainian tradition is a blend of pre-Christian pagan beliefs and Christian ones. Today, when we talk about Christmas, we focus more on the birth of Jesus Christ, while our ancestors celebrated on December 22, January 1, or 21. December 22 marks the winter solstice, the day when the sun is reborn, when days become longer and nights shorter. After December 22, nights grew shorter and days longer, signaling a turning point towards a new year, a new day, and a new sun. It was also a day when the Romans honored this deity," the folklorist explained.
She noted that Christmas began to be celebrated in Rome according to Christian traditions in the 330s, around December 24-25.
"Thus, Ukraine's transition to the new Julian calendar was not merely a political move, but rather a natural process. These changes were also supported by pre-Christian beliefs that we can trace even today," Yaryna Zakalska shared.
What Remains Unchanged
Despite the challenges of the times, many traditions have persisted. For instance, the didukh still adorns homes, and straw "spiders" are increasingly crafted in cities during workshops. The rituals of caroling and shchedrovanne have also remained.
"One of the main Christmas attributes is the didukh, the first or last sheaf that was left unharvested. It had various names in different regions — grandfather, caroler, sheaf, king. What is its function? Besides symbolizing the harvest, the didukh also serves as a remembrance of ancestors. Straw is associated with the cult of deceased ancestors. The didukh was placed in a place of honor, in the corner, near icons. It was solemnly brought in before dinner," the folklorist recounted.
Yaryna Zakalska added that in some regions, the didukh was even symbolically fed — a plate with apples or water was placed to honor deceased ancestors and "to allow those souls to be nourished."
After the holidays, the grain was threshed and stored until the first sowing. Following the celebrations, the didukh was burned because it absorbed the negative energy of this transitional period when the souls of the deceased visited the earth.
Thus, each year a new didukh was prepared.
"Today, even this tradition is being revived. Although preparing a didukh in urban conditions is not easy, I know cases where it is kept for more than one year as a Christmas attribute," the folklorist added.
Ukrainians strive to adhere to traditions or restore them, but sometimes this is simplified.
"My colleague mentioned that, as I said before, the didukh is burned, but before that, it is separated, threshed, as I mentioned, separating the grain from the ears. In one restaurant, they seemed to want to revive this tradition and burn it; they appeared to have done everything correctly, but they burned the entire didukh, meaning not just the straw but also the grain. This should not be done, as the grain was stored until the first sowing to ensure a good harvest," Yaryna Zakalska said.
Consequently, even when such simplifications occur, actions are often not thought through, and their significance is not understood, leading to improper execution.
"Another attribute that is preserved and seems to be reviving is the straw spiders. They were not common in all regions, but they were made by girls before the holidays. In the pre-Christian understanding, the spider symbolizes the Universe because it is a three-dimensional structure made up of various small parts connected together. To make one small spider, 12 straws were cut into pieces and then tied together. These spiders were then combined into one structure, creating a voluminous spider," the folklorist shared.
If we consider the Christian version, it is as follows: when Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fled from Herod's soldiers, they found a cave to hide in, and the spiders wove their webs.
"Thanks to this, Herod's soldiers believed that the cave was abandoned because it was covered in cobwebs. Thus, the spider holds a place of respect in Ukrainian tradition," the folklorist noted.
The spider was hung from the beam, and now typically from the ceiling or chandelier. Due to the constant movement of air when doors in the house opened, the spider would begin to move. If the spider stopped, it was considered a bad omen for the homeowners.
Another custom involved observing how the spider moved: either left or right. This also held significance.
If the spider moved to the right, it was seen as a good sign, indicating harmony and positive energy in the home, and the well-being of the family. Conversely, if it moved to the left (counterclockwise), it could serve as a warning of negative changes.
Regarding the popularity of the spider, it has now become known in many regions, thanks to workshops and the promotion of traditions. According to the folklorist, this custom was not previously widespread.
When it comes to the didukh, for instance, in the Carpathians, where rye does not grow well, it might not have been placed at all. Similarly, kutia was not always prepared in every region.
Despite the commonalities, each region has its unique features, but there is nothing definitive.
The Importance of Preserving Traditions
In the context of the full-scale war, the issue of identity has become extremely significant. There is a growing interest in traditions and national identity.
"Just the other day, I saw a workshop on making spiders near the metro, which few people knew about 10-15 years ago. Museums are conducting workshops on crafting didukhs, Christmas stars carried by carolers, fairs, and there has been a significant increase in folklore groups recently," the folklorist shared.
"There is also a lot of literature on this topic, although, admittedly, not always of high quality," Yaryna Zakalska added.
There is also a noticeable revival of interest in traditions and the preparation of dishes. While not everyone prepares 12 dishes, families still gather around the festive table.
"At the same time, I recently attended a lecture at a school where I spoke with children about caroling. I asked if they went caroling, and they looked at me a bit surprised. At most, two children said they do it because their grandfather gives them money. This is not like it used to be when people went from house to house. There are still some cases today, but it is not as widespread as I would like," Yaryna Zakalska stated.
Caroling and Shchedrovanne: From Past to Present
In addition to the attributes and the preparation of the festive table, caroling holds an important place in the cycle of celebration.
Carolers are considered messengers from the afterlife, acting as pendulums between the living and the deceased. When a caroler enters a home, they convey greetings from deceased ancestors to the living.
"Carolers usually began singing carols while standing under the windows, as the window is a liminal space in traditional culture. They would ask the hosts for permission to enter and sing. The caroling ritual consists of several stages. The first stage is the arrival of the carolers at the home. If the host allowed them in, the carolers would enter. They came to wish the hosts good fortune and prosperity for the entire year, from Christmas to Christmas," Yaryna Zakalska explained.
When invited in, the carolers would perform carols, followed by Christmas greetings and well-wishes from someone in the group. After the greetings, it was customary to give gifts to the carolers, which included sweets, gingerbread, nuts, and apples.
"In one of the carols, it even says: 'apples, nuts - these are my treats.' This continued, and of course, carols often sought rewards, as in the children's carol: 'Carol, carol, caroler, good pie with honey. And without honey, it’s not quite the same, give me, auntie, a five kopeck coin