Ukrainian Christmas is a time of great joy and celebration. (Submitted photo/Jim Shevchuk)

By Martin Martinson

A seasonal celebration

Ukrainian Christmas: a time of celebration in the Battlefords

Jan 7, 2020 | 6:41 PM

While the mainstream holiday season may have passed for another year along with the milder December weather, for Ukrainians around the community, the Christmas season remains in full swing.

Jan. 7 serves as Ukrainian Christmas, meaning those of Ukrainian heritage have been celebrating the last couple of days with festive tradition and – of course – a variety of delicious dishes.

Many gathered together Monday night to kick off the celebration with a Christmas Eve service at the Ukrainian Churches within the community.

Jim Shevchuk is a Ukrainian community member who was among those in attendance. He said in addition to the service, festivities continued to commence last night with many – much like his family – also taking part in a traditional Ukrainian 12 dish Christmas Eve supper, featuring 12 meatless offerings.

A traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner (submitted photo/Jim Shevchuk)

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The feast of celebration gets underway when the children of the household see the first star. Upon the sighting, family and friends alike gather together to converse in community and work through the delicious 12-dish marathon ahead.

The dozen traditional dishes include foods such as Kutia, Kolach, Meatless Borsch, fish, pickled foods; along with stuffed cabbage, pierogis, sauerkraut, beans, mushrooms with gravy, fruit compote, and Ukrainian doughnuts or poppyseed loaf. A stewed fruit often concludes the meal.

The Kutia plays an especially significant role on the night. In addition to beginning the feast, as tradition goes, the master of the house will often times fling the kernels from the Kutia (cooked wheat with honey) to the roof. If some of the kernels stick to the ceiling, it is said to be a great year ahead.

Following the feast and services on Christmas Eve, Shevchuk and the family continued with a traditional Christmas Day celebration that saw them spend the day caroling.

“[Christmas] is once a year, so you have to make the most of it,” Shevchuk said. “When family gets together, it just seems that all the earthly cares just sort of melt away. Everyone just enjoys each other’s company. It is a nice moment for family to get together and just really enjoy the blessed event.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1