By tradition, a Christmas dinner (or supper) should include at least twelve dishes, according to the number of Christ's Apostles. One of the main is kutia (kolivo, eve, oily) - porridge made from wheat, rice, barley or other cereals with the addition of honey, dried fruits, nuts, poppy seeds and other additives. Kutia is the “supper” that people carried on Christmas Eve to each other. The custom of wearing supper is connected, firstly, with baptism (since godchildren and godparents mutually treat it), and secondly, with the Christian virtue of mercy, which instructs wealthy Christians to help the poor.
You will need
- For cooking kutya:
- - 1.5 tbsp. wheat, rice or other cereals;
- - 3 tbsp. l honey;
- - 0.75 Art. poppy;
- - 0.5 tbsp. walnuts;
- - 0.5 tbsp. raisins;
- - dried fruit pattern;
- - sugar.
- For transportation of kutya:
- - food containers or other utensils.
Instruction manual
1
To join this interesting tradition, cook kutia, which refers to lean dishes. This dish is reminiscent of an ancient custom, when people who intend to be baptized at Christmas fasted in preparation for this sacrament, and after baptism they ate honey as a symbol of the sweetness of spiritual gifts.
2
Put portions of kutia in separate jars or other dishes. It is convenient to use food containers. Although, probably, the most suitable dishes, corresponding to the atmosphere of traditionality, are clay or ceramic pots.
3
Preliminarily agree with your godparents (if you have any) about your visit on January 6, when it is customary to wear evening. Take them with your kuti and congratulate you on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Subject to this tradition, it is customary to exchange gifts. It doesn’t matter if you fail to visit everyone who is accepted. You can simply congratulate them on a holiday or drop in another day.
4
Children are also involved in this tradition. Previously, children in villages wore vespers for grandparents, aunts and uncles, godfathers and even midwives. They sang special songs praising Christmas and Christ, and received sweets and coins in gratitude. In the modern way of life, it is hardly possible to do as it was done before. Just try to catch the idea of this custom and help your child take the godfather in the evening, for example, the next day or during the Christmas holidays. Learn with him the words that godparents used to say when delivering kutya: "Good evening, Holy Evening! Father and mother have delivered you the evening meal."
5
It will be very good and useful if you decide on Christmas Eve to take kutia to someone from people who are not doing well, try to support them and provide all possible assistance. Indeed, in this lies the very “salt” of custom: on Christmas, everyone should be happy! The customs of Christian holidays seem to remind us that at least these days we should take care not only of ourselves and our loved ones, but also of other needy people. And from this it will become better for ourselves. Psychologists confirm: a person feels happy, helping the weaker, making certain sacrifices for the benefit of others. Of course, these impulses must come from the heart itself.
6
Strictly speaking, any tradition associated with religious holidays remains only a dead rite if a person observing it does not understand its spiritual significance and simply does it “like everyone else”. Wearing an evening meal with godfathers, relatives or people in need does not in itself bring you closer to God and does not make you more perfect morally, does not bring any spiritual "bonuses". Only in combination with sincere faith and love for these people will your action acquire special value and make you a little better, kinder, more merciful. Perhaps this is the most important rule in the habit of wearing supper.
