Many Orthodox people are familiar with the tradition of wearing relatives and godfathers' suppers on the eve of Christmas, wishing them a good evening. However, not everyone knows where this rite comes from, what is its meaning. When they wear the evening meal and how should it be done correctly? What is usually in the festive evening basket, who should present it to whom? Let's try to figure it out.
Where did the tradition to wear supper come from?
The old Little Russian rite to wear the supper actually has pagan roots. The ritual refreshment, which was customary to exchange with the closest blood relatives, as well as send to a midwife, symbolized the spiritual unity of families, their disposition to each other, mutual sympathy and generosity.
Christianity readily adopted this rite. The manifestation of a desire to visit godparents, loved ones and loved ones was entrenched in the traditions of the Holy Evening on the eve of Christmas, when they wear the evening. This ritual action is optional, but it is welcomed and encouraged by the church.
What is the evening wear
According to accepted traditions, it is customary to carry the evening on January 6th - on the eve of the celebration of Orthodox Christmas. The godchildren bring refreshments to their godparents, spend several hours visiting them, and then go home to celebrate Christmas at their own family table. It is not forbidden, of course, to visit relatives with guests and later, on Christmas day itself. And yet, when they wear the evening meal, Christmas Eve is supposed to be considered, otherwise it will be just a congratulation of loved ones on the holiday.
Who should wear the supper?
According to the rules, children should wear evening clothes. It should be transferred to close blood relatives and godfathers, and the latter - without fail.
When meeting on Christmas Eve, it is customary to greet each other with the words "Christ is born!" and hear in response, "Praise him!". With this phrase they also enter the house when they wear the evening meal. First, the godchildren treat the godfather, then the godmother, handing them a basket with gifts with the words: "Mom and Tato sent the evening meal. Good evening!".
The supper is considered to be a symbolic gratitude to the godparents for taking responsibility, caring to pray for the child and spiritually instruct him. In response, the godparents also thank the children, handing them coins and sweets - pies, nuts, sweets (for what they conveyed), and also in return give them several ritual dishes.
What to wear at Kumyam at the evening
What does the holy ritual treat consist of? As a rule, what is worn by the godmother in the evening in accordance with the old tradition is kutya, broth (uzvar) and bread. Kutia is called porridge, originally prepared from threshing wheat or barley with the addition of honey, poppy seeds, raisins and nuts. It was believed that the more nutritious and richer Christmas kutya would be, the more prosperity and well-being will be in the family in the coming year. Compot made of several types of dried fruits was called an uzvar: cherries, apples, plums, pears - a traditional Ukrainian recipe and has hardly changed today. Well, without a round fragrant scorcher, symbolizing generosity, hospitality and hard work, not a single important family holiday has ever been complete.
It is not necessary to be limited only to traditional ritual cuisine. Evenings can be homemade cakes, various dishes from fruits and vegetables. If there are small children in a family that is served in the evening, you can put sweets in a basket with a treat. However, in principle, there are no special or mandatory rules regarding holiday gifts - you can please loved ones with whatever your heart desires.
What is served on the table in the Holy Evening
Holy evening marks the end of Christmas Lent. It is supposed that on this day there should be twelve fasting dishes on the festive table - in honor of the twelve apostles who took part in the Last Supper.
As well as among the dishes that are godmothers in the evening, the main things on the wedding table were always kutia and uzvar. In addition to them, for dinner, traditionally served cabbage with millet, seasoned with vegetable oil, borsch with mushrooms and fish, specially prepared millet or buckwheat porridge. Traditionally, much attention was paid to fish dishes: river gifts were fried and chilled, used as a filling for pies and a cake. In addition, the festive meal rarely did without boiled peas or beans, fried mushrooms, cabbage rolls, dumplings, lean cakes with various fillings. All the dishes served on the table on Christmas Eve had a magical function - to ensure the well-being of the family for next year. Therefore, it was customary to gather a rich table, and they began to prepare meals for the holiday in advance.
