Tetiana sheds light on a Ukrainian Christmas

Tetiana Ponomar is a support worker with WRS and the Homes for Ukraine project. She came from Ukraine to the UK in 2022 and settled with a host family in Bromsgrove. She now lives with her children in Worcestershire.

Here, she sheds some light on what Christmas is like in Ukraine.

Speaking about Christmas, I imagine a peaceful Ukrainian frosty evening, the creaking of snow under the feet.

Children are walking down the street to their godparents. The smallest kids have their parents leading them. It is a Ukrainian Christmas tradition, we call it ‘to bring a dinner to your godparents’ on the Holy Evening (Christmas Eve). They do not bring the whole dinner, they actually bring only one dish – kutia.

Children recite a Christmas poem or even sing a Christmas song, praising Christ`s birth and wishing all the best. Kutia is a grain porridge with honey and dried fruit. This holy dish takes centre stage on a festive table.

Children like this tradition because in exchange they receive presents or money from their godparents.

In Ukraine, Christmas used to be celebrated either on December 24, as per the Gregorian Calendar, or on January 6, according to the Julian Calendar – the latter having been imposed during the Soviet era. In a significant shift in 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine adopted the Gregorian Calendar, officially setting the Christmas celebration dates to December 24 to 25.