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By Sarah Chapman, Calgary Herald, Canada.com Network
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Wednesday, January 07, 2004
CALGARY........Nadia Chornenky's family and their 25 dinner guests began
their Ukrainian Christmas Eve celebration by singing a traditional religious
carol Tuesday night.
They waited to eat until they saw the first star of the evening.
"That represents the star that led to where Jesus was born," Chornenky said.
They then feasted on Kutya, a ritual dish made of boiled wheat, ground poppy
seeds and honey.
Twelve courses prepared without meat or dairy products are traditionally
served Christmas Eve to symbolize the Twelve Apostles.
Chornenky said she's had traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve celebrations
for as long as she can remember.
"Since I was little child," she said. "We make sure we can do this all the
time."
Ukrainians began their gift giving on Dec. 19.
"We still give gifts on the 24th and 25th of December," Chornenky said.
But she said the most important part of the celebration is concentrating on
family, friends and spirituality.
"It's a celebration of the birth of Jesus," Chornenky explained.
Traditions are very important.
"We always have a candle in the window to invite guests in for dinner," said
Chornenky.
She said this follows the tradition of making sure everyone has a place to
eat.
"One place setting is left empty at the table to represent and remember our
ancestors," Chornenky added.
After dinner, at 11 p.m., the family attended a service at St. Vladimir's
Ukrainian Orthodox Church [Calgary].
Chornenky and her family celebrate Ukrainian Christmas on Jan. 7.
Ukrainian Christmas is celebrated 13 days after Dec. 25, according to the
Julian calendar introduced 2,000 years ago by Roman emperor Julius Caesar,
as opposed to the Gregorian calendar that has been in general use since the
16th century.
http://www.canada.com/calgary/news/story.asp?id=BBEFD97C-48EB-47CC-AE20-41070158B40A FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY
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