Merry Christmas to our friends in Ukraine

In the early years, Ukrainian Christmas began with a forty day fast, during which no meat was served, and ended with the appearance of the first star on Christmas Eve. Before the meal was served, as the table was prepared, Ukrainian mountaineers observed certain superstitions which were centuries old. These included tying strings around the legs of the table with a wish that the fruit trees would not break in the wind, and laying a small ax head under the table with the wish that tools would be saved from rust or breakage.

Hay was spread under the table and also placed under the beautifully embroidered tablecloth - a symbol of the place where the Christ Child first lay, and to show the humility of the family. A great sheaf of wheat was saved from the harvest for Christmas Eve, when it was placed in the corner of the room under an ikon and decorated with ribbons, flowers and a small wreath of basil. It was considered only proper to do so, since wheat was the chief product of both the farm and the country.

In the Ukraine it is considered good luck to find a spider's web in the house on Christmas. The story goes that once a poor woman was unable to provide trimmings for her children's Christmas tree. When she awoke on Christmas morning, she found that the first light of the sun struck the cobwebs and turned them to silver. Her tree was decorated – the spider and his web had brought good luck.

The Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner begins when the excited children call that the first star is in the sky.  Then the father of the household appears with a large braided loaf of bread – the Christmas bread, in which there is a lighted candle. Followed by the children, he circles the house three times, saying prayers for his family and dear ones – and for the farm animals. The Christmas Eve meal is a twelve-course meal, each commemorating one of the Apostles. After dinner, carolers visit the house to sing the traditional songs of Christmas.

This Christmas let us all include citizens of the Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers – especially for peace and a return to normality in their homeland.

Merry Christmas, one and all, and may we all experience more peace in the coming year,

Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute