According to tradition, a Christmas dinner (or supper) should include at least twelve dishes, according to the number of Christ's Apostles. One of the main ones is kutia (kolivo, kanun, sochivo) - porridge made from wheat, rice, barley or other cereals with the addition of honey, dried fruits, nuts, poppy seeds and other additives. Kutia is that "supper" that people carried to each other on Christmas Eve. The custom of wearing the supper is associated, firstly, with baptism (since godchildren and godparents are mutually treated with it), and secondly, with the Christian virtue of mercy, which prescribes wealthy Christians to help the poor.
It is necessary
- To prepare kutya:
- - 1, 5 Art. wheat, rice or other cereals;
- - 3 tbsp. l honey;
- - 0, 75 st. poppy;
- - 0, 5 tbsp. walnuts;
- - 0, 5 tbsp. raisins;
- - dried fruit uzvar;
- - sugar.
- For transportation of kutya:
- - food containers or other utensils.
Instructions
Step 1
To join this interesting tradition, cook kutya, which belongs to lean dishes. This dish is reminiscent of the ancient custom, when people intending to be baptized on Christmas, fasted in preparation for this ordinance, and after baptism they ate honey as a symbol of the sweetness of spiritual gifts.
Step 2
Divide portions of kutya into separate jars or other utensils. Convenient to use food containers. Although, perhaps, the most suitable dishes, corresponding to the atmosphere of tradition, will serve as clay or ceramic pots.
Step 3
Make a preliminary agreement with your godparents (if you have any) about your visit on January 6, when it is customary to wear the supper. Take them kutya and congratulate them on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. In keeping with this tradition, it is customary to exchange gifts. It doesn’t matter if you don’t manage to visit everyone who is accepted. You can just congratulate them on the holiday or stop by another day.
Step 4
Children are also introduced to this tradition. Previously, children in villages used to wear supper to grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents and even a midwife. They sang special songs praising Christmas and Christ, and received sweets and coins as a token of gratitude. With the modern way of life, it is hardly possible to do it the way it was done before. Just try to get the idea of this custom and help your child take the godparents' supper, for example, the next day or during the Christmas break. Learn with him the words that are customary to say to godparents when presenting kutia: “Good evening, Holy Evening! Father and mother gave you a supper”.
Step 5
It will be very good and useful if you decide on Christmas Eve to take kutya to some of the people who are not doing well, try to support them and provide all possible help. After all, this is the very "salt" of the custom: on Christmas everyone should be happy! The customs of Christian holidays seem to remind us that at least these days we must take care not only of ourselves and our loved ones, but also of other people in need. And this will make us better ourselves. Psychologists confirm: a person feels happy, helping the weaker, making certain sacrifices for the good of others. Of course, these impulses must come from the very heart.
Step 6
Strictly speaking, any tradition associated with religious holidays remains only a dead rite if the person observing it does not understand its spiritual meaning and simply does "like everyone else." Wearing the supper for godparents, relatives or people in need does not in itself bring you closer to God and does not make you morally more perfect, does not bring any spiritual "bonuses". Only in combination with sincere faith and love for these people does your act acquire special value and makes you a little better, kinder, more merciful. Perhaps this is the most important rule in the custom of wearing the supper.
