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Orthodox Christians will be celebrating Christmas Day on Tuesday, probably with a big meal.
Barb Dedi will be one of those celebrating and she told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday about the traditional dinner she will be hosting.
There will be 12 dishes representing the 12 apostles, as well as other rituals like throwing kutia — a traditional wheat dish — to the ceiling.
Whatever sticks will determine how successful the next farming season will be, Dedi said.
The meal also includes three loaves of braided bread placed in the middle of the table, representing the Father, Son and Holy Ghost in the Bible.
“That has to be made with perfection. Sometimes you may make a loaf a few times so that it’s perfect,” Dedi said.
Dedi starts preparing for the dinner months in advance. In the summer, she was already canning and preserving ingredients. She spends up to three days cooking before Christmas Eve.
As they fast until Christmas Day, Dedi said it’s actually not hard keeping family members away from picking at her meal in progress.
“They know that it’s for Christmas Day,” she said. “They didn’t really touch it. It’s pretty sacred.”
It’s not just food. Dedi also makes her own Ukrainian glassware. Salt and garlic are kept at the door to keep bad spirits away. As well, there’s an extra setting for deceased family.
Dedi said she did not celebrate Orthodox Christmas much as a child.
“But then as I got older, I married a Ukrainian and it became very, very important to pass those traditions on to our children,” she said.
