Orthodox Christmas Eve

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Eastern Orthodox

Christmas Eve, Paramony, is the last day of the Nativity Fast and a strict fast day; in some traditions nothing is eaten until the first star appears, in memory of the Star of Bethlehem. Ukrainians sit down to a meatless Holy Supper of twelve dishes, for the Twelve Apostles, with kutia of wheat, poppy seed and honey. On the old calendar it falls on 24 December Julian, which is 6 January until 2100.