From Didukh to Zvizda: an ethnologist talks about ancient Ukrainian Christmas traditions

Didukh is not a Christmas decoration and certainly not something "for a few years." Carolers brought not just songs to homes, but also secret signs hidden in the Christmas Eve pie, understood only by those who knew how to "read" them.Ukrainian Christmas is much deeper than 12 dishes and carols familiar from childhood: it contains an ancient system of ideas about the world, the earth, God, and ancestors, formed long before Christianity. Why is the Didukh threshed and burned, why does the Zvizda (star) have exactly eight rays, and how easy is it today to lose the true meaning of the holiday, replacing it with a beautiful but empty ritual?Read more about this in a conversation with LIGA.net said Tetiana Pirus, a local historian, ethnologist, and member of the National Union of Folk Art Masters of Ukraine.The ancient origins of Christmas and its common foundation"At the heart of Christmas are two key images – God and Didukh. God symbolizes the Spiritual World, and Didukh symbolizes the earthly world, the power of the native land, the connection between generations, and the continuity of life. That is why honoring Didukh is one of the main Christmas traditions. It is not just a sheaf, but a cult object in which reverence for the land, labor, and ancestors is embodied," explains Tetiana Pirus.The ethnologist also calls Christmas Eve another cornerstone – a time to honor ancestral spirits and family unity, where 12 Lenten dishes are traditionally prepared. According to her, in Podillia, Christmas Eve was called "Rich Kutia" because the number of dishes could reach not only twelve but also seventeen."An integral part of the Christmas cycle is the Zvizda – an eight-pointed cult object used during caroling. A group of young men would walk with the Zvizda in the evening, after sunset. They brought the spiritual power of Christmas, blessings, and renewal to every home," she added.Why does the Zvezda have eight rays?According to researchers, the symbol of the star as an image of light and world order is found in archaeological finds from different eras. At the same time, in the Christmas tradition it acquires a Christian meaning – as the Star of Bethlehem.In the Ukrainian tradition, the Christmas star symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, which, according to the biblical story, showed the way to the wise men to the baby Jesus. The number of rays in traditional stars was not strictly fixed: in different regions of Ukraine one could see stars with eight or sixteen rays.In the folk interpretation, the eight rays were associated with the idea of new life, renewal and hope. In some traditions, each ray was associated with the cardinal points – as a sign that the good news is spreading throughout the world.In turn, ethnologist Tetyana Pirus emphasizes that modern celebrations often simplify and "decorate" Christmas. The star becomes just a decoration on the Christmas tree — without realizing its symbolism. Instead of carols and traditional rituals, people focus on gifts, holiday parties, and photos on social networks. As a result, the spirit of kinship and connection with ancestors, which in ancient times was key to the celebration, is lost.So the eight rays of the Christmas star are not just aesthetics, but a symbol of light, new life, and hope, which today can easily be turned into just a beautiful picture on Instagram.Regional differences: what has been preserved bestAccording to the ethnologist's observations, Christmas traditions have been best preserved in Podillia — in the Vinnytsia region, as well as in neighboring regions Galicia (Lviv and Ternopil regions) and Prykarpattia (Ivano-Frankivsk region). Here, customs have been passed down from generation to generation almost without interruption."In Polissia, the rituals have been preserved in a very archaic form, but during a certain historical period, they were influenced by another state, which was reflected in certain elements of the celebration."In contrast, in eastern Ukraine, Christmas customs have largely been lost or blurred. This was caused by migration processes and the mass resettlement of people to industrial centers, where traditional culture took a back seat," says the expert.Little-known, but living traditionsAmong the little-known but extremely interesting customs that have survived to this day, Tetiana Pirus mentions Christmas pies."On Christmas Eve, pies with various fillings were prepared – cabbage, poppy seeds, beans, peas. Everyone had to remember which filling they got in their pie. It was believed that if a difficult situation occurred during the year, one only had to recall that filling – and God would help find a way out. This custom combines faith, symbolism, and deep psychological support for a person throughout the year," Pirus summarizes.The Origin of Carols, Nativity Scenes, and Christmas DecorationsCarols, the ethnologist emphasizes, are not just songs. They are ancient ritual works that can be philosophical, worldview-mythological, chivalrous, or historical. Traditionally, they were performed by a group of young men, conveying the sacred meaning of the holiday through words and melody."The nativity scene has a different origin. It was brought from Poland and Western Europe and became widespread in Ukraine during the Baroque era – in the 17th–18th centuries. Over time, the nativity scene organically fit into the Ukrainian tradition, combining a biblical plot with folk drama," emphasized Tetiana Pirus.According to her, Christmas dishes are traditional Ukrainian foods that were consumed during the winter holiday cycle. And the home was decorated not with Christmas tree balls, but with woven or embroidered towels, new blankets, tablecloths, and runners – everything that symbolized prosperity and renewal.Ukrainian Christmas in a European ContextUkrainian Christmas traditions have many parallels with the ancient customs of other European peoples, particularly Serbs, Croats, and Czechs. The works of Serbian scholar Veselin Čajkanović thoroughly explore traditions that strikingly resonate with Ukrainian ones."Koliada, or kalendy, is associated with New Year's celebrations, probably since Latin times. Similar holidays existed among the Greeks and Romans – Brumalia, Saturnalia. In the Slavic context, Koliada is an ancient winter solstice holiday, closely associated with the cult of the sun and the beginning of the new year," says Tetiana Pirus.Modernity: Between Authenticity and Loss of MeaningTetiana Pirus speaks frankly: unfortunately, in modern Ukraine, there is no coherent state policy for the development and preservation of traditional culture. And culture cannot exist solely through the efforts of individual amateurs.Despite this, many Ukrainians try to adhere to Christmas traditions. At the same time, the war has fundamentally changed their way of life, and more and more ritualistic actions are turning into festivals or carnivals, similar to those that exist in other countries. Along with this, the risk of losing the spiritual meaning of the holiday is growing.The ethnologist emphasizes that the Didukh, a sacred Christmas object, requires special protection."It is not 'made for decoration.' The didukh is woven in July-August, during the beginning or end of the harvest, from ripe ears of grain. On Christmas Eve, it is brought into the house and placed in a place of honor.""A didukh is not kept for years as an interior decoration. It is threshed, the straw is burned, and the grain is given for sowing: part for the New Year's sowing, part for the spring sowing. This is a complete life cycle, which is the heart of the tradition," she explains.According to Tetiana Pirus, young people need to be taught the traditions of the Ukrainian people. After all, they are the foundation of the future Ukraine – strong, rich, and spiritually whole.Read alsoClay pottery for Christmas Eve: traditions, symbolism, and how to choose for the festive table

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