Ukrainian Christmas Eve

The Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on January 7, the Eastern Rite Julian Calendar Christmas day. But I think most would agree the most important moment of the entire holiday would be Sviata Vecheria (The Holy Supper), which takes place on Christmas Eve and is preceded by a day of fasting. The meal consists of twelve meatless courses, each representing the annual lunar cycle of twelve months. Everyone present must have at least a bite of each course, including all of the family’s animals, for they too participated in the miracle of Christmas.