Generous Evening on December 31: how rich kutya differs from Christmas kutya.

According to ТСН: In Ukraine, December 31 is celebrated as Generous Evening, symbolizing the transition from the old year to the new, marking renewal and prosperity. On this evening, a generous or rich kutya is traditionally prepared.

Unlike the kutya served on the Holy Evening, the rich kutya is a festive dish associated with the harvest, happiness in the home, and prosperity in the coming year.

Features of kutya on Generous Evening

Kutya on the Holy Evening, which is celebrated on December 24, is a ritual dish consumed in silence and with prayer. It holds a central place among the 12 dishes and symbolizes spiritual purity and humility.

This kutya is lean since the Christmas fast is ongoing. It is prepared from wheat or barley and includes honey, poppy seeds, raisins, and nuts.

Rich kutya, on the other hand, is not lean; it is 'rich' and nourishing. Creamy butter, milk or cream, as well as cream cheese or sour cream, dried fruits, apricots, prunes, nuts, and honey are added to the grain. In Podillya, one might sometimes encounter kutya with cracklings or lard.

"As generous kutya - so will be the year"

Recipe for Rich Kutya

Ingredients

• 1 cup of wheat

• 3–4 cups of water

• 1 cup of milk

• 50–70 g of butter

• 3–4 tbsp of honey

• 4 tbsp of ground poppy seeds

• 100 g of nuts

• raisins, apricots, or prunes - to taste

Preparation

1. Rinse the wheat and soak it overnight. Then, cover it with water and cook over low heat until soft.

2. Add a cup of milk and cook for another 10-15 minutes.

3. Steam the poppy seeds and grind them to a 'milk' consistency.

4. Combine the warm wheat, butter, honey, poppy seeds, raisins, dried fruits, and nuts.

5. Let it infuse for 20-30 minutes.

6. Serve the kutya warm in a large bowl to ensure 'wealth comes into the home'.

We remind you, earlier we wrote about why kutya is the main dish on the table on Holy Evening and what it symbolizes.

Generous Evening is a time for family gatherings and traditional rituals that unite people. Kutya, as a key element of this celebration, reflects the customs and beliefs of our people, leaving an important mark in the cultural heritage of Ukraine. The tradition of preparing and consuming rich kutya not only preserves ancient customs but also fills our hearts with hope for a better future.