Editing Kutia (section)

== In Ukraine ==
In [[Ukraine]] kutіa is one of the two essential ritual dishes at the [[twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper|Ukrainian Christmas Eve supper]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sovabooks.com.au/free-recipe-kutia-star-of-the-ukrainian-christmas-supper/ |title=Recipe: Kutia, Star of the Ukrainian Christmas Eve Supper |access-date=2016-12-16 |archive-date=2015-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325003331/http://sovabooks.com.au/free-recipe-kutia-star-of-the-ukrainian-christmas-supper/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> (also known as ''Svyata vecherya''). The ritual significance of kutia, as well as uzvar, is quite ancient. Ukrainian ethnographer Fedir Vovk traces the origins of these dishes to the Neolithic era. Before dinner, the kutia is placed in the icon corner ("kut") , the most honorable place in the house where religious icons or images are placed. The pot with the kutia was to stand there in a designated spot from Rizdvo (Christmas on December 25) to January 1, New Year's Day (formerly January 6 to the Old New Year in January 14).<ref>Василь Скуратівський. Русалії. — Київ: Довіра, 1996. — С. 532—533. {{ISBN|966-507-028-2}}</ref> There is also a custom of sending children with kutia to relatives, usually grandparents and godparents. After dinner, the kutia is left on the table for the whole night with spoons for the dead ancestors, "so that our relatives would have dinner and not be angry with us." The religious nature of the dish is emphasized by an ancient custom, when the head of the family approached the window or went out into the yard with a spoonful of kutia and, addressing the frost, invited him three times to take part in dinner with the family. When the frost does not appear, he is advised not to appear, not to do harm to crops, etc.: "Frost, frost, come to us to eat kutia, and if you don't come, don't come for the rye, wheat and other crops."<ref name="chub">''Чубинский П.&nbsp;П.'' Календарь народных обычаев и обрядов.&nbsp;— Київ: Музична Україна, 1993.</ref><ref>Записано в селі [[Двірець (Ізяславський район)|Двірець]] [[Заславський повіт|Заславського повіту]] [[Волинська губернія|Волинської губернії]].</ref><ref name="vovk">''Хведір Вовк''. Студії з української етнографії й антропології.&nbsp;— Прага: Український громадський видавничий фонд, б/р.&nbsp;— С. 183.</ref>

Kutia is the first out of twelve dishes served for [[Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper|Svyata vecherya]] to be tasted.<ref>[[Savella Stechishin|Stechishin, Savella]] 1959, ''Traditional Ukrainian Cookery'', Trident Press, Winnipeg</ref> The head of the family takes the first spoon of the kutia, raises it up and calls out to the souls of departed family members to join them on this night.  He then tastes the kutia, and throws the rest of the spoonful up to the ceiling.  In rural towns, as many kernels of grain as stick to the ceiling, there should be swarms of bees and newborn cattle in the coming year. In the same vein, if there are many poppy seeds that remain on the ceiling, there would be a chance for more hen should lay as many eggs in the coming year than usual. In cities the same would imply a prosperous new year for the family and also a show of remembrance for their rural roots.<ref>Килимник Степан 1964. ''Український рік у народніх звичаях в історичному освітені'' Toronto</ref> Everyone present eats a spoonful of kutia, after which the other dishes are brought out and eaten.<ref>Yakovenko, Svitlana 2013, ''Taste of Ukraine: Rustic Cuisine from the heart of Ukraine'', Sova Books, Sydney</ref>

The main ingredients used to make traditional kutia are [[Wheat berry|wheatberries]], [[poppy seed]]s and [[honey]].<ref>Artiukh, Lidia 2001, ''Ukrainian Cuisine and Folk Traditions'', Baltija-Druk, Kyiv</ref> At times, [[walnut]]s, [[dried fruit]] and [[raisin]]s are added as well. Kutia is a [[Lent]]en dish and no milk or egg products can be used in this – since December 24 is a paramony – strict fasting and abstinence – day in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in Byzantine Rite Catholics. There are known kutia recipes that use [[pearl barley]] or millet instead of wheatberries.<ref>Yakovenko, Svitlana 2016, ''Ukrainian Christmas Eve Supper: Traditional village recipes for Sviata Vecheria'', Sova Books, Sydney</ref>

Kolyvo is a Ukrainian ritual dish similar to kutia, but includes no poppy seeds. Kolyvo is served at remembrance services.