Editing Kutia

{{short description|Sweet grain pudding, traditionally served in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine}}
{{For|the game show in Albania|Kutia (game show)}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = Kutia
| image            = kutya.jpg
| image_size       = 260px
| caption          = 
| alternate_name   = 
| associated_cuisine = [[Belarusian cuisine|Belarusian]], [[Russia cuisine|Russian]], [[Ukrainian cuisine|Ukrainian]] (national)
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| course           = 
| type             = 
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[Wheatberry|Wheatberries]], [[poppy seed]]s, [[honey]] or [[sugar]], various [[Nut (fruit)|nuts]] and sometimes [[raisin]]s
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}

'''Kutia''' or '''kutya''' ({{Langx|be|куцця}} {{IPA|be|kuˈt͡sʲːa|}}; {{Langx|ru|кутья}} {{IPA|ru|kʊˈtʲja|}}; {{Langx|uk|кутя}} {{IPA|uk|kʊˈtʲɑ||LL-Q8798 (ukr)-Tohaomg-кутя.wav}}) is a ceremonial grain dish with sweet gravy traditionally served mostly by [[Eastern Orthodox Christians]] and some [[Catholicism|Catholic Christians]] predominantly in [[Belarusian cuisine|Belarus]], [[Russian cuisine|Russia]], [[Ukrainian cuisine|Ukraine]], but also in parts of [[Lithuania]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Sfetcu |first=Nicolae |date=2014 |title=About Christmas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zxB7AwAAQBAJ&dq=kutia+lithuania&pg=PA217 |page=217}}</ref> and [[Poland]] during the [[Christmas]]–[[Baptism of Jesus|Feast of Jordan]] holiday season or as part of a funeral feast. The word with a descriptor is also used to describe the eves of Christmas, New Year, and Feast of Jordan days.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://sum.in.ua/s/kutja|title=Словник української мови в 11 томах|publisher=Наукова думка|editor-last=Білодід|editor-first=Іван|location=Київ|language=uk|chapter=Кутя}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.runivers.ru/lib/book9793/483202/|title=Кутия|last=Даль|first=Владимир|work=Толковый словарь живаго великорускаго языка|publisher=Товарищества М.О. Вольф|year=1905|location=Санкт-Петербург-Москва|language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Куцця|work=Тлумачальны слоўнік беларускай мовы|publisher=Беларуская Савецкая Энцыклапедыя|year=1977–1984|editor-last=Крапіва|editor-first=K|location=Менск|language=be}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The word ''kutia'' is a borrowing from the Greek language {{lang|grc|[[wiktionary:κουκί|κουκκί]]}} ('bean') or {{lang|grc|[[wiktionary:κόκκος|κόκκος]]}} ('grain').<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://ukraineclub.net/sites/default/files/field/pdf/etymolog_slovnyk_tom3.pdf|chapter=Кутя|title=Етимологічний словник української мови|publisher=[[Naukova Dumka]]|year=1989|editor-last=Melnychuk|editor-first=O.|volume=3|location=Kyiv|language=uk}}</ref>

== 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.

== In Poland ==
[[File:Kutia Natalii.jpg|thumb|Polish ''kutia'']]
Kutya is known in Poland as {{lang|pl|kutia}} ({{IPA|pl|ˈkutja|pron|pl-kutia.ogg}}) and {{lang|pl|kucja}} ({{IPA|pl|ˈkut͡sja|pron}}),<ref name="pwn">{{cite web|url=http://sjp.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=2476824|title=Kutia|date=2013|website=Słownik PWN|publisher=Wydawnictwo naukowe PWN|access-date=2024-02-07|quote=kutia, kucja reg. «tradycyjna potrawa wigilijna, przyrządzana z gotowanej pszenicy, kaszy lub ryżu i utartego maku, z miodem i bakaliami»|archive-date=2013-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218235930/http://sjp.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=2476824|url-status=dead}}</ref> and it can be served as part of the [[Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper]],<ref name="kp">{{cite web|url=http://kuchnia-polska.net/kutia-ii,249|title=Kutia II|date=2002|website=kuchnia-polska.net|publisher=Kuchnia polska|access-date=2024-02-07|quote=Uwagi: jeżeli chcemy przygotować tradycyjną polską Wigilię, wśród 12 obowiązkowych potraw na naszym stole nie może zabraknąć kutii. [...] Staropolską kutię przygotowywało się z pszenicy, maku (ale nie mielonego, tylko utartego w specjalnej donicy - makutrze), miodu, rodzynków, orzechów włoskich lub laskowych, migdałów i wanilii.}}</ref> though its origins predate Christianity in Poland and can be traced back to customs of the [[Slavic Native Faith]].<ref name="rmf">{{cite web|url=http://www.rmf24.pl/raport-boze-narodzenie/boze-narodzenie-2012/news-kolednicy-dodatkowy-talerz-na-stole-i-kutia-czyli-poganskie-,nId,726189|title=Kolędnicy, dodatkowy talerz na stole i kutia, czyli pogańskie korzenie chrześcijańskiej Wigilii|date=2012-12-22|website=rmf24.pl|publisher=RMF 24|access-date=2024-02-07|archive-date=2013-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128194021/http://www.rmf24.pl/raport-boze-narodzenie/boze-narodzenie-2012/news-kolednicy-dodatkowy-talerz-na-stole-i-kutia-czyli-poganskie-,nId,726189|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> However, it is eaten primarily (though not exclusively) in the eastern regions of [[Podlaskie Voivodeship|Podlasie]], [[Lublin Voivodeship|the Lublin area]], and [[Subcarpathian Voivodeship|Subcarpathia]], near the borders with Belarus and Ukraine.<ref name="teatr">{{cite web|url=https://teatrnn.pl/leksykon/artykuly/etnografia-lubelszczyzny-cykl-roczny-w-zyciu-wsi-grudzien/|title=Etnografia Lubelszczyzny – cykl roczny w życiu wsi – grudzień|last=Lasota|first=Piotr|website=teatrnn.pl|publisher=Ośrodek „Brama Grodzka - Teatr NN”|access-date=2024-02-07}}</ref> It can also be commonly found among [[Bug River Poles]] and other generations with ancestry in the [[Kresy|Eastern Borderlands]], who are scattered across all of Poland.<ref name="zawsze">{{cite news|url=http://swiecie24.pl/Na_mojej_Wigilii_zawsze_byla_kutia,9450.html|title=Na mojej Wigilii zawsze była kutia|date=2012-12-27|website=swiecie24.pl|publisher=Świecie24|access-date=2024-02-07|quote=Na mojej Wigilii zawsze była kutia [...] Opłatek, kutia biała i ciemna. Biała była z ryżu, ciemna z pszenicy, ale wszyscy jedli białą. Kutia zawędrowała z nami aż do Świecia. [...] Mama scalała rodzinę, przygotowywała potrawy tradycyjne, polskie, wszędzie jednak na stole pojawiała się kutia.|archive-date=2013-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219020229/http://swiecie24.pl/Na_mojej_Wigilii_zawsze_byla_kutia,9450.html|url-status=bot: unknown |last1=Fabryka |first1=Studio }}</ref> Besides [[Wigilia]], kutia is also served on [[New Year's Eve]] and other special occasions, such as [[Wake (ceremony)|wakes]].<ref name="rmf" />

Traditional old Polish kutia is made using wheat, poppy seeds (ground in a special pot called [[Makitra|''makutra'']]), honey, raisins, walnuts or hazelnuts, almonds, and vanilla; some recipes also include milk or [[Smetana (dairy product)|''śmietana'']].<ref name="kp" /> Kutia is sometimes prepared using rice or [[kasha]] instead of wheat.<ref name="zawsze" /><ref name="pwn" />

A number of customs and rituals in Polish tradition, such as fortune telling, are associated with kutia. This is particularly true for older generations and rural areas of eastern Poland, as well as their descendants who can be found across all regions of Poland.<ref name="zawsze" /><ref name="teatr" /> Kutia is also eaten among the Ukrainian and Belarusian minorities living in Poland.

== Other countries ==
[[File:Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas in Poland - Kutia - Didukh.JPG|thumb|Kutya and [[didukh]] as part of Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas celebrations in Poland]]
A dish of boiled grains (usually wheat berries) mixed with honey, nuts, spices, and a few other ingredients is traditional in other countries<ref>Goldstein, Darra 2015, ''The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets'', Oxford University Press, Oxford</ref> as well:

* [[Bulgaria]] – kolivo
* [[Greece]] – [[koliva]]
* [[Lebanon]], [[Palestine]] and [[Jordan]] – [[ameh (food)|ameh]] masslouk or snuniye
* [[Romania]] – colivă
* [[Russia]] – (also) sochivo
* [[Serbia]] – koljivo (to wit: sacrifice), or simply: žito (ie, wheat)
* [[Sicily]] – [[cuccìa]]
* [[Syria]] – sliha or burbara (for Eid il-Bur-bara, St. Barbara's Feast throughout the [[Middle East]])

Somewhat similar, but with a different origin, and somewhat different ingredients, is the Islamic, especially Turkish, sweet dish of [[Ashure]].

==See also==
{{portal|Food}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Frumenty]]
*[[Koliva]]
*[[List of desserts]]
*[[Memorial service in the Eastern Orthodox Church]]
*[[Slava (tradition)]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Kutia}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141223115154/http://smakplus.com/kutia-video/ Video-recipe of Kutia with English subtitles]

{{Puddings}}

[[Category:Christmas food]]
[[Category:Poppy seeds]]
[[Category:Russian cuisine]]
[[Category:Slavic cuisine]]
[[Category:Ukrainian cuisine]]
[[Category:Wheat dishes]]
[[Category:Winter traditions]]
[[Category:Cuisine of Paraná (state)]]