Christmas Eve Holy Supper

By Fr. Christopher Zugger
 
Byzantine Catholics celebrate Christmas Eve in a special way. Family and friends gather in the evening to partake of the Holy Supper, an ancient tradition of Eastern Europe. In a time when family life and religious practice are both under pressure, this is a good practice to keep at home to strengthen both faith Christmas Eve is a day of strict fast, which means no meat or dairy products, and also only one full meal. That meal is taken after sunset and is known as the Holy Supper. Since the strict abstinence is kept until midnight, the meal is free of both meat and dairy products. 
 
The house is thoroughly cleaned, as a sign of the spiritual cleansing of our souls which should be done through Confession before Christmas Eve. Thus, the family and the house are all ready to receive the Christ Child. 
 
A clean white linen cloth covers the dinner table, representing the swaddling clothes with which the Virgin Mary clothed her infant son. In the center of the table is a loaf of bread, with a candle in the center, or on either side of it. Straw is placed on the table as a reminder of the birth of Jesus in a stable. A sheaf of wheat, oats or other grain, called the didukh, can be placed under the icons to ask for a prosperous New Year. One place setting is left open for the Prophet Elijah, who will come to announce the coming of the Messiah, according to both Jewish and Christian beliefs (Malachi 4:1-5).  The bread represents Jesus Christ who called Himself "the Bread of Life" (John 6:25-29). The candles remind us that Jesus is the "Light of the World" (John 8:12). Another candle can be placed in the window as a sign of welcome to any traveler seeking shelter like the Holy Family was on the first Christmas Eve. 
 
A rope (or chain) is sprinkled  with holy water, then it is used to tie the four legs of the table, asking God's blessings and protection from all corners of the world. This symbolizes the ever-lasting bond of the family.
 
Finally, a small manger scene or the icon of the Nativity is placed on the table. The room now represents the cave and the manger of Bethlehem, the humble surroundings of the birth of Jesus Christ. 
 
With the appearance of the first star in the evening sky, all approach the table, and the father greets everyone: "Christ is born!" to which all reply “Glorify Him!” and the candles are lit. 

The father or eldest person leads the family in prayer, as did  the shepherds and wise men. The prayer expresses gratitude to God for His blessings during the past year. It includes petitions for health, happiness, long life and salvation, that the family may be united in love forever, and blessing of the food. Then the Troparion of Christmas is sung: "Rozhdestvo Tvoje Christe Boze nas, vozsija mirovi svit razuma…" "Your birth, O Christ our God, has shed upon the world the light of knowledge.."
 
The food may then be blessed with holy water. A toast "vincovanja" with sweet wine, brandy "palenka", or whiskey mixed with honey is offered, again by the father. It may be simple or quite elaborate, but is usually something like this: "Lord Jesus Christ, Who was born in a manger for our sake and salvation, bless this food and drink of Your servants, for You are holy, always, now and ever, and forever." or "Good Christians! I greet you on the Feast of Christ's Nativity and wish that the Lord grant you and your children good health and fortune to praise the eternal God for many blessed years!"; those present answer "Daj Bozhe!" - "Grant it, O God!". 

The prayer is followed with the exchange of the Christmas Greeting: CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!, after which point everyone may be seated.
 
The father breaks the bread, first making the sign of the cross on the bottom of the loaf with the knife, and gives a piece to each member of the family. The bread is a symbol of Christ, the Bread of Life. The bread is then eaten. The father breaks the bread, first making the sign of the cross on the bottom of the loaf with the knife, and gives a piece to each member of the family. The bread is then eaten.

The mother blesses the children on the forehead with garlic dipped in honey in the Sign of the Cross, as a sign of the bitterness and sweetness of life. The father blesses any animals with holy water and returns to begin the Supper with a toast wishing all blessings in the coming New Year. Animals are fed generously before the family is, because they kept the Christ Child warm in the stable, and the ox and the donkey recognized their True Lord (Isaiah 1:3). It is a pious belief that at midnight the animals are allowed to speak because they protected Jesus, and that they will complain to God if they are mistreated.   

The Supper consists of up to twelve dishes, representing the Tribes of Israel and the Apostles. 

• stewed prunes and/or pears; 
• pirohi filled with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, or prunes (lekvar);
• baked/broiled fish; 
• sauerkraut; 
• potatoes; 
• lima beans; 
• the loaf of bread with a lit candle in the center; 
• barley and/or mushroom soup, usually including peas; 
• holubki/ cabbage rolls stuffed with rice; 
• potato pancakes;
• nuts and dried fruit; 
• lentils
    

Now the birth of Jesus Christ^[k] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; ¹⁹ and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; ²¹ she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

²³ “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
 and his name shall be called Emman′u-el”
(which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had borne a son;^[l] and he called his name Jesus.