Saturday night Ukrainians in the Southeast will celebrate Christmas Eve, also known as 'The Nativity of Christ Our Lord.'

Father Oris Naherniak says he presides with the St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Church south of Gardenton. Father Oris after the children spot the first star of the evening everyone gathers for supper which consists of 12 meatless dishes.

"They get ready around the table, the father of the home leads them in prayer or grace, asking for a blessing of health for his whole family and the hope that they will all be together again next year."

He says there is a candle in the middle of the kolach and it signifies the star that appeared at the birth of Christ. Father Oris adds the kolach is three braided loaves of bread which represent God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

"The braided bread has 12 ropes and there are two layers. The first layer has six braided by threes and you put them in the bottom of your baking pan. The next, top layer, you braid six of them and then you braid two [of those braids together], then you braid two, and two more. It comes down to only three braids and you braid them one over the other making a nice round loaf, and that's for eternity."

Father Oris says the 12 meatless dishes include beet borscht, cabbage rolls, perogies, jellied fish, sauerkraut and peas, mashed beans, mushrooms, as well as dried fruit.

He explains after supper, they will carol at the table and have carolers come from other churches to visit each home followed by attending church in the evening. Father Oris adds attending church in the evening is something which has been lost in Canada but he remembers from when he was a child.

As for the story behind the Christmas tree. "It originated in Germany 800 years after Christ was born by a priest called St. Boniface. He realized the Germans believed in a lot of pagans and one of them was a sacred oak tree. He wanted to change them to our Christian faith. So, he went and cut it (the sacred oak tree) down, they were upset with him. He went and cut down an evergreen tree which is a sign of Christ's offering to them because the evergreen is always green and it gives life."

Father Oris says Ukrainian Christmas is 13 days later than the December 25 Christmas because they follow the Julian Calendar.