A twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper is traditionally prepared in many Eastern European cultures, including Lithuanian, Polish, and Ukrainian (cultures of regions that were formally part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). The meal (Lithuanian: Kūčios, Polish: Wigilia or wieczerza wigilijna, Ukrainian: Свята вечеря, Sviata vecheria) consists of twelve meatless dishes representing the twelve Apostles. The tradition of the supper can be traced back to pre-Christian times and connected with remembrance of the souls of deceased ancestors.
In some parts of Poland a similar tradition of thirteen meatless dishes on Christmas Eve is practiced.
Read more about Twelve-dish Christmas Eve Supper: History, Description
Famous quotes containing the words christmas, eve and/or supper:
“At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled shows,
But like of each thing that in season grows.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Mrs. Finney: Can’t we have some peace in this house, even on New Year’s Eve?
Sadie: You got it mixed up with Christmas. New Year’s Eve is when people go back to killing each other.”
—Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1909–1993)
“When I was your age I went to bed right after supper. Sometimes I went to bed before supper. Sometimes I went without supper and didn’t go to bed at all.”
—S.J. Perelman, U.S. screenwriter, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, and Norman Z. McLeod. Groucho Marx, Horsefeathers, a wisecrack made to his son Frank (Zeppo Marx)