We associate with Christmas tree. But the main decoration of the house Ukrainians it was not always. Ethnographers say that the custom to put conifer Christmas came to us, probably, from the Germans. Before the tree has become a major «Christmas beauty», It bore the honorary title Didukh. What it is?
It is believed that the tree of the Ukrainians in the houses appeared in the late XIX century. First, it could afford only the rich. The rest used Didukh, and liked to say: «Ban puts Smerichka and Rusin puts Didukh».
What is Didukh?
Didukh - a stack of wheat, oats and even linen. It was also called "Kolyadniki" or "carols". In some areas, it was only from wheat, in the other - he was collecting from different cultures. Form Didukh could vary depending on the traditions of the area. I gathered it from either the first or the last haystack. It could put the villa or the sickle as a symbol of hard work. Incidentally, the first and the last stack hleborobskoy culture is considered especially in many nations.
Didukh was of great symbolic importance for the Ukrainians, it is one of the oldest symbols of Ukrainian Christmas rituals. Didukh - guardian of all kinds, a symbol of good harvest, peace and kindness in the family, as well as wealth in the house. It called the sheaf of hay Didukh to honor ancestral spirits (di-spirit - the spirit of ancestors, the ancestors).
It was believed that in so far as where to put the stack, were ancestral spirits at the table in Svyatvecher. Didukh are entered into the house on Christmas Eve, decorated with ribbons and set to the red corner of the house - near the icons. Didukh brings Christmas Eve special holiday atmosphere, comfort, magic, magic.
History Didukh
Tradition set Didukh stretches since pagan times. The fact is that in Russia celebrated the New Year in autumn, the end of field work. It was then, and began to enter into the house Didukh. In pre-Christian times was Didukh symbol of Christmas Carols God. With the introduction of Christianity and the New Year and Christmas transferring the winter, Didukh not lost its relevance for the Ukrainians.
Rites with Didukh
Since Didukh played a special role for Christmas, he took part in the ceremonies. Didukh introduced into a house on Svyatvecher. As soon as it was placed in the corner of the table, all the work around the house, in addition to care for the animals, it was impossible to carry out. Skid stack master of the house, saying, "Help, Lord." He could ask what he is, he replied: "carry gold!".
For example, in the Hutsul region, when the stack was introduced, it was invited to the table evil forces: storm, hail, lightning, wolves. They believed that in this way they cajole them, and they will bypass them by. We loved saying: "Didukh the house - trouble at home."
Didukh put the place of honor at the table near kuti and Uzvara. It was believed that there are ancestral spirits throughout the Christmas holidays. Sometimes it is put in a corner near the icons. After Epiphany grain Didukh collected and the straw burned. This grain is sown.
Didukh and modernity
although Ukrainian Christmas symbol It replaced the tree, many returned to the tradition to put on Christmas Didukh. In some cities in western Ukraine a great national symbol of Christmas put in the town square next to the Christmas tree.
You will also be interested to know Ukrainian tradition: how Christmas is celebrated in different regions of Ukraine.
Photos in the text: istockphoto.com
