Спереводом twelve different and special dishes are traditional for this meal which begins only after the first star of the evening appears. the twelve dishes are to remind us of the twelve apostles. after a day of fasting, in remembrance of the hardships that mary endured as she and joseph to bethlehem, preparations of a spiritual and physical nature set the mood for this holy night. food for the holy supper is prepared with no meat or dairy products. hay is put under the table and the tablecloth as a reminder of the humble place of christ's birth. on top of a white or embroidered tablecloth is placed a kolach, in the middle ofthe table. in the middle of the kolach a candle is placed, which is left burning all night. a lit candle is also placed in the window to welcome any homeless person. there is always an extra table setting for the souls of the deceased. as dusk approaches, the head of the house brings in a didukh, a sheaf of grain, and places it near the icons. as the star appears, the father carries a bowl of kutja around the home three times, reciting prayers. when all the family is at the table, prayers are recited and the nativity tropar is sung, "boh predvichny" the first dish of the twelve is always kuta, the eldest of the famil throws a spoonful of the kutja to the ceiling, the greater the good luck i the following year. the more kernels that stick to the ceiling, the greater the good luck in the following year. after the completion of the twelve dishes, nuts and candies are scattered in the hay under the table for the children to find. throughout the rest of the evening, christmas carols are sung by the family. when it is almost midnight, all the members of the family go to the nativity mass, a celebration of christ's birth. the following day and up to jordan carolers visit families and friends, starting with the home of the priest, proclaiming the birth of christ, our saviour. the holy days of the christmas season end on january 20, the feast of st. john, the baptist.
