Christmas in Norway party similar to the Christmas Eve dinner, though it is common to invite friends and/or neighbours. As midnight approaches, it is common to leave the house and light up fireworks together with neighbours, as they congratulate each other. The exact date that ends Jul varies. One common date is the thirteenth day of Christmas, Epiphany, of the Mass of St. Knut, on January 7. Another is the old "gisladag" or "Tjuendedag", the twentieth day, on January 13, also called Epiphany Day. By Candlemas on February 2, the Christmas tree and all decorations have usually been removed. Christmas in Norway Jul
Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper dishes may differ from country to country, but many of them are universal. Due to the Nativity Fast, no meat, eggs or milk (including cheese) are allowed during the supper. Thus fish, mushrooms and various types of grain are the main offerings. In Poland the supper begins with eating soup. The ritual in Ukraine is to start Sviata Vecheria with Kutia. 'Kutia', poppy milk ("aguonų pienas") together with "kūčiukai" are served as a dessert and forms a significant part of the Lithuanian Christmas Eve menu. Poppy seeds are widely used for Christmas Eve dishes, because they symbolise abundance and prosperity.