Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper A twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper is traditionally prepared in many Central European and Northern European cultures, especially those that were formerly part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, including Polish, Lithuanian, Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian. The meal (, , , or "wieczerza wigilijna", , ) consists of twelve meatless dishes representing the twelve months of the year. 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. The specific
Christmas in Romania are Great Union Day, Saint Nicholas' Day, Saint Ignatius' Day, Christmas Eve (' in Romanian), Christmas Day (' in Romanian), Saint Stephen's day, New Year's Eve ("" in Romanian), and the Epiphany. The seven-week Advent season in anticipation of Jesus Christ's birth should be practiced by all Eastern Christian Romanians. It starts on November 14 yearly and ends up on Christmas Day. November 14, the first day of advent is traditionally called "Lăsata secului" (literally "the day the abstinence begins"). Any kind of products obtained from animal sources are prohibited. Also, on Wednesdays and on Fridays, oil among other products