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
Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper or "кисла капуста", "kváshena kapústa" or "kisla kapústa") with wild mushrooms or peas, red borsch, mushroom or fish soups are served in Poland and Ukraine. Boiled or deep fried dumplings (Polish: "pierogi", Russian/Ukrainian: вареники, "vareniki" or "varenyky", Lithuanian: "auselės") with a wide variety of fillings (including cabbage or sauerkraut, mushrooms and crushed poppy seeds), are among the most popular dishes. Doughnuts filled with jam (Polish:"pączki", Ukrainian: пампушки, "pampushky") are served for dessert in Poland and Ukraine, but in Lithuania sweet dishes are not common, as they are believed to be inappropriate for the solemn atmosphere of the evening. As for