Tis the season for Ukrainian Christmas traditions, decorations and celebrations.

Historically, Orthodox and Uniate Christian Ukrainians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian rather than the Gregorian calendar. However, due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia which began in February 2022, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church has decreed that in a symbolic break from Russia, Ukraine will move to using the Gregorian calendar from 2023.

In common with many other European countries, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a solemn meal comprising of twelve dishes which symbolise the twelve apostles. The meal is meatless and includes the ritual dish of Kutya (poppy seeds, wheat and honey), followed typically by borshcht, holubsti (stuffed cabbage leaves), varenyky (pierogi or dumplings), marinated herrings or another fish dish, picked food and sweet treats such as compote (dried fruit stew).

The meal cannot be eaten until the first star appears in the sky and a place is always set for any deceased member of the family. It is traditional to decorate the table with a diduk - a sheaf of wheat tied with a ribbon - as well as a ritual bread called a kolach, into which a candle is placed and lit when the meal begins. The meal begins with a prayer and this is followed by the breaking of a bread called prosfora which is dipped into honey and passed around the table to wish everyone a sweet year to come.

This is followed by the kutya and the other dishes. The family then attends midnight mass. Presents are not usually exchanged at Christmas this happens at St Nicholas Day instead (19 Dec). On Christmas Day, a Christmas Day service is attended. The Ukrainian clubs and cultural centres usually open after mass so that the community can socialise and celebrate.

Influenced by the work of Rob Perks and the Bradford Heritage Recording Unit's work in the mid-1980s, the Ukrainian Video Archive Society (UVAS) were careful to capture personal testimonies about diaspora life in Bradford's Ukrainian community. As a predominantly Christian (Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox) community, Christmas had a particular resonance and this recording made at the home of Mrs Shalayj's house explores some of the domestic festive traditions.

She discusses the didukh she has on display, explaining how it is made from wheat and poppy seed heads and what this symbolises and why it was such an important item in the festive home. She also talks about the significance of bread, the nativity scene and a particular candle which she bought in Jerusalem.

Other subjects discussed include her collection of dolls in traditional Ukrainian dress, carol singing and the flight from Egypt of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.