Page:The Mythology of All Races Vol 3 (Celtic and Slavic).djvu/473

 CHAPTER II THE KOLEDA

HE word koleda (kolȩda) is derived from the Latin calendae ("first day of the month"; borrowed in Greek as καλάνδαι) and denotes certain days at Christmas  $17$ and Easter when children go from house to house, singing songs and expecting all sorts of small presents in return. During the Middle Ages the festa calendarum was celebrated almost everywhere in Europe with pageants, games, songs, mummings, and the like.

Besides the word koleda there are a number of other names for the principal days of Christmastide which are worth mentioning. In Russia Christmas Eve is called Kutĭya, or Kuccya (Polish Kucyja); the day preceding New Year is "Rich Kutiĭya," and that before Twelfth Night is "Hungry Kutĭya," since meat is eaten on the former, while lenten dishes are preferred on the latter. In similar fashion the Letts term Christmas Eve Kukju Vakar, and the Lithuanians call it Kučiû Vãkaras. The word Kutĭya, Kuccya, etc., is derived from the name of the dish which, in addition to many others, is prepared on that day. Among the White Russians it is a sort of pudding composed of barley groats and honey; the Little Russians make it of wheat groats, pounded poppy seeds, and honey; the Lithuanians prepare it of peas and wheat, or of barley and beans; the Letts of peas and honey, etc. The other Slavs likewise have similar names for the holiday dinners on Christmas Eve.

Before supper the farmer walks about the house carrying the kutĭya, while his wife, having tidied up the room with the help of her servants, spreads some hay over the table, and lay-