Ukrainian Christmas Egg Bread - Bread Machine Version

The bread machine version of this recipe is now posted.  If you are feeling more adventurous or do not have a bread machine try the scratch version.

The KOLACH is the traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve supper centerpiece.  Three braided loaves, which commemorate the Trinity, are stacked one on top of the other.  A candle is set in the middle of the top loaf to symbolize Christ, the “Light of the World”.   Its round shape gives it its name - “kolo”, a circle - symbolizing eternity. An old custom was the communal sharing of bread, honey and salt.  Starting with the oldest member of the family, small pieces of kolach dipped in honey and salt were offered with the greeting “Chrestos rezdayetsia” (“Christ is born”); they would response, “Slavitey Yeho” (“Glorify Him”).