ah your post brought back some memories for me..my evil father was Ukrainian...we didn't do the gifts thing (girls didn't deserve gifts..my brother got gifts tho)..but the foods..spot on...we did most of the gift stuff on traditional christmas in december,

i miss the foods...i do make pretty good cabbage rolls myself...& have recently stumbled upon a damn good polish grocery..a tiny little place...i go & buy all the good stuff...& stand & listen to the older women chat in polish...my father spoke ukranian & some polish...i don;'t recall much of it..just some food words but it does sound good to hear people talking in it again...

personally i usually spend the holiday alone..so i do it on christmas day. on christmas eve i usually read the gospels outside at night & sing a chorus of happy birthday . christmas day i make a nice dinner & of course have a happy birthday baby jesus cake.