Makes 1 beautiful twisted and stacked golden bread, about 9 inches across and 5 to 6 inches tall. Traditional feast on Christmas Eve January 6 consists of twelve courses, all meatless, a form of fasting while celebrating. Starts of first with ritual gruel, a cross between soup and gruel called kutia, made of simmered wheat berries flavored with honey and black poppy seeds, meatless borshch, varenyky filled with potato or cheese and served with mushroom sauce, and fish served several ways. On the table along with wineglasses and candles, is a Christmas bread called kolach, elaborately twisted and braided. It’s traditionally presented as three breads stacked one on top of the other and topped by a candle. The bread is moist and rich with butter and eggs and has a slightly denser-than-brioche texture. This recipes makes one very beautiful bread. To make the traditional three breads, see the NOTE below. This bread keeps well.