Celebrating St. Barbara’s Day in Palestine: Burbara Pudding

Palestinian Christmas is a month-long celebration of joy, tradition, and community. Yet, the season unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing challenges—military occupation, violence from illegal settlers, and the devastating war in Gaza—that make these moments of festivity even more poignant and resilient.

Among these cherished festivities is St. Barbara’s Day on December 4th, today! So we visited Im Layali and made it with her (see our reel on Instagram!). It's such a special tradition.

Rooted in the village of Aboud, near Ramallah, this day honors St. Barbara with a special procession and a beloved treat: Barbara—a sweetened pudding made from whole wheat berries. Because remember, Palestinian culture is historically a culture of wheat.

In the spirit of sharing traditions, we’re happy to bring you Mai’s recipe from the blog Almond & Fig for this festive dish. Try it at home and savor the rich heritage of Palestine.

Mai’s Barbara Recipe

Adapted from Almond and Fig’s Wheat Berry Sweet Soup

Ingredients

• 1 cup wheat berries, soaked overnight
• 5 cups water
• ½ cup sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup dried apricots, chopped
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds (for garnish)
• Chopped nuts (like walnuts or almonds) for topping

Instructions

1. Drain the soaked wheat berries and rinse well.
2. In a large pot, combine the wheat berries and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 1.5-2 hours, or until the berries are tender.
3. Add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to the pot. Stir well and simmer for another 10 minutes.
4. Mix in the raisins and chopped dried apricots. Let the mixture cool slightly.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature, garnished with pomegranate seeds and nuts.

Happy Palestinian Christmas from Handmade Palestine, where traditions keep the spirit of the Holy Land alive, even as its Christian community continues to dwindle. May this season bring peace, joy, and the sweetness of Barbara to your home.