СОЧЕЛЬНИК

As previously noted, the Georgian word sochi translates to "fir tree" in English, a detail that offers a fresh perspective on the etymology of the Russian term sochelnik, meaning "Christmas Eve." The conventional etymology links sochelnik to sochivo, an ancient dish similar to kutia traditionally consumed at Christmas. The term sochivo is derived from the Slavic root for "juice," implying a connection to the dish’s preparation. However, kutia itself bears no particular association with juice, casting doubt on this explanation.

This conventional etymology becomes even less convincing when we consider the name of the village Sochely (Сочелы) in Russia’s Ivanovo region. The phonetic and conceptual leap from sochivo ("juice"-related dish) to Sochely is tenuous, and it is implausible that the village’s name is connected to juice in any meaningful way. A more direct connection exists between sochelnik ("Christmas Eve") and Sochely, suggesting a shared linguistic root unrelated to sochivo.

A more compelling explanation emerges when we link sochelnik to the Georgian word sochi ("fir tree"). The tradition of decorating a fir tree for Christmas is a well-established custom, symbolically tied to the celebration of Christmas Eve. This connection is particularly relevant in the Ivanovo region, where 46% of the territory is covered by spruce forests, making fir trees a prominent feature of the local landscape. The village name Sochely likely reflects this environment, deriving its name from the abundance of fir trees rather than any culinary association.

This hypothesis is further supported by the Georgian language, which not only includes the noun sochi ("fir tree") but also the derived adjective socheli, meaning both "relating to Sochi" (the city) and "pertaining to the fir tree." The phonetic and semantic alignment between socheli and Sochely is striking, suggesting that Sochely may be a toponym meaning "place of fir trees." By extension, sochelnik ("Christmas Eve") can be reinterpreted as originally referring to the "fir tree festival," aligning with the custom of decorating a Christmas tree.

This Kartvelian etymology offers a more coherent explanation for both sochelnik and Sochely than the traditional juice-related derivation, highlighting the potential influence of Kartvelian linguistic elements on Slavic toponymy and cultural terminology. It also underscores the deep connection between regional geography, cultural practices, and the naming conventions that reflect them.