In Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th and holds great importance for the majority of Christians.
This holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, which took place in Bethlehem. Christmas is recognized as a public holiday in many countries around the world.
According to the Gospel, Jesus was born in Bethlehem during a census. Due to the city's overcrowding, Mary and Joseph were unable to find accommodation and ended up staying in a stable, where the Savior was born. The Bethlehem star shone brightly from the heavens, guiding the wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. This event is commemorated by Christians annually with solemn services.
On the eve of Christmas, Christians celebrate Holy Evening, the last day of fasting, which concludes with the appearance of the first evening star. According to Ukrainian tradition, a lit candle is placed on the festive table along with 12 meatless dishes, each of which is tasted. The main dish of Holy Evening is kutia.
Holy Evening is typically a time for families to gather and sing carols. Christmas morning begins with the traditional greeting: «Christ is born!», to which the response is: «Glorify Him!».
This year, Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on December 25th for the third time. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church switched to the Revised Julian calendar on September 1, 2023, which means that most fixed church holidays are now celebrated 13 days earlier than under the Julian calendar.
The Revised Julian calendar is now used by most Orthodox churches worldwide, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Meanwhile, the Julian calendar is still followed by churches such as the Russian, Serbian, Georgian, and Jerusalem Orthodox churches. Some believers in Ukraine will continue to celebrate Christmas on January 7th according to the Julian calendar.
In July 2023, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law changing the dates of state holidays, which declared January 7th no longer a holiday, and officially established December 25th as the date for Christmas celebrations.
