The entire Ukraine will celebrate Christmas on December 25th for the first time this year 2023.
The change is the result of a decision formalized by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, part of a series of measures Ukraine has taken to distance itself from Russia. The war between the two countries lasted almost two years.
According to the French newspaper Le Monde, the text approved by Ukrainian MPs and formalized by Zelensky said that the country's citizens wanted to lead “their own lives, with their own traditions, their own celebrations.” […] and abandon the Russian legacy that imposed Christmas celebrations on January 7th.”
Orthodox Church
This is another movement that marks Russia's distancing from the war. Until the change, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine used the Julian calendar, adopted by the Russian Orthodox Church, in which Christmas is celebrated on January 7 (in the Western calendar). As BBC Londrina explains, in this new move to distance itself from the Russians, Ukraine is adopting Christmas on the date of the Western calendar or Gregorian that was used daily in the country.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has also formalized the postponement of Christmas celebrations to November 25th. When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the institution formalized its break with the Russian Orthodox Church.
Christmas message
Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a Christmas message on Sunday evening. In his address to Ukrainian citizens, he recalled the difficult period that the country is going through and celebrates Christmas for the second time during the war. And he emphasized: “Day by day, step by step, the darkness is subsiding.” The darkness is being defeated. Evil will be defeated.”
See the statement:
Digital Journalism Coordinator at Itatiaia. The journalist holds a degree from UFMG and a professional master's degree in digital communications from the Sorbonne in Paris.