Religious holidays of Ukraine
How Russia destroyed Ukrainian traditions of celebrating religious holidays?
Published
22.12.2025
Unique Ukrainian folk traditions and customs prove that Ukrainians are a distinct people with ancient roots. The celebration of religious holidays such as Saint Nicholas Day, Christmas, the Intercession of the Theotokos, Candlemas, Holy Trinity Day is particularly distinctive. Th Soviet authorities, the ideological successors of the Russian Empire, consistently viewed this tradition as a threat and therefore prohibited caroling and other traditional Ukrainian folk customs. In December 2024, Russian occupation authorities once again banned people in the temporarily occupied territories from caroling.
The celebration of Christmas was never formally prohibited by law in the Russian Empire as long as Orthodoxy remained the state religion. However, the Ukrainian cultural context was consistently suppressed. The empire sought to standardize traditions according to a unified imperial model. Ukrainian terms “koliada (caroling)” and “vertep (nativity scene)” were dismissed as part of the so-called “Little Russian dialect.” Imperial-style secular balls and Russian church canons were promoted to replace the authentic Ukrainian celebration of Christmas, which included a didukh (a decorative sheaf of wheat) and traditional Ukrainian chants. Russia also aggressively suppressed Greek Catholic traditions in the occupied Ukrainian territories (such as the Chelm Land), forcibly converting worshippers to Russian Orthodoxy.
In the territories that were part of the empire, Ukrainians officially celebrated Christmas on December 25 according to the Julian calendar (Old Style). By the early 20th century, this calendar lagged 13 days behind the widely used European (Gregorian) calendar. As a result, December 25 in the church calendar corresponded to January 7 in the New Style. In 2023, Ukraine finally abandoned the outdated Julian calendar and returned to celebrating Christmas on December 25, in line with the majority of the Christian world. Follow this link to read more about this issue.
The real oppression of Ukrainian folk traditions began when the Bolsheviks came to power, marking the start of a total conflict between religion and communist ideology in the Soviet Union. The symbol of this terror was an article by ideologue Ivan Skvortsov-Stepanov published in the Pravda newspaper in 1922, in which he proposed the concept of “Komsomol Christmas.” Instead of traditional rituals, the authorities organized anti-religious carnivals: effigies of ancient gods such as Marduk, Osiris, or Buddha were paraded through city streets in an attempt to demonstrate the alleged “secondary” nature of Christ’s image. Participants in these processions carried banners with mocking slogans, and the events concluded with propaganda lectures that branded religion as “the opium of the people.” For Ukraine, this meant the systematic destruction of the vertep (nativity scene) and koliada (caroling) as foundations of national identity.
Such policies were implemented throughout the Soviet Union, as they served to level society under a single definition – the “Soviet person.” However, the Bolsheviks considered Ukrainian customs particularly dangerous because they fostered national consciousness. This is clearly illustrated by the campaign against “Shchedryk”. This ritual song was not only a cultural symbol of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR) during the era of Symon Petliura, but also effectively celebrated so-called “kulaks” (in Soviet terminology), as on Shchedry Vechir (“Generous Evening” in Ukrainian, the traditional celebration that takes place on the evening of January 13, which is New Year’s Eve according to the Julian calendar) the successful and hardworking good sir was praised. Despite harsh prohibitions, Ukrainians secretly celebrated Saint Nicholas Day and Christmas for decades, cooked kutia (a traditional Ukrainian Christmas dish), and sang shchedrivky (carols).
A vivid example of resistance occurred in January 1972, when Olena Antoniv (the wife of Viacheslav Chornovil) organized a vertep in Lviv involving patriotic youth. Among its participants were Stefania Shabatura, Mykhailo Horyn, Vasyl Stus, and other members of the intelligentsia. The carolers raised funds to support political prisoners. The KGB’s reaction was immediate: through a provocation involving the detention of Belgian student Yaroslav Dobosh, the authorities fabricated a case against the participants. The arrests, which began on January 12, 1972, went down in history as the “Arrested Carol.” A total of 89 people were detained, most of whom received long prison sentences in high-security labor camps.
Despite repression, Ukrainians preserved their traditions and are actively reviving them today. However, the enemy continues attempts to destroy them: according to the National Resistance Center, Russians are again banning all religious traditions, including Saint Nicholas Day and caroling, in the occupied territories. Relevant instructions have been issued to educational institutions, providing yet another piece of evidence of the ongoing cultural war against Ukrainian identity.
Is there a contradiction in the fact that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem continues to celebrate Christmas on January 7, while Ukraine has switched to the Revised Julian calendar and celebrates Christmas on December 25?
Published
22.12.2025
There is no contradiction in this situation, as it is an administrative and calendar-related issue, and not a matter of the Orthodox doctrine. The calendar is not a question of dogma.
The choice of calendar (Julian or Revised Julian) has never been and is not a matter of Orthodox faith. What matters above all is the unity of faith: all local Orthodox churches, including the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, share the same Nicene Creed, recognize the same Ecumenical councils, and celebrate the same sacraments. This shared faith forms the basis of their unity.
The calendar is merely a liturgical and administrative practice, affecting only the dates of celebrations. Churches have full authority to address this issue independently, according to the needs of their faithful. Today, the Orthodox world is divided into two major calendrical groups:
- “New calendar” churches follow the Revised Julian calendar (coinciding with the Gregorian calendar for fixed feasts): Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Albania, and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
- “Old calendar” churches follow the Julian calendar (Christmas on January 7): Russian, Serbian, Georgian, Jerusalem churches and the monasteries of Athos.
The Jerusalem Patriarchate plays a key role in maintaining the “status quo”, a set of international rules established in the 19th century that clearly determine which church may conduct services in the major holy sites, at what time and where exactly: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Since these churches are shared by different confessions, any change in the calendar could disrupt the delicate balance among Orthodox, Catholic, and Armenian communities, inevitably leading to conflicts over the right to serve. For Jerusalem, preserving peace at the Holy Sites is far more important than calendar reform, and this concern applies only to celebrations there.
Thus, the conservative position of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is dictated by the specific nature of its ministry in the Holy Land. At the same time, the decision of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is reformist, as it responds to the needs of Ukrainian society and strengthens national identity. Both approaches are entirely legitimate under church law and do not create any contradictions in faith. True Christian unity lies in shared sacraments and beliefs, not in coinciding calendar dates.
Why did Ukraine change the dates of Christmas, Saint Nicholas Day, Epiphany, and other religious holidays?
Published
22.12.2025
Since September 1, 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) have adopted the Revised Julian calendar. This decision, supported by the majority of the faithful, is an act of restoring historical and astronomical accuracy as well as a conscious distancing from Russia. The reform affects not only Christmas but the entire cycle of fixed feasts, which are now celebrated 13 days earlier.
The transition to the new calendar has fundamental reasons. The first one is astronomical accuracy. The Julian calendar (Old Style) is imprecise and accumulates error every year. The Revised Julian calendar (RJC), adopted by most Ukrainian churches, is currently the most accurate liturgical calendar used by the majority of local Orthodox Churches worldwide. It was developed in 1923 by the renowned Serbian astronomer, Professor Milutin Milanković of the University of Belgrade. In the RJC, a one-day error accumulates only every 43,500 years, compared with 3,225 years in the Gregorian calendar and every 128 years in the Julian calendar. For example, Father Bohdan Boiko of the OCU refers to it in an interview with Suspilne.
The second reason is the rejection of the “Russian world.” The continued use of the outdated Julian calendar in Ukraine was a result of imperial and Soviet influence. The calendar reform is therefore a step toward cultural decolonization and synchronization with the wider civilized world. It is a strategic choice that allows Ukrainians at home and abroad to celebrate key holidays, including Christmas, simultaneously with the majority of Christians worldwide.
Russian propaganda actively exploits this topic to stir conflict, claiming that Ukrainians are being forced to adopt “Catholic” holidays. This is a manipulation. The Revised Julian calendar was developed by an Orthodox scholar for Orthodox churches and has been in use for over a century by the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Constantinople), as well as the Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek, and most other autocephalous churches. Only Russia and its allies (including Belarus and Serbia), along with the Jerusalem Patriarchate, remain with the Old Style. Ukraine has returned to the global Orthodox family, and not “joined the Catholics”.
Another claim spread by hostile propaganda is that changing the date of Christmas destroys centuries-old traditions. In reality, the essence of Ukrainian traditions – caroling, cooking kutia, and enjoying family warmth – is not tied to a calendar date. These customs smoothly transfer to December 25. Our true heritage lies in unity with Christian civilization, not isolation within an outdated imperial system.
Another manipulation asserts that the calendar reform will divide the faithful. In fact, it unites them and was implemented at the request of the majority (according to a survey by Diia in 2022 and a poll by the Sociological Group “Rating”). The Ukrainian churches implemented the change with respect for each community’s choice, recognizing that adjustment takes time. Ultimately, people are free to celebrate on December 25 or January 7, without facing judgment for their personal preference.
Thus, the transition to the new calendar is evidence of Ukraine’s irreversible civilizational choice. It is not merely a change of dates, but a demonstration of the worldview difference between Ukraine and Russia – a step toward the self-identification of a modern European nation.
How Christmas is marked in Ukraine, and when?
Published
25.12.2024
Ukrainians treat Christmas as one of the greatest holidays. A lot of national Christmas traditions have been cherished for centuries. Until recently, most Ukrainians celebrated Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar on January 7. But in August 2023, a reform was implemented in Ukraine to switch the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the Revised Julian calendar and start celebrating Christmas on December 25. However, some people still mark this holiday on January 7 or even on both dates.
Christmas is one of the most important holidays for Ukrainians. Primarily, it is a religious holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. But, in fact, almost all Ukrainians, and not only believers, celebrate Christmas, because in a broader sense this holiday symbolizes family warmth and joy.
In addition, there are a lot of Christmas traditions in Ukraine. They are slightly different depending on the region, but the main thing that unites the whole of Ukraine is Holy Eve before Christmas when Ukrainians cool twelve Lenten dishes, particularly kutia. Ukrainians also go caroling on Christmas.
In the past, Ukraine celebrated Christmas on January 7 and Christmas Eve respectively on January 6. It is because Ukraine used to follow the Julian calendar, which is less common. However, in 2022, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine declared its consent to the transition to the Gregorian (Revised Julian) calendar. In August 2023, together with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, it adopted the so-called calendar reform. Thus, the date of Christmas, like other fixed church holidays, was moved two weeks forward, to December 25, which is also called Catholic Christmas.
It is worth noting that the church did not do this just because some individuals decided to do so. Public discussions about moving the celebration of Christmas have been going on for a long time. And in recent years, the demand for this has grown significantly. For example, a survey by the Rating Sociological Group showed that in 2022, 44% of Ukrainians supported moving Christmas to December 25, while a year earlier this figure was 26%. Subsequently, a KIIS poll showed that in 2023, 53% of Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25 and 17% – on both dates.
It is worth noting that there is no coercion in this and people are not forbidden to celebrate on January 7, as before, or on both dates if they are not yet accustomed to the shift. Due to the martial law in Ukraine, there is no day off for Christmas, so those who celebrate on December 25 and those who celebrate on January 7 are in an equal position.
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