In Ukraine, Christmas celebrations traditionally start on Christmas Eve, (which is now December 24) and last until January 6, the date of the celebration of the baptism of Jesus, known in Ukraine as Vodokhreshche or Yordan, according to the Gregorian calendar and Revised Julian calendar by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the Catholic ...

Dec 6, 2023 · This year, during the second year of Russia’s barbaric war against Ukraine, both the Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic Churches finally went over to the Gregorian Calendar, thereby underscoring their distancing from Moscow. …

Dec 4, 2024 · Ukrainian Christmas stands out with its unique customs, from singing carols (колядки, kolyadky) to preparing symbolic decorations like the дідух (Didukh). For children, it’s a magical season filled with stories, songs, and the anticipation of festive surprises.

Dec 21, 2023 · December and January in Ukraine are winter holiday months, brimming with colourful costumes, memorable events, and abundant group singing. One of these holidays is Christmas, and its celebration traditions are interwoven with rites from pre-Christian times.

Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated on December 25. Since 2017, the date has been one of the official state holidays. Before that, Christmas was celebrated by many on January 7 by the Julian calendar.

May 19, 2024 · The Ukrainian version of a mythical figure which brings presents to children on Christmas is called “Ded Moroz”, which translates to “Grandfather Frost”. Though some consider Ded Moroz’s origins to stem Eastern Orthodox and Pagan traditions, he is most commonly discussed in a Slavic folklore context.

Dec 7, 2023 · Christmas holidays in Ukraine now have new calendar dates. St Nicholas comes to children on December 6 instead of December 19. Ukrainians, like the vast majority of Christians around the world, celebrate Christmas on December 25 according to the Gregorian and New Julian calendars.

Dec 24, 2024 · Memories about the ancient traditions of Ukrainian Christmas. I grew up in a village in the Lviv region, in that part of Ukraine that remained free from Russian influence until 1939, when it was occupied and forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union.

Jan 4, 2025 · Ukrainian Christmas is more than a holiday—it’s a celebration of faith, family, and enduring cultural heritage. From the solemnity of the Holy Supper to the joyous carols of kolyadky, every tradition reflects the warmth and resilience of Ukrainian culture.

This issue has deep historical and cultural implications, as St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is a long-standing symbol of Ukrainian holiday traditions, while the image of Father Frost (Ded Moroz or Morozko) was created and imposed by the Soviet government.