>**Christmas Twist: Ukraine Celebrating on Dec. 25, Instead of Jan. 7**
>
>Russia’s invasion has stirred a collective defense response and prompted many Ukrainians to distance themselves from Russian language and culture, including historical connections to Moscow.
>
>This year, many Ukrainians are celebrating Christmas for the first time on Dec. 25.
>
>Most are Orthodox Christians and, unlike previous years, will be using a new calendar for Christmas instead of the one historically shared with Russia which celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7.
>
>**Why has Ukraine changed when it celebrates Christmas?**
>
>The idea of celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25, a common practice in the Western world, had previously been discussed in Ukraine before the Russian invasion. Historically, most Christian parishioners in Ukraine have observed Christmas on Jan. 7, following the old Roman Julian calendar.
>
>Since the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) regained its independence from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) in early 2019, there has been some ongoing debate, led by Metropolitan Epiphanius, on whether Ukraine should shift its Christmas celebration to Dec. 25.
>
>Around a year before the invasion, in December 2020, Epiphanius suggested that a decision could only be made when “the church matures [and] the believing people are ready for it.”
>
>The Russian invasion has sped up those changes, as Russian propaganda had long used narratives associated with “Orthodox values” to foster a sense of unity among “Slavic nations.”
>
>In December 2022, the leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and the OCU initiated joint efforts to transition to the Revised Julian calendar.
>
>Their work led to the adoption of the Revised Julian calendar on Sept. 1, 2023.
>
>**Christmas Celebrations: East vs. West**
>
>The way Christmas is celebrated can depend on whether someone is part of the Western or Eastern Christian tradition.
>
>Orthodox and Greek Catholics celebrate Christ’s birth on Jan. 7, considering it a significant religious event, though second to Easter in importance.
>
>A strict Christmas fast, observed from Nov. 28 to Jan. 7, involves spiritual cleansing and repentance. Many Orthodox Christians abstain from eating meat during the Christmas fast.
>
>On Jan. 6, known as Holy Evening, families prepare 12 Lenten dishes, such as uzvar, pampushki, borscht with ears, and kutya, in honor of the 12 apostles.
>
>Dinner begins only after the first star rises, marked by the lighting of a Christmas candle, a prayer, and a food blessing.
>
>The Christmas fast concludes on Jan. 7 with worship, visits to relatives, caroling, and nativity scenes depicting Christ’s birth.
>
>In Western Christian tradition, Christmas is observed from Dec. 24 to 25. The West emphasizes Christmas as its primary religious holiday, particularly symbolizing a family celebration. It is also a time associated with presents under the Christmas tree, delivered by Santa Claus on the night of Dec. 24.
>
>Advent, a month-long period before Christmas, involves spiritual and family-focused activities.
>
>When it comes to church, Western Christians typically have three separate Christmas Masses – the Mass at Midnight, the Mass at Dawn, and the Mass of the Day.
>
>On Dec. 25, Turkey or duck is a common main dish to be served, followed by dessert featuring a sweet dried-fruit Christmas pudding, in countries like the US, UK, Germany, France, etc.
>
>Gift-giving, carol singing and nativity plays are prevalent customs among Western Christians. In the UK particularly, Christmas is the season of pantomimes, with family-oriented musical comedy stage plays taking up much of the theater space.
I think majority of Ukrainians, will still celebrate Christmas on January 7th, its very hard to take away tradition from people, Soviet Union tried to take religion away but they failed hard, maybe it worked only in baltic states. But I think young people probably in 50-60 years will adopt to celebrate Christmas on 24-25 December. Older generations and those who are very religious won’t change the celebration date.
…
Stop framing it as if it’s because of Russia. All orthodox churches have slowly been moving to celebrate it on the 25th of December, this was debated and planned way before the war.
I’m wondering if they’ll pull an “Ataturk” and switch to Latin alphabet
It doesn’t matter when does Ukraine celebrate Christmas, it matters how they do it, and all we can wish for is for them to celebrate it in peace.
Just some notes. Greek Orthodox has been celebrating Christmas on 25 Dec for a very long time (I have heard some doing 7th, but we call them Old-Calendrarians). Additionally, Easter is the bigger holiday, religiously wise.
And under the tree: some F16’s! Merry Christmas Ukraine!
And also: Merry fucking Christmas Russian invaders!
Why 25th?
That makes no sense what so ever.
Since no one celebrates Christmas on 25th besides the Anglophone countries.
Nordics, Central Europe, non orthodox Slavs are all on 24th (that means all of their neighbours and closest cultures celebrate it on 24th)
Until today, only Greece and Bulgaria celebrated Christmas on 25th of December, from the orthodox countries.
9 comments
>**Christmas Twist: Ukraine Celebrating on Dec. 25, Instead of Jan. 7**
>
>Russia’s invasion has stirred a collective defense response and prompted many Ukrainians to distance themselves from Russian language and culture, including historical connections to Moscow.
>
>This year, many Ukrainians are celebrating Christmas for the first time on Dec. 25.
>
>Most are Orthodox Christians and, unlike previous years, will be using a new calendar for Christmas instead of the one historically shared with Russia which celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7.
>
>**Why has Ukraine changed when it celebrates Christmas?**
>
>The idea of celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25, a common practice in the Western world, had previously been discussed in Ukraine before the Russian invasion. Historically, most Christian parishioners in Ukraine have observed Christmas on Jan. 7, following the old Roman Julian calendar.
>
>Since the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) regained its independence from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) in early 2019, there has been some ongoing debate, led by Metropolitan Epiphanius, on whether Ukraine should shift its Christmas celebration to Dec. 25.
>
>Around a year before the invasion, in December 2020, Epiphanius suggested that a decision could only be made when “the church matures [and] the believing people are ready for it.”
>
>The Russian invasion has sped up those changes, as Russian propaganda had long used narratives associated with “Orthodox values” to foster a sense of unity among “Slavic nations.”
>
>In December 2022, the leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and the OCU initiated joint efforts to transition to the Revised Julian calendar.
>
>Their work led to the adoption of the Revised Julian calendar on Sept. 1, 2023.
>
>**Christmas Celebrations: East vs. West**
>
>The way Christmas is celebrated can depend on whether someone is part of the Western or Eastern Christian tradition.
>
>Orthodox and Greek Catholics celebrate Christ’s birth on Jan. 7, considering it a significant religious event, though second to Easter in importance.
>
>A strict Christmas fast, observed from Nov. 28 to Jan. 7, involves spiritual cleansing and repentance. Many Orthodox Christians abstain from eating meat during the Christmas fast.
>
>On Jan. 6, known as Holy Evening, families prepare 12 Lenten dishes, such as uzvar, pampushki, borscht with ears, and kutya, in honor of the 12 apostles.
>
>Dinner begins only after the first star rises, marked by the lighting of a Christmas candle, a prayer, and a food blessing.
>
>The Christmas fast concludes on Jan. 7 with worship, visits to relatives, caroling, and nativity scenes depicting Christ’s birth.
>
>In Western Christian tradition, Christmas is observed from Dec. 24 to 25. The West emphasizes Christmas as its primary religious holiday, particularly symbolizing a family celebration. It is also a time associated with presents under the Christmas tree, delivered by Santa Claus on the night of Dec. 24.
>
>Advent, a month-long period before Christmas, involves spiritual and family-focused activities.
>
>When it comes to church, Western Christians typically have three separate Christmas Masses – the Mass at Midnight, the Mass at Dawn, and the Mass of the Day.
>
>On Dec. 25, Turkey or duck is a common main dish to be served, followed by dessert featuring a sweet dried-fruit Christmas pudding, in countries like the US, UK, Germany, France, etc.
>
>Gift-giving, carol singing and nativity plays are prevalent customs among Western Christians. In the UK particularly, Christmas is the season of pantomimes, with family-oriented musical comedy stage plays taking up much of the theater space.
[https://www.kyivpost.com/post/25893](https://www.kyivpost.com/post/25893)
I think majority of Ukrainians, will still celebrate Christmas on January 7th, its very hard to take away tradition from people, Soviet Union tried to take religion away but they failed hard, maybe it worked only in baltic states. But I think young people probably in 50-60 years will adopt to celebrate Christmas on 24-25 December. Older generations and those who are very religious won’t change the celebration date.
…
Stop framing it as if it’s because of Russia. All orthodox churches have slowly been moving to celebrate it on the 25th of December, this was debated and planned way before the war.
I’m wondering if they’ll pull an “Ataturk” and switch to Latin alphabet
It doesn’t matter when does Ukraine celebrate Christmas, it matters how they do it, and all we can wish for is for them to celebrate it in peace.
Just some notes. Greek Orthodox has been celebrating Christmas on 25 Dec for a very long time (I have heard some doing 7th, but we call them Old-Calendrarians). Additionally, Easter is the bigger holiday, religiously wise.
And under the tree: some F16’s! Merry Christmas Ukraine!
And also: Merry fucking Christmas Russian invaders!
Why 25th?
That makes no sense what so ever.
Since no one celebrates Christmas on 25th besides the Anglophone countries.
Nordics, Central Europe, non orthodox Slavs are all on 24th (that means all of their neighbours and closest cultures celebrate it on 24th)
Until today, only Greece and Bulgaria celebrated Christmas on 25th of December, from the orthodox countries.
Apperantly Romania too.