Ukraine Moves Christmas Day Holiday in Effort to Distance from Russian Heritage
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law changing the official Christmas Day holiday from January 7 to December 25. The move is an attempt to distance the country from its Russian heritage, particularly the imposition of celebrating Christmas on January 7, as observed by the Russian Orthodox Church.
The law aims to recognize Ukraine’s relentless struggle for its identity and independence, fueled by Russia’s aggression against the country over the past 17 months. Ukrainians have expressed a desire to live their lives with their own traditions and holidays.
Last year, some Ukrainians already began observing Christmas on December 25 as a way to separate themselves from Russian culture and religious traditions.
In addition to changing the Christmas holiday, the law also moves the Day of Ukrainian Statehood from July 28 to July 15, and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine from October 14 to October 1.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which claims sovereignty over Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine, follows the ancient Julian calendar. As a result, Christmas falls on January 7 according to this calendar. However, most church and secular groups, including the Catholic Church, use the Gregorian calendar, which designates December 25 as Christmas.
Ukraine’s religious landscape has been fractured for years, with two branches of Orthodox Christianity in the country. One branch aligns with the Russian church, while the other operates independently. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the independent branch, announced earlier this year that it would switch to the Revised Julian calendar, celebrating Christmas on December 25.
The rival Orthodox Church aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church has vowed to continue observing Christmas on January 7.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sees the change as the result of historical tensions between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
President Zelenskyy visited the war-torn Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, which Russia has illegally annexed, but only partially occupies. He met with members of the country’s Special Operation Forces, recognizing their official day of recognition and commemorating the anniversary of a deadly attack on a prison in the Russian-held part of the region. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of several prisoners of war, led to accusations between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy praised the soldiers for their efforts in bringing Ukraine closer to freedom from the occupiers. His visit coincided with accusations that Kyiv’s forces intensified attacks in the southeast of the country as part of a counteroffensive.
President Putin stated that Ukrainian attacks along the front line have decreased, and that Russian forces are successfully repelling attacks and even mounting counteroffensive operations in some areas.
The change in the Christmas holiday and the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine highlight the ongoing struggle for identity, cultural autonomy, and independence in Ukraine.
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Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia.