Joshua Bennett
Ukrainian Catholics have traditionally celebrated Christmas according to the Julian calendar, which falls on January 7. However, in 2023, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) decided to switch to the Gregorian calendar, resulting in Christmas being celebrated on December 25. This change was made to distance themselves from the Russian Orthodox Church, which adheres to the Julian calendar. The UGCC allowed individual parishes to transition gradually, with the expectation that all parishes will follow the Gregorian calendar by 2025. This shift brings Ukrainian Catholics in line with the celebration dates of Catholics in Western nations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Christmas celebration | 25 December (since 2023) |
| Previous date of Christmas celebration | 7 January |
| Calendar | Gregorian calendar (since 2023) |
| Previous calendar | Julian calendar |
| Reason for calendar change | Julian calendar is associated with Russian occupiers |
| Christmas Eve | Sviatyi Vechir or Sviatvechir ("Holy Evening") |
| Christmas dinner | 12 dishes, traditionally vegan plus fish |
| Main dish | Kutia (boiled wheat mixed with poppy seeds and honey) |
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What You'll Learn
- Ukrainian Greek Catholics now celebrate Christmas on 25 December
- The Ukrainian Orthodox Church previously used the Julian calendar
- The Ukrainian Catholic Church is switching to the Gregorian calendar
- Christmas celebrations in Ukraine traditionally start on Christmas Eve
- Christmas in Ukraine lasts until 6 January, the date of Jesus' baptism
Ukrainian Greek Catholics now celebrate Christmas on 25 December
The switch in calendars involves changing the dates of several fixed liturgical feasts, including Christmas and Epiphany. Christmas was previously celebrated by Ukrainian Greek Catholics on 7 January, according to the Julian calendar. However, since 2017, 25 December has also been recognised as a public holiday in Ukraine, and many Ukrainians have been switching their celebrations to this date.
The head of the UGCC, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, stated that the decision to move to the Gregorian calendar was made after consultation with clergy, religious and Church leaders, and it was adopted to align with the dates of celebration of other Christian faiths around the globe. Archbishop Shevchuk also noted that the change was supported by more than 90% of Ukrainian Greek Catholics, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as many Ukrainians associate the Julian calendar with the Russian occupiers.
While the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has moved to the Gregorian calendar for fixed-date celebrations, it will continue to celebrate Easter and other movable feasts according to the old style for the time being. This is due to ongoing discussions between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches to find a common date for Easter, with the hope of reaching an agreement by the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025.
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The Ukrainian Orthodox Church previously used the Julian calendar
The decision to switch calendars was made by the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC and announced by Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. This change means that fixed-date religious celebrations, such as Christmas, will now occur on the same dates as in the West. However, holidays with movable dates, like Easter, will continue to be celebrated in the old style for the time being. The UGCC plans for all parishes to follow the Gregorian calendar by 2025.
The move away from the Julian calendar is significant as it was previously associated with the Russian Orthodox Church and other Eastern Churches under the Patriarchate of Moscow. By switching calendars, the UGCC reinforces its independence and distances itself from Russian influence, particularly in the context of the ongoing war. This shift also brings Ukraine closer to the celebration dates of most Christian faiths worldwide, fostering a sense of unity and shared tradition.
While the Ukrainian Orthodox Church previously adhered to the Julian calendar, there have been discussions about transitioning to the Gregorian calendar as well. In December 2020, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Metropolitan Epiphanius, suggested that changing the date of Christmas to December 25 was a possibility. He emphasized that such a decision would require preparation and educational work, ensuring a smooth transition for the church and its followers.
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The Ukrainian Catholic Church is switching to the Gregorian calendar
The Ukrainian Catholic Church has decided to switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. This change will involve celebrating Christmas on December 25 and Epiphany on January 6, instead of January 7 and January 19, respectively. The decision was made by the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and will take effect on September 1, 2023, marking the beginning of the liturgical year for the UGCC. However, individual parishes that feel unprepared for the change can continue using the Julian calendar with permission from their bishops until 2025.
The switch to the Gregorian calendar is a significant shift for the Ukrainian Catholic Church, as it brings them closer to the celebration dates of Catholics in Western nations and creates a unified celebration of Christmas across almost all Christian faiths. This decision was influenced by the ongoing conflict with Russia, as many Ukrainians associate the Julian calendar with the Russian occupiers and the Russian Orthodox Church, which adheres to the Julian calendar.
The head of the UGCC, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, stated that the decision was made after extensive consultations with clergy, religious leaders, and Church leaders. He emphasized that the change was initiated by the laity and that it was adopted to meet the urgent need to reform the liturgical calendar. The transition to the new calendar will also involve changing the dates of several fixed liturgical feasts.
While the Ukrainian Catholic Church is transitioning to the Gregorian calendar, it is important to note that Easter will continue to be celebrated according to the old style for the time being. The UGCC is in ongoing discussions with the Roman and Greek Catholic Churches to find a common date for Easter celebrations, with the goal of reaching an agreement by the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, which is separate from the Moscow Patriarchate, has also expressed interest in changing the date of Christmas to December 25. However, they have stated that such a decision should be made jointly with the faithful and that educational work should precede any changes.
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Christmas celebrations in Ukraine traditionally start on Christmas Eve
On this day, Ukrainians of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) fast and abstain from meat, dairy, and eggs. The family comes together for a dinner that usually includes 12 dishes, symbolising the twelve apostles. The main dish is Kutia, which is boiled wheat mixed with poppy seeds and honey. This supper does not break the Nativity fast.
Christmas Eve is also a time for special songs and verses, which boys and girls take from house to house, entertaining their community in exchange for gifts. It is believed that the more carollers come to a house, the more fortune and wealth will be brought to the family in the coming year.
Christmas Day in Ukraine is celebrated on December 25, although some Ukrainians still celebrate on January 7 according to the Julian calendar. The holiday season lasts until January 6, the date of the celebration of the baptism of Jesus, known in Ukraine as Vodokhreshche or Yordan. On this day, people go swimming or take baths in ice holes in the rivers for water consecration.
In 2023, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church decided to move away from the Julian calendar and align with the Gregorian calendar, celebrating Christmas on December 25. This change was made in response to the Russian invasion and was supported by more than 90% of Ukrainian Greek Catholics.
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Christmas in Ukraine lasts until 6 January, the date of Jesus' baptism
In Ukraine, Christmas celebrations traditionally start on Christmas Eve, 24 December, and last until 6 January, the date of the celebration of the baptism of Jesus, known in Ukraine as Vodokhreshche or Yordan. This is according to the Gregorian calendar and the Revised Julian calendar recognised by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the Catholic Church in Ukraine (including Latin and Greek Catholics), and Ukrainian Protestants.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (except for the Romanian parishes) and some parishes of the OCU continue to celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, so the holidays last from 6 to 19 January. In 2023, for the first time since 1917, Christmas Day in Ukraine was marked on just one day — 25 December, the same date as almost all Christian faiths around the globe.
The Armenian Diocese of Ukraine of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Catholic Church in Ukraine celebrate Christmas from 5 to 6 January, in line with the Gregorian calendar.
In 2023, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) decided to switch from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar, bringing it in line with the Catholic Church in the US and other Western nations. This means that Ukrainian Catholics now celebrate Christmas on 25 December and Epiphany on 6 January.
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Frequently asked questions
Since 2023, Ukrainian Greek Catholics have celebrated Christmas on the 25th of December, along with the Epiphany on the 6th of January. This is a shift from the old Julian calendar, which celebrates Christmas on the 7th of January.
The decision to switch to the Gregorian calendar was made by the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in February 2023. This change was supported by more than 90% of Ukrainian Greek Catholics, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Christmas celebrations traditionally start on Christmas Eve (24th of December) and last until the 6th of January. The festivities begin with the appearance of the first star, and the family comes together for a dinner that includes 12 dishes, which are traditionally vegan plus fish. On Christmas Day, people greet each other with "Christ is Born!" and go to church for Christmas prayers.
