Christmas Day in Ukraine

About Christmas Day in Ukraine

In Ukraine, Christmas Day on 25 December is a nationwide public holiday. It sits alongside the country’s other Christmas observance on 7 January, so the December date is one of the two Christmas-related days many people recognize. The holiday is relevant both as a fixed day off in the civil calendar and as part of the broader seasonal period that extends into the New Year and early January.

History

Ukraine formally moved the public holiday of Christmas from 7 January to 25 December in 2017, adding the Western Christian date to the official calendar. For several years after that change, 7 January remained a public holiday as well, so both dates were observed in parallel.

Traditions

Many Ukrainian Christmas customs are associated with the later Orthodox celebration, but the December holiday is still marked by family gatherings and seasonal meals. Traditional Christmas foods in Ukraine often include meatless dishes for the holiday meal, especially in households that follow religious practice.

How Christmas Day is celebrated in Ukraine

The day is generally spent at home or with family rather than through large public events. In cities and towns, it falls within the wider winter holiday season, so people often use the day for private visits, shared meals and time off work or study.

Interesting facts

Ukraine is one of the countries where Christmas is observed on 25 December while another Christmas date remains in cultural use. The holiday is nationwide, not limited to particular regions.

Dates in published calendars

Import sources

• Generic ICS feed

An import is not an independent verification.

More public holidays in Ukraine

• New Year's Day
• Women's Day
• Orthodox Easter Day
• Orthodox Easter Monday
• Labour Day
• Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation