Many Ukrainians are preparing to celebrate Christmas on 25 December for the first time as the country adopted the Western, Gregorian calendar, according to Sky News.
Most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians. The church has traditionally celebrated the holiday on 7 January, following the Julian calendar – which Russia also uses.
In 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill into law making 25 December the official Christmas holiday to break more ties with the Russian past amid the war that broke out in February 2022.
Ukrainian MP and leader of the Golos Zmin Party, Kira Rudik stated that changing the date to 25 December was “incredibly important.”
“We are joining our European family in all aspects of our life including the day when we celebrate Christmas.
“It is critically important not only for people in their everyday life but it is (also) important in the level of culture, on the level of business when we will have the holidays at the same date.”
“We are celebrating like the whole democratic progressive world.”
In addition, amid the ongoing decommunization, Kyiv has removed more than 60 monuments and other objects from public space.
Decommunization: Kyiv City dismantled over 60 Soviet monuments, 56 more slated for removal
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