In Ukraine, on December 25th, most Christians celebrate Christmas, one of the most significant holidays in Christianity.

This holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem and is a public holiday in over 100 countries worldwide.

According to the Bible, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in a crowded city, and she and Joseph found shelter in a stable. At the moment of the Savior's birth, a star appeared in the sky, guiding the wise men who brought gifts to the child. This event is the reason for the annual solemn services.

On the eve of Christmas, known as Holy Evening, the final day of fasting occurs. Traditionally, the festive table is adorned with a lit candle and 12 lean dishes, with kutya as a must-have.

On Holy Evening, families gather together, singing carols, and Christmas morning begins with the greeting: “Christ is born!”, to which the response is: “Glorify Him!”.

This year marks the third official celebration of Christmas on December 25th in Ukraine. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church switched to the New Julian calendar on September 1, 2023, meaning most holidays are now celebrated 13 days earlier.

Most Orthodox churches, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, use the New Julian calendar.

However, some churches, including the Russian, Serbian, and Georgian Orthodox churches, adhere to the Julian calendar, and some believers in Ukraine still celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

In July 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a law changing the dates of public holidays, declaring December 25th as the official Christmas celebration date and abolishing January 7th as a public holiday.