Ukrainians, mainly Orthodox Christians, are preparing to celebrate their first Christmas under the new calendar as the country’s main church departs from the Julian calendar, according to which Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January, as traditionally practised in Russia. The switch reflects a broader effort to move Ukraine away from Russian influence by symbolically severing historic ties with Moscow, on Wednesday, the 20th of December, reports Reuters.
“Everything that was connected to Russia, and everything that Russia did like us, caused disgust in people,” said Kyiv Orthodox priest Mikhail Omelian.
“It turns out that Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on the 25th of December like the rest of Europeans,” said Tetiana, a 25-year-old believer who told Reuters she would celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December for the first time, adding that it would be “a bit unusual” but it was “the right thing to do”.
During the Russian invasion,
Ukrainian soldiers near the front line are also preparing to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December,
“just like before the 7th of January was imposed on us”, said Bohdan, a service member stationed in eastern Ukraine.
In another front-line church, Mykolai, a chaplain from Ukraine’s 95th Air Assault Brigade, said he expected troops to be in higher spirits as they celebrated, although adding that “this is just another day of war,” writes Reuters.
After Moscow’s attack in February 2022, Ukrainians rejected aspects of Russian language and culture, as well as historical ties with Kyiv’s former rulers. The Ukrainian authorities have stepped up efforts to rename streets, settlements and remove statues and monuments associated with the tsarist and Soviet past.
Also read: EU gives Ukraine access to membership talks; fails to agree on financial aid
Follow us on Facebook and X!