Ukrainians have celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the first time, as part of an ongoing effort to remove Russian influence from their country.
The alteration was implemented through a law signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July, symbolizing the Ukrainians’ dissatisfaction with the 22-month-old Russian invasion and their assertion of a national identity.
Ukraine had traditionally celebrated Christmas in January, aligning with the Russian practice.
“It’s historical justice,” remarked Yevhen Konyk, a 44-year-old serviceman who, along with his family, took part in traditional celebrations at an open-air museum in Kyiv. He emphasized the importance of progressing not only on the global stage but also in embracing the traditions of their own country and overcoming lingering imperial influences. Ukrainians have celebrated
Ukraine, predominantly Orthodox Christian, experiences a religious divide between two churches, one of which has historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, distinct in its refusal to acknowledge the authority of the Russian church and previously considered schismatic, received full recognition in 2019 from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the highest authority in Orthodoxy.
In 2022, following the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, previously affiliated with the Russian church, declared its independence by severing ties with Moscow and establishing its autonomy.