December 14 in Ukraine: Liquidator's Day of the Chernobyl Disaster and World Monkey Day.

According to ТСН: December 14, 2025 — Sunday. 1389th day of the war in Ukraine.

What holiday is today

Today, December 14, according to the church calendar, we celebrate the Day of Remembrance of Saints Tyrsa, Leucius, Philemon, Apollonius, Kalinik. These saints lived in the 1st-2nd centuries and were martyred for their Christian faith during the persecutions of Roman emperors, bravely enduring torture and giving their lives for Christ.

In Ukraine and around the world, December 14 is celebrated as World Monkey Day. This informal holiday has no official status, but it has gained popularity among students and artists. The initiative was started by students at Michigan State University, who humorously added 'Monkey Day' to the calendar in 2000 and organized celebrations in costumes, creating themed drawings.

Also, December 14 is Liquidator's Day of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster. On April 26, 1986, an accident occurred at the Chernobyl NPP, which became the largest man-made disaster in the history of nuclear energy. The consequences of the accident were dealt with for years, and tens of thousands of people — military personnel, firefighters, builders, medics, engineers — worked in the affected area, risking their own lives and health. These people are called 'liquidators' for their heroic work in eliminating the consequences of the explosion, deactivating the territory, building the sarcophagus, and evacuating the population.

December 14 also marks World Choral Day. This holiday resulted from an initiative by the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), proposed by composer and choral conductor Alberto Grau during the second World Symposium on Choral Music in 1990.

Additionally, December 14 is also Charity Day in Ukraine, which falls on the second Sunday of December. This holiday was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 1220/2007 dated December 13, 2007, and aims to promote charity, mercy, and volunteer assistance.

The day of December 14, besides having religious significance, is important in the context of social responsibility and community support. The celebrations help draw attention to issues of charity and the memory of the heroic deeds of people who made great sacrifices for the sake of saving others. It is important to remember those events and people who changed history, and continue to support the culture of mercy and mutual aid.