Unity Day 2025: date, history, symbols, and traditions of the national holiday.

When is Unity Day of Ukraine 2025

Traditionally, Unity Day of Ukraine is celebrated on January 22. This holiday symbolizes the unity of Ukrainian lands and reminds about an important historical event - the proclamation of the Act of Unification between the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) and the West Ukrainian People's Republic (WUPR).

In 2025, the celebration of this day will take place with restrictions due to the security situation in the country, but Ukrainians will once again demonstrate their desire for unity.

Unity Day - history of the holiday

More than 100 years ago, two Ukrainian republics - UPR and WUPR - became one state.

On January 22, 1919, the unification of UPR and WUPR was announced, and a sovereign unified Ukrainian State was formed.

This event took place at Sofiivska Square in Kyiv. The Act proclaimed the unity of different parts of Ukraine: the Dnipro part, Bukovina, Transcarpathia, and Galicia. Since then, a single independent UPR was formed, and the Ukrainian people united to defend their Homeland.

During the Soviet regime, the proclamation of UPR independence and Unity Day were not celebrated. All Ukrainian holidays were pushed out of the public discourse with the arrival of Soviet power. Memories of the unification of UPR and WUPR were preserved by the residents of Western Ukraine and the Ukrainian political emigration in Western Europe and the USA. On those days, January 22, celebrations of the Independence and Unity Day of the Ukrainian State took place there.

Traditions and symbols of Unity Day

The main tradition of Unity Day is the living chain that symbolizes the unification of Ukrainian lands and state unity. This tradition began in 1990 when a living chain stretched from Kyiv to Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Stryi, Ternopil, Zhytomyr, and Rivne.

What song is considered a symbol of Ukraine's unity

One of the cultural symbols is the song 'For Ukraine', which has become an expression of the idea of unity. This song is based on the verses of Ukrainian poet Mykola Voronyi, published at the end of 1917. It quickly spread among the Sich Riflemen, and by the end of the year, it was sung by the Ukrainian army not only in Galicia but throughout Ukraine.

This year, as before, festive events will be held with security restrictions in mind. Authorities urge Ukrainians to participate in the events responsibly, including joining online broadcasts of the celebrations remotely.