Ukrainians Will Celebrate Christmas on December 25: Main Traditions and Prohibitions.

According to ТСН: The Christmas of Christ, which Ukrainians celebrate every winter, received a new date of celebration last year. Previously, this great Christian holiday was celebrated on January 7, but after the transition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the New Julian calendar, most important church holidays began to be celebrated 13 days earlier. Now Christmas of Christ is celebrated in Ukraine on December 25. Next year, the holiday will fall on Thursday.

Christmas of Christ: History of the Holiday

The Christmas of Christ symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of humanity, who came to Earth to atone for the sins of all people. His mother was the Virgin Mary, who according to the Gospel conceived her son from the Holy Spirit. Mary lived with her husband Joseph in Nazareth, but when the time of birth came, they had to travel to Bethlehem for a census.

Due to a large influx of people in the city, Joseph and Mary could not find a room for the night. They found shelter in a small cave where shepherds sought refuge from the bad weather. It was there, on that night, that the Virgin Mary gave birth to her son, who was destined to become the Son of God.

The shepherds were the first to learn about this miracle. An angel announced to them the birth of Jesus, after which they came to worship. A bright star also shone over Bethlehem, guiding the way to the Savior. After the shepherds, wise men arrived at the cave, bringing gifts to Jesus: myrrh, frankincense, and gold.

Christmas of Christ: Ukrainian Traditions

For Ukrainians, Christmas has always been a family holiday, and most rituals during this period took place in a close family circle. The whole family gathered together at the table.

Christmas celebrations began on December 24, on the Holy Night. With the first star, it was necessary to sit down at the festive table, which must include 12 lenten dishes: kutya, pancakes, lean borscht with dumplings, stuffed cabbage, stewed cabbage, mushrooms, and fish. Although the dishes varied depending on the region, kutya always remained the center of the celebration.

There was a belief that a person who does not celebrate Christmas at home would wander for the year. On this day, it was important to avoid quarrels, and even in case of conflicts, one had to reconcile — after all, this is a special period.

The tradition of the didukh was well preserved — a sheaf of wheat or rye, decorated with dried flowers and placed in the corner where icons hung.

What to Do and Not to Do on Christmas

As the entire cycle of Christmas and New Year holidays is of great importance to Ukrainians, from Holy Night until 12 days later, any physical labor was prohibited, except for caring for cattle and preparing food.

It was also not permitted to lend or borrow money, as it was believed that how you meet the year would determine how you spend it. No one wanted to face financial difficulties throughout the year.

Interestingly, on Holy Night, rituals were performed to drive away evil spirits, with the incantation:

“If you do not come now, may you not come all year, beyond the sea is your dinner.”

On Christmas, people also went caroling. Villagers dressed up as various characters and visited homes, performing ritual songs — carols.

Today, Christmas in Ukraine represents not only a spiritual celebration, but also an opportunity to emphasize national traditions and strengthen family ties. With the new changes in the date of celebration, Ukrainians have the opportunity to celebrate this important day together while preserving their unique rituals and cultural traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.