Many Ukrainians have decided to celebrate Christmas this weekend, which is not entirely self-evident. Because in the Orthodox calendar, traditionally, the feast of the Nativity is January 7. But now, the civil and religious authorities leave the freedom to Ukrainians to choose the date of Christmas they want.
With our correspondent in kyiv, Stephane Siohan
More and more Ukrainians want to move away from the Russian cultural and religious orbit by celebrating Christmas on December 25.
Traditionally, Christmas is celebrated in Ukraine on December 25 only by the Greek-Catholic minority in the west of the country, while the majority of the Orthodox celebrate the Nativity on January 7, following the Gregorian calendar. But in 2017, Parliament legislated and authorised, a unique case in Europe, the coexistence of two Christmases, on two different dates. So far, the transplant hadn’t fully taken, and December 25 was a day like any other.
War changes habits
However, the war seems to be changing habits: many Ukrainians no longer want to celebrate Christmas on the same day as the Russians. So, little by little, parishes of the Unified Orthodox Church, such as the prestigious Saint-Michel monastery in kyiv, are encouraging their flock to celebrate Christmas on December 25.
The Orthodox Church of Volhynia, in the northwest of the country, on the Polish border, has decided to formalize two Christmas dates. Very slowly, the Ukrainians are starting to organize New Year’s Eve parties from December 24, as a way of feeling even more European.
► To read also: War in Ukraine: the divided Orthodox Church