Today over two billion people (over a third of the world's population) celebrate the birth of Christ.
Christmas traditions around the world are diverse, but share key traits that often involve themes of light, evergreens and hope. Probably the most celebrated holiday in the world, our modern Christmas is a product of hundreds of years of both secular and religious traditions from around the globe, many of them centered on the winter solstice.
There is no denying the fact that Christmas is one of the happiest times of the year. Christmas is a time of thanksgiving. A time to remember all the good that have happened in your life. A lot of good happened this year thanks to russia: the whole world became aware of Ukraine, the whole world began to explore Ukraine’s traditions and customs, many people became willing to come to Ukraine immediately after the Victory, the whole world discovered the bravery and invincibility of Ukrainians. This year the whole world understood that nothing in this life can be taken for granted and you have to fight for your freedom. Always. And there are many more life lessons from russia for all the people around the world (12 lessons you can find in this calendar for 2023). Thank you russia, and now! go home. Forever!
The war between russia and Ukraine has been described in different ways, but here is the definition we offer: The country where Christmas is one of the most significant holidays of the year and is celebrated twice, honoring both Eastern and Western traditions, was attacked by the country where Christmas has lost all meaning as well as the concept of "Family" in general (and now russian invaders are eager to erase our culture and our tradition).
Since 2017, this holiday in Ukraine is celebrated twice a year: December 25, according to the Gregorian calendar, and January 7, according to the Julian calendar. Both days are official public holidays in Ukraine. Christian holidays have always occupied a special place in Ukraine. As in many Christian countries, the calculation of times here is from the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrations on this occasion begin on the eve, on Holy Christmas Eve.
But Ukraine has difficult history. In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was banned as a religious holiday in 1929 and Christmas Trees were banned until 1935 when they turned into 'New Year' Trees. Despite on this Ukrainians did want to celebrate Christmas and they had to do it in secret just in their families.
Read here more about Christmas history.
Ukraine and Ukrainians have the most various and very interesting traditions. Christmas is no exception. Read here all kinds of great customs.
Traditionally, Ukrainian families prepare twelve lenten dishes, which symbolize the number of apostles that Jesus had. The dishes must include kutia and uzvar. Ukrainians describe kutia a mixture of boiled wheat, poppy, raisins, nuts and honey, and uzvar refers to compote from dried fruit.
You can't start eating the meal until the first star is seen in the sky. So people go outside as soon as it starts getting dark in the afternoon to try and spot the first star. The star represents the journey of the Wise Men to find Jesus and that Jesus has been born, so Christmas can start!
For me personally, the sweetest tradition is when all your Godchildren come to visit you on Christmas Eve. They bring their own kutia and then try to find their gifts under the Christmas tree. Most fun is when everyone is still a little kid. It turns out to be a big party for children, with competitions and quizzes. The children grow up, but the traditions persist. And the same continues when the children are in their 20s and 30s.
The tradition of going door-to-door on Holy Eve and Christmas and caroling (or 'kolyaduvannya' in Ukrainian) has been preserved from way back. It is believed, the more carolers come to the home, the more fortune and wealth will be brought to the family during the following year. Here is a story of a Ukrainian song (Carol of the Bells) that become a symbol of Christmas all over the world and it’s a Ukrainian Cry of Independence.
The next day, on Christmas Day, Ukrainians greet each other with the words 'Christ is born!' - 'Glory to him!'('Khrystos Narodyvsia!' - 'Slavimo Yoho!') and go to church to celebrate Mass.
The Christmas celebrations end on 19 January, the date of the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus, known in Ukraine as Vodokhreschhe (Водо́хреще).
It doesn’t matter if you’re religious or not, this is a sacred tradition which lives throughout generations. Believe me, you don’t want to miss Ukrainian Christmas dinner. Hope to see you there next year!
To millions of Ukrainians, this year’s Christmas is something much more than a traditional holiday. It’s a time of hope, a time of love, a time of faith. We believe in our victory, we believe that good always defeats evil, and we believe that even in the darkest hour, there will always be light.
This year's Christmas Tree in Kyiv is special but not because of decoration or presentation but as a symbol of being unbreakable. Even in this hard time a small tree reminds that they can't take holiday from us. Christmas Tree is decorated with white doves with flags of the allies and blue and yellow bulbs. Nothing extra but very symbolic. (Photo - Stanislava🇺🇦)
Millions of families cannot celebrate Christmas together, millions of children are not at home, millions of people are without a home and have had to leave loved ones behind this year. People are without electricity and heating as russian aggressors target vital civilian infrastructure, while being defeated on the battlefield.
Read some stories about celebration Christmas this year in Ukraine.
Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. Christmas time is a wonderful opportunity for helping others.
Donate to Ukrainian people, help them to celebrate these holidays.
We thank the world for the support and the opportunity for our families and children to be able to celebrate the holidays in peaceful cities around the globe.
In Ukrainian Merry Christmas is 'Веселого Різдва' Veseloho Rizdva. We send you compliments on the Christmas. Have safe holidays!
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Compliments of the season to all Ukraine and those standing with Ukraine.