In Ukraine, December 25 marks the celebration of Christmas, an important Christian holiday.

This day symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, which is recognized in over 100 countries.

According to biblical texts, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Christ in Bethlehem during a census. Due to the overcrowded city, she and Joseph found shelter in a stable, where this significant birth occurred. A star appeared in the sky to signify this event, guiding the wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Each year, Christians commemorate this event with services.

On Christmas Eve, Christians celebrate the evening before Christmas, which marks the end of fasting. Traditionally, the fast concludes with the first evening star appearing. A lit candle is placed on the table alongside 12 meatless dishes, each of which is to be tasted. The main dish of the Christmas Eve meal is kutya.

On Christmas Eve, families gather together and sing carols. The Christmas morning begins with the greeting: «Christ is born!», to which the response is: «Glorify Him!».

This year, Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on December 25 for the third time. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church adopted the New Julian calendar on September 1, 2023, making most fixed church holidays occur 13 days earlier than under the Julian calendar.

Currently, the New Julian calendar is utilized by most Orthodox churches worldwide, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Meanwhile, the Julian calendar is still followed by the Russian, Serbian, Georgian, and Jerusalem Orthodox churches. Some believers in Ukraine will continue to celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar on January 7.

In July 2023, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law changing the dates of public holidays, stating that January 7 is no longer a festive non-working day, and the official date for Christmas is now December 25.