On December 24, Ukrainians who celebrate Christmas according to the New Yulian calendar celebrate Christmas Eve - a special day before the great Christian holiday. This date symbolizes the end of the Christmas fast and the anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas Eve is a time of prayer, spiritual purification and family unity.
We will tell you where and at what time the "Christmas star" will appear and what are the traditions of the holiday.
When the first star will rise
The star will rise at a different time in every corner of Ukraine. So, in Kyiv, the first star will appear in the sky at 15:57, and, for example, in Odesa - at 16:14 , a little later than in Mykolaiv - 16:07 and Kherson 16:06. In Poltava – 15:45 , in Kropyvnytskyi – 15:59 and in Zaporizhzhia – 15:51. In the east of the country, it will be possible to see its brilliance before everyone else: in Luhansk - at 15:31, in Kharkiv already at 15:37 , in Donetsk - at 15:39, and in Sumy - at 15:38 . In the west, in Uzhgorod, the star shines at 16:39 , and in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi at 16:26.
Holy Vespers is one of the most revered holidays in Ukraine, which precedes Christmas. Its celebration is associated with deep symbolism and rich cultural tradition.
Traditions on Christmas Eve
In 2024, taking into account the changes in the calendar of celebrations, many Ukrainians will celebrate Holy Eve - December 24. Today, the Holy Evening is increasingly filled with not only a religious, but also a traditionally family holiday.
The key customs of Holy Evening remain unchanged:
- Twelve fasting dishes. Each region retains its own characteristics, but the kutya remains unchanged - a symbol of prosperity and unity.
- Lighting a candle. The fire symbolizes the light of the Star of Bethlehem and invites Christ to enter the house.
- Straw or hay decor. Straw spread on the table or under the tablecloth.
The new calendar changed church holidays
We would like to remind you that from September 1, 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) switched to the New Julian church calendar, so the dates of some holidays have shifted. Ukrainians can celebrate Christmas both in December and January.
Based on this, there really are "two Christmases" in Ukraine. More precisely, two dates on which you can celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. At the same time, an Orthodox person cannot celebrate Christmas on both December 25 and January 7 - twice.
