Ukrainian Christmas may no longer be celebrated on January 7

By Joan Janzen

It has been a long-standing tradition for Ukrainians to celebrate Christmas on January 7 each year, but since 2023, people in Ukraine have chosen to celebrate Christmas on December 25. More and more Ukrainians of the Orthodox faith are choosing to abandon the Orthodox calendar and celebrate Christmas on December 25 instead.

Ukrainian Christmas Bread, known as Kolach, is served during Ukrainian Christmas celebrations.

A vote was taken across North America to accept the new, revised Julian calendar, resulting in both the English Christmas and Ukrainian Christmas being celebrated on the same day. This change is due to Ukraine wishing to distance itself from Russia and the Russian church. The President of Ukraine passed a law moving away from the January 7 date.

For many people in Saskatchewan, this is the first time they have decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25. However, the traditions remain the same as previous celebrations, including savoury dishes such as perogies, cabbage rolls, borscht, dumplings, porridge made from boiled wheat, sauerkraut, mushrooms, and fish. The meal has typically twelve meatless dishes representing the twelve disciples.