Zelensky signs law shifting Christmas celebrations away from Russian Orthodox Church to December 25, in line with global calendar

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law on changing the dates of Christmas, Ukrainian Statehood Day, and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine.

This is stated in Law No. 9431, which amends Article 73 of the Labor Code of Ukraine.

From now on, Christmas will be officially celebrated in Ukraine on December 25 instead of January 7, Ukrainian Statehood Day on July 15 instead of July 28, and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine on October 1 instead of October 14.

For reference:

The Verkhovna Rada [Ukraine's parliament – ed.] adopted the relevant legislative act on July 14.

In fact, Orthodox, Catholic, and Greek Catholics all celebrate Christmas on December 25. However, mainly in the West, people celebrate it according to the Gregorian calendar, but in places like Russia, Georgia, Serbia, and Ukraine, many followers keep the Julian calendar. When Catholics and many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, it's only December 12 in the Julian calendar. Many Ukrainian Orthodox and Greek Catholics have to wait another 13 days to celebrate Jesus' birthday. By December 25 rolls around in the Julian calendar, it's already become January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, which is the one that most of the world follows.