Ukraine's religious landscape has fractured for years. Protestants and some Orthodox churches have since aligned their own calendars for the purpose of calculating Christmas and Easter. The Catholic Church first adopted the modern, more astronomically precise Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. 7, than it does on the Gregorian calendar used by most church and secular groups.

Christmas falls 13 days later on that calendar, or Jan. The Russian Orthodox Church, which claims sovereignty over Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and some other Eastern Orthodox churches continue to use the ancient Julian calendar.

The law also moves the Day of Ukrainian Statehood to July 15 from July 28, and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine to Oct. 25, in a gesture that represented separation from Russia, its culture and religious traditions. Last year, some Ukrainians already observed Christmas on Dec. It cited Ukrainians' “relentless, successful struggle for their identity” and “the desire of all Ukrainians to live their lives with their own traditions, holidays,” fueled by Russia's 17-month-old aggression against the country. The explanatory note attached to the law said its goal is to “abandon the Russian heritage,” including that of “imposing the celebration of Christmas” on Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec.

Public holidays in ukraine 2020