For the first time, Christmas has been officially celebrated in Ukraine. Let's see!

For the first time, Christmas has been officially celebrated in Ukraine. Let's see!

Ukrainians celebrated Christmas for the first time on December 25 as part of continued efforts to rid their country of Russian influence. The changes came into effect in a law signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in July and reflect the Ukrainian people's disillusionment with Russia's 22-month invasion and assertion of national identity. Like Russia, 

Ukraine also celebrated Christmas in January.

"This is historical justice," said Evhen Konik, a 44-year-old soldier who attended the traditional celebration at Kyiv's open-air museum with his family. “We must not only move forward with the world, but also with our heritage and overcome the remnants of empire.” Ukraine is largely Orthodox, but the faith is divided into two churches, one of which has long been affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church did not recognize the authority of the Russian Church. It was considered to be divided, but in 2019, it received full recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the highest authority in the Orthodox Church. 

Video Duration 01 minutes 40 seconds01:40
Many Ukrainians enthusiastically welcomed the move to celebrate Christmas on the same day as the rest of Western Europe. Oksana Poviaker, director of the Pirokhiv Museum of Ukrainian Folk Architecture and Life, where the Christmas festival was held, said celebrating on December 25 is "another important element of self-awareness." "We separate ourselves from the neighbors who are currently trying to destroy our nation, who are killing our people, destroying our homes, burning our land," she said. Said. Asia Landarenko, 63, said she prays every day for her son, who is in the military. "The state of the war affects everything, including our mood. The actual Christmas celebrations take place after the victory, but just as the Savior was born, so will our victory be born," she said.