A separate Ukrainian Christmas may be a thing of the past

There might be more households than usual celebrating this Christmas Eve, as many Ukrainians around the world are opting to abandon the orthodox calendar.

We hear about “Ukrainian Christmas” — that is the January 7th date when typically many Ukrainians, especially those of the Orthodox faith, would celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. But this year, that’s different.

“There was a vote across North America to accept the new, revised Julian calendar, which means that it was going to be English Christmas and Ukrainian Christmas now celebrated together on the 25th of December,” Father Taras Makowsky from the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity told CTV News.

The change is mostly due to developments following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian president passed a law this year which moved away from the January date observed by the Russian Orthodox church.

“One of the reasons was to distance themselves from the Russian empire. They didn't want to be part of the Russian church,” he said.

Makowsky’s parish is celebrating the December switch for the first time tonight.

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With so many newcomers now in Saskatchewan, Makowsky heard from many that the switch was important to show unity with Ukraine, but also so they could celebrate with family still left overseas.

Many will Facetime or have other virtual meetings with family and friends to celebrate the festivities, so having it all on the same day is beneficial.

Christmas Eve for Ukrainians is steeped in vast tradition which includes 12 meatless dishes, including varenyky — perogies — holubtsi, or cabbage rolls, and fish.

Father Taras’ wife, Joanne Makowsky, prepares days in advance with the help of her grandchildren.

“This year is just going to be the first time and it's going to be just a little different. I think it's just getting used to it,” she says.

Extra organization was key this year for those used to celebrating in January.

“It was a little stressful, but, that's why we kind of pooled some of our resources with who's coming, for the supper and kind of making it a group effort this year,” she said.

The many Christmas Eve traditions remain like throwing the boiled wheat or kutia. This signifies prosperity for the year ahead.

“You fling it to the ceiling, and the more honey that is in the wheat the more of the wheat that will stick to the ceiling,” Makowsky explains.

The one thing this family will miss about the later date is that it removed the holiday away of all the commercialism of the December season and allowed them to focus on the spiritual and family connections.

No matter the date, the sentiment of the holiday is constant.

“In all of this change it is important that everybody has a time to celebrate the nativity, and the we’re still going to call it Ukrainian Christmas in our home and, everybody else, I'm sure whatever nationalities they are, they're going to celebrate,” he said.