Each country has its own customs, traditions, holidays and important days in its history. Talking of holidays in Ukraine we can’t but tell about everybody’s favourite Ukrainian New Year Holiday. People think that at night on New Year’s eve the old year with all its troubles leaves us forever and the New Year with all our hopes and expectations knocks at our doors. People decorate the Christmas tree, have New Year parties and prepare presents for their relatives and friends.
On the eve of January the 7th, Ukrainians start celebrating Orthodox Christmas. It’s the day of Jesus Christ’s birthday and it is widely celebrated all over Ukraine. People sing carols, cook a traditional Ukrainian Christmas dish, named Kutya and all the family gathers together to eat it. Then people go to church to listen to the Christmas sermon.
Not long ago Ukrainians began to celebrate a new holiday, St. Valentine’s Day. It’s the day of lovers, when we give special cards and gifts to our sweethearts. This traditional holiday came into Ukraine from English-speaking countries.
March the 8th is Women’s Day. This date was introduced in 1910 by the 2-nd International Conference of women-socialists at the proposal of Clara Tsetkin as a day of the international solidarity of women in their struggle economic, political and social equality. Nowadays this date has lost its political meaning and became just the day when we congratulate and thank our women for everything they do for us at home and at work, say our good wishes, give them flowers and presents.
Easter Day comes according to the lunar calendar. It’s the Day of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. People celebrate this Holiday because He died on the Cross for our salvation. They go to churches to listen to the ceremonies, gather at homes to pray and thank Jesus Christ for our salvation from eternal death into eternal life with him in Heaven.
On May the 9th Ukrainian celebrates the anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany. People go to the Tombs of the Unknown Soldier who died at war defending our country from fascists, put flowers to the monuments, and in the evening everybody goes to see the holiday salute. On February 24, 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine, these days Ukraine is desperately fighting Russian fascism. You can donate to the Ukrainian army to help Ukrainian soldiers fight the huge Russian killing machine.
On August the 24th Ukrainian celebrate the Day of Independence of Ukraine which was proclaimed in 1991 on the decision of the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine after the military coup in Moscow.
On the 1st of May Ukrainians celebrate the holiday of spring, nature awakening and beauty.
How to say Merry Christmas or Happy New Year in Ukrainian?
Translation into Ukrainian of New Year phrases
| Phrase in English | Ukrainian Translation |
| New Year | Novy Reek |
| Happy New Year | Pozdorovlyaeemo eez Novym Rokom |
| Christmas | Reezdvoh |
| Happy Birthday | Pozdorovlyaeemo eez Dnem Narodzhenya |
