"Catholic" Christmas to be a working day while "Orthodox" falls on day off

Prime Minister Shmyhal announced that there will be no day off for "Catholic" Christmas. Photo: Shmyhal's FB page

25 December will be a working day in 2023 though the authorities have given "Catholic Christmas" state status and declared it a day off. During martial law, this day will be a working day," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a meeting of the cabinet of Ministers. He published a video of the speech on his Facebook.

"This year for the first time throughout Ukraine we will celebrate Christmas according to the new style, 25 December,” said Shmyhal, without specifying the meaning of the pronoun "we". “After the war, this day will be a holiday and a day off. But now there is a war. Therefore, for all authorities and state enterprises, 25 December will be a working day, as well as for critical infrastructure enterprises."

At the same time, 7 January 2024, when the UOC will celebrate Christmas, falls on a Sunday. Thus, this day will be a day off.

As earlier reported, all denominations, except the UOC, decided to jointly greet Ukrainians on Christmas.

Read also

Ukraine now allows matronymics alongside patronymics

Ukrainian legislation has allowed people to change their patronymic since 2021, including replacing the father's name with the mother's name.

Kharkiv's gay community announces LGBT march

At the pride march in Kharkiv, participants will demand the legalization of same-sex marriages in Ukraine.

Ukrainians criticize official who called pilgrimage to Pochaiv "horrifying"

Threads users did not support the head of the "Ancient Kyiv" Reserve, Roman Malenkov, who called the UOC pilgrimage "a horrifying horror."

Metropolitan Alexiy of Voznesensk consecrates chapel in Velyka Solona

The ruling bishop of the Voznesensk Eparchy performed the consecration of the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia.

UOC draws 7 times more worshippers than OCU in Kerstentsi on Transfiguration

More than 300 faithful attended the UOC parish’s patronal feast in Kerstentsi.

Sybiha invites Putin to take Dmitry Donskoy’s place in sarcophagus

Ukraine’s foreign minister commented on reports that part of the relics of Holy Prince Dmitry Donskoy could be sent to Russian troops.