"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.

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