Orthodox New Year in Ukraine

While New Year’s Day is a public holiday on January 1, many Ukrainians still celebrate the "Old New Year", or Orthodox New Year, which is on January 14 in the Gregorian calendar.

Many Ukrainian families celebrate the Old New Year with fun outdoor activities.

©iStockphoto.com/Catherine Yeulet

What do people do?

The Old Calendar New Year is part of the festive Christmas week celebrations that occur from January 7-14.  Events that occur around the time of the Old New Year include:

• Music and cultural festivals.
• Organized sleigh rides for both children and adults.
• Theatrical performances featuring popular Christmas week themes.

Right up until January 14, some families visit homes and greet people with New Year wishes. The Old New Year falls in the winter in Ukraine so many families celebrate the week with fun outdoor activities suited for the cold climate.

Public life

The Orthodox New Year is an observance and not an official public holiday in Ukraine.

Background

The Orthodox New Year, also known as the Old New Year, is marked as January 1 in the Julian calendar, which preceded the now more commonly used Gregorian calendar. Many Orthodox Christian churches still recognize the holiday dates according to the Julian calendar, including New Year’s Day. New Year’s Day in the Julian calendar falls on January 14 in the Gregorian calendar.

About Orthodox New Year in other countries

Orthodox New Year Observances

Other holidays in January 2013 in Ukraine

• New Year's Day ―Tuesday, January 1, 2013
• Christmas Day ―Monday, January 7, 2013
• Ukrainian Unity Day ―Tuesday, January 22, 2013
• Tatiana Day ―Friday, January 25, 2013