Ukraine declares Christmas day according to Gregorian calendar its national day off

In accordance with the law passed by the Ukrainian parliament, the days of January 7 and December 25 were announced non-working days in Ukraine.

Ukrainian MPs have thus amended the Labor Code. December 25, when the world celebrates Christmas according to Gregorian calendar, is traditionally a common working day in counties that celebrate their Christmas on January 7. However, according to new regulations, Ukraine will now officially have two non-working Christmas days - both on December 25 and January 7.

The explanatory note to the new Ukrainian law says that about a third of all Christian communities of Ukraine consider December 25 a holiday.

The law will come into force the day after its official publication.