IllustrationRizdvo · Sviata Vecheria · December 24–25 (and January 6–7)
When is Ukrainian Christmas? December 25 or January 7, the 12-dish Holy Supper, and where to join in across the US and Canada
For more than a century Ukrainian families in America and Canada kept Christmas on January 7. Since 2023 the main Ukrainian churches have moved it to December 25 — but many parishes and families still keep the old date, so both are on this page. Here is when Ukrainian Christmas falls, what is on the twelve-dish Holy Supper table, what a didukh and a vertep are, and the churches, museums, markets and Malanka parties in the US and Canada where visitors are welcome.
24 places in 14 cities across the US and Canada · checked October 2026
📍 Find one near youuntil Ukrainian Christmas Eve
When is Ukrainian Christmas?
Ukrainian Christmas Eve is December 24 and Christmas Day is December 25. That is new: until 2023 Ukrainian churches kept the old Julian calendar and celebrated on January 6 and 7. In 2023 the Orthodox Church of Ukraine moved its fixed feasts to the Revised Julian calendar from September 1, and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church announced the same change; Ukraine's government then moved the national Christmas holiday to December 25 as well.
In 2026 that means Christmas Eve (the Holy Supper) on Thursday, December 24, and Christmas on Friday, December 25. Parishes that have stayed on the old calendar keep Christmas Eve on Wednesday, January 6, 2027, and Christmas on Thursday, January 7, 2027 — so if you are invited to a Ukrainian Christmas, ask which date the family keeps. Easter has not moved; it is still counted by the older method.
What changed in the US and Canada
In Canada, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada adopted the Revised Julian calendar after a primatial encyclical of December 1, 2023, and cathedrals such as St. Volodymyr in Toronto began using it on December 20, 2023. Winnipeg's Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral followed. Edmonton's Ukrainian Catholic eparchy wrote that many old-calendar parishes outside Ukraine, Catholic and Orthodox, decided to follow, and that only fixed feasts such as Christmas and Theophany moved.
In the US the picture is more mixed. The Archeparchy of Philadelphia, the Ukrainian Catholic church for the East Coast, now lists its Christmas liturgies on December 24 and 25 across more than forty parishes, with Theophany on January 6. Chicago's Ukrainian Village churches held Christmas on December 25 for the first time in 2023 to overflow crowds. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA left the decision to each parish: in 2024 its Consistory approved individual parishes' requests to change, with a lowered voting threshold of 60 percent instead of 75, and the church still publishes both calendars. Its mother church in South Bound Brook, New Jersey, celebrated Nativity on January 7 in 2024. When in doubt, check the parish bulletin.
Sviata Vecheria: the Holy Supper and the twelve dishes
Christmas Eve is the heart of Ukrainian Christmas. It is a day of fasting; nothing is eaten until the first star appears in the evening sky, and children are often sent to watch for it. The family then sits down to Sviata Vecheria, the Holy Supper: twelve meatless dishes, one for each apostle. The head of the house may begin with a prayer, and often an extra place is set for relatives who have died.
The first dish is always kutia: boiled wheat with poppy seeds, honey and walnuts. After it come dishes that differ by region and family — typically borscht with small mushroom dumplings called vushka, varenyky with potato, cabbage or mushrooms, fish, stuffed cabbage rolls with rice and mushrooms, beans, pickled herring, and a braided bread. The meal ends with uzvar, a compote of dried fruit and pears. Meat and dairy stay off the table. After supper families sing carols, and many go to the midnight service.
Photo: Віщун · CC BY-SA 4.0The didukh, the hay and the first star
The didukh is a sheaf of wheat or other grain stalks, tied and decorated, that stands in the place of honour in the house through the holidays. It stands for the harvest and for the ancestors, who are believed to join the family at the Holy Supper. Today many families in North America make one from straw and dried flowers or buy one at a church bazaar; some museums run didukh-making workshops before Christmas.
Other Christmas Eve customs: a little hay is laid on the table under the tablecloth to remember the manger, a candle burns on the table, and garlic cloves or coins are sometimes tucked under the cloth for health and luck. The meal itself does not start until the first star is seen.
Photo: Larisa Yushchenko · CC BY-SA 4.0Koliadky and the vertep: carolling and the nativity puppet play
Koliadky are Ukrainian Christmas carols, and koliaduvannia is the custom of going from house to house singing them. Groups of carollers traditionally carry a large star on a pole, and the household thanks them with food or a donation. The oldest carols, the koliadky proper, are tied to Christmas; the shchedrivky belong to the New Year season. One of them, Shchedryk, arranged by Mykola Leontovych, is known around the world as Carol of the Bells.
The vertep is a nativity play with puppets, performed in a two-storey box or by costumed actors. It tells the story of the birth of Christ together with comic scenes with a shepherd, a devil, Death and a Cossack. In North America you will meet it at Ukrainian church halls and Christmas markets. Carol festivals are a good way to hear the tradition: the Philadelphia cathedral has held one each January for about twenty years.
Photo: Павло Подобєд · Public domainMalanka, Old New Year and Jordan
The Christmas season does not end on December 25. New Year's Eve on the old calendar, the night of January 13 to 14, is Malanka — the Ukrainian Old New Year, kept with a dinner, a dance and a masked procession in which people dress as a goat, a bear, a bride and other figures. In Canada and the US Ukrainian youth groups, dance schools and parishes hold Malanka parties, usually on a Saturday in mid-January; several are listed below.
The season closes with Theophany, called Yordan or Vodokhreshche in Ukrainian: January 6 on the revised calendar and January 19 on the old, when water is blessed at church. The Epiphany blessing of water is often the last service of the holidays.
Photo: Artem.Galkin.ua · CC BY-SA 4.0How to say Merry Christmas in Ukrainian
The traditional Christmas greeting is 'Khrystos narodyvsia!' — Christ is born — and the answer is 'Slavimo Yoho!', let us glorify him. The everyday wish is 'Z Rizdvom Khrystovym!', Merry Christmas, and 'Z Novym Rokom!' for the New Year. Rizdvo is the Ukrainian word for Christmas itself.
How to make kutia
You need about a cup of whole wheat berries, half a cup of poppy seeds, a few spoonfuls of honey, a handful of chopped walnuts, and raisins if you like them. Soak the wheat overnight, then simmer it in fresh water for an hour and a half to two hours until soft but whole, and drain.
Pour boiling water over the poppy seeds, let them stand, drain and grind them until they turn into a dark paste. Stir the poppy seeds, honey and walnuts through the warm wheat, add raisins, and loosen with a splash of warm water or uzvar if it is too dry. Serve it cool, in one shared bowl, as the first dish of the Holy Supper.
Where to join Ukrainian Christmas in the US and Canada
Cathedrals and parish churches that keep the Christmas liturgies, plus museums, markets and Malanka parties run by Ukrainian organisations. Churches publish their Christmas schedule in December and may keep December 25, January 7 or both — check the parish bulletin or call before you go. Event dates are from the 2025–26 season; next year's dates are announced in the autumn.
By city
Philadelphia, PA
Franklin Street
Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The cathedral of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, which lists its Christmas liturgies on December 24 and 25 and Theophany on January 6, with a bishop-led liturgy at the cathedral on Christmas morning. In January it hosts a Festival of Ukrainian Christmas Carols that has run for about twenty years, with eleven groups taking part in 2026.
Last held: Christmas liturgies December 24–25, 2025; Carols Festival January 11, 2026
Washington, DC
Michigan Park
Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family
The national shrine of Ukrainian Catholics in the US. The Archeparchy of Philadelphia's Christmas listing includes it with bilingual English and Ukrainian services; the shrine also holds a Christmas bazaar in the autumn.
Last held: Christmas season 2025–26
New York, NY
East Village (Little Ukraine)
St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Catholic parish at the heart of the East Village's Little Ukraine, and the best-known place in Manhattan for the Christmas liturgy; a 2018 local report described the January 7 service packed to standing room. Which date the parish keeps now is on its weekly bulletin, so check before going.
East Village
The Ukrainian Museum
A museum of Ukrainian folk art and contemporary art, open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 to 6, in its 50th-anniversary year. It runs seasonal workshops and family programs; its calendar lists the winter ones.
Upper East Side
Ukrainian Institute of America: International Holiday Market
A two-day holiday market at the Ukrainian Institute of America, with eleven vendors selling Ukrainian handicrafts, honey, candles and sweets next to other European holiday goods.
Last held: December 5–6, 2025
South Bound Brook, NJ
Metropolia Center
St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church
The mother church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, built in Ukrainian Cossack Baroque style and consecrated in 1965. The metropolitan and archbishop led the Nativity liturgy here on January 7, 2024; the church lets parishes choose between the old and the revised calendar, so check which date it keeps.
Last held: January 7, 2024 (Nativity liturgy with the metropolitan)
Boylston, MA
Worcester County, near Boston
Ukrainian Christmas Market (Ukrainian Cultural Center of New England)
New England's largest Ukrainian Christmas market, with gifts from Ukrainian artisans, traditional food, a vertep nativity performance by the Ukrainian school children, and a visit with St Nicholas. It raises money for children in Ukraine and in Massachusetts.
Last held: December 6, 2025
Chicago, IL
Ukrainian Village
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
The cathedral of the Chicago eparchy, built in 1915 on the model of St Sophia in Kyiv, with thirteen green domes for Christ and the apostles. It was one of three Ukrainian Village churches that filled to overflowing for their first December 25 Christmas in 2023. Services are in Ukrainian and English; ask the parish office for the Christmas times.
Last held: December 25, 2023 (first Christmas in December)
Ukrainian Village
Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church
The golden-domed Byzantine-style parish founded in 1969. In 2023 its pastor said the move to December 25 returned the church to its older traditions, and the nave, balcony and basement hall were all full for the Christmas liturgy.
Last held: December 25, 2023 (first Christmas in December)
Ukrainian Village
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art: Winter Makers Market
A weekend market of independent makers and gift sellers in both galleries of the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, held for the fifth time in 2025.
Last held: December 13–14, 2025
Parma, OH
Parma (Cleveland area)
St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
The cathedral of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, with Byzantine-revival onion domes and seating for 500, dedicated in 1988. Call the eparchy or check the cathedral's website for its Christmas times.
Winnipeg, MB
North Main
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral
The national cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, serving the community since 1946. It followed the church's move to the Revised Julian calendar, with Christmas on December 25; Sunday liturgy is at 10 a.m. and services are live-streamed.
North End
Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Vladimir and Olga
The cathedral of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, the main Ukrainian Catholic church in Manitoba. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin with its schedule of services, including Christmas.
Munroe Avenue
Malanka Winnipeg
The Old New Year party hosted by Plast Winnipeg, the Ukrainian scouting association, with the Druzhba Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, traditional food and songs, and activities for children and adults.
Last held: January 17, 2026
Toronto, ON
Kensington Market
St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
The cathedral of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. With the blessing of Metropolitan Ilarion the parish changed to the Revised Julian calendar on December 20, 2023, so Christmas is celebrated on December 25.
Bloor West
Taras Shevchenko Museum: Didukh-Making Workshop
A three-hour hands-on workshop in which participants make a didukh from wheat, rye, oats, dried flowers and grasses, led by an instructor; registration is required and children from ten attend free with an adult.
Last held: December 6, 2025
Edmonton, AB
Downtown / Cromdale
St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Edmonton
The seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, a cathedral since 1948. It publishes a full Christmas schedule each year as a downloadable page and live-streams all services.
Last held: 2025/2026 Christmas schedule published
Downtown
Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts: Christmas Night Market
An evening market of Ukrainian art, crafts, food and gifts with free admission, run by the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts.
Last held: December 6, 2025
Edmonton
Malanka at the Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex
A Ukrainian New Year dinner and dance organised by the Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM) with the Congress of Ukrainians of Canada's Alberta council, featuring the band Zapovid from Toronto and folk song and dance groups. Proceeds support youth programs.
Last held: January 10, 2026
Northwest Edmonton
St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church: Malanka
The parish's New Year party with a buffet dinner, live music and dancing, which the church calls its biggest of the year; over 175 guests came in 2026.
Last held: January 17, 2026
Calgary, AB
Southeast Calgary
Ukrainian Christmas Market Calgary
A fundraising Christmas market with handmade gifts, Ukrainian pastries, a nativity performance, carol singing and free ornament workshops; all proceeds help families who lost loved ones in the war. Tickets sold out in 2025.
Last held: December 6, 2025
Saskatoon, SK
Downtown
Ukrainian Museum of Canada: Christmas Yarmarok
A one-day Christmas market with Ukrainian-inspired handmade gifts, baking, hot food, live Christmas carols and children's activities; admission by donation.
Last held: December 13, 2025
Ottawa, ON
Westboro
Ukrainian Christmas Market (Ukrainian Banquet & Convention Hall)
A morning market run by the local branch of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada: homemade varenyky, cabbage rolls and borshch to take home, plus baking, beeswax candles, icons and gifts. Free admission.
Last held: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Red Deer, AB
Red Deer
Kvitka Ukrainian Dance: Malanka
A Malanka evening with Ukrainian dance performances, dinner, a live band, a silent auction and raffle, run by the Kvitka Red Deer Ukrainian Dance Club. Doors at 5 p.m., dinner at 7.
Last held: January 17, 2026
Questions
- When is Ukrainian Christmas 2026?
- December 25, 2026 (a Friday) for the main Ukrainian churches, with the Holy Supper on the evening of Thursday, December 24. Parishes and families that still keep the old calendar celebrate on Thursday, January 7, 2027, with Christmas Eve on January 6.
- Why did Ukrainian Christmas change from January 7 to December 25?
- In 2023 the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church switched their fixed feasts from the old Julian calendar to the Revised Julian calendar, which matches the Western date for Christmas; Ukraine's government moved the national holiday the same year. Many Ukrainians also saw it as a way to step away from the Russian church calendar after the 2022 invasion. Easter was not changed.
- What are the 12 dishes of the Ukrainian Christmas Eve supper?
- Twelve meatless dishes for the twelve apostles. Kutia (wheat, poppy seeds, honey) comes first; the rest vary by region and family but typically include borscht with mushroom dumplings, varenyky, fish, stuffed cabbage rolls with rice, mushrooms, beans, pickled herring and bread, and the supper ends with uzvar, a dried-fruit compote.
- What is a didukh?
- A decorated sheaf of wheat or other grain stalks that stands in the place of honour in the home through the Christmas holidays. It stands for the harvest and for the family's ancestors, who are thought to join the Holy Supper. Some Ukrainian museums and churches in North America hold didukh-making workshops in early December.
- How do you say Merry Christmas in Ukrainian?
- 'Z Rizdvom Khrystovym!' The traditional greeting is 'Khrystos narodyvsia!' (Christ is born), answered with 'Slavimo Yoho!' (let us glorify him).
- Do Ukrainians in Canada still celebrate on January 7?
- Some do. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to December 25 in December 2023, and Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Canada are changing too, but families and individual parishes differ, and many Ukrainian-Canadians keep January 6–7, or both. Searches for Ukrainian Christmas in Canada peak in January for that reason. Check your parish calendar for the date.