Planning to onboard or keep a valuable employee? If yes, then hiring global talent comes with an unwritten rule: Respect and honor their holidays and traditions. Go Carpathian is here to prepare you for hiring in Ukraine!
Ukrainian culture is rich with vibrant holidays and traditions that reflect its history, customs, and the spirit of its people. We’re here to help business owners explore the various important holidays celebrated in Ukraine, along with the unique traditions associated with them.
From religious holidays to seasonal festivals, these celebrations highlight the deep-rooted values and communal bonds in Ukrainian society. 💙💛
Ukrainian Holidays and Traditions
The people of Ukraine display immense pride in their nationality and take their holidays very seriously. While observing religious holidays and national holidays in Ukraine, it is generally frowned upon to be at work on such important days.
Novy God (New Year’s Day, 1st January)
Celebrated on January 1st, New Year’s Day is one of the most anticipated holidays in Ukraine. Families gather to enjoy a festive meal, exchange gifts, and welcome the new year with fireworks and celebrations.
The presence of a decorated New Year tree, similar to Christmas traditions in many cultures, often marks the holiday.
International Women’s Day (8th May)
Every year on March 8th, Ukraine celebrates femininity and appreciates something incredibly beautiful – womanhood. Rooted in the socialist and feminist movements of the 20th century, today’s Ukraine has embraced this holiday as a more personal, widely celebrated day.
Ways of Celebration 🎈
- As an official public holiday, most people have the day off from work.
- Men typically gift their mothers, sisters, colleagues, romantic partners, or women in their lives with small chocolates, flowers, or gifts.
- In workplaces (typically offices), men often throw a small celebration for the women in their workplace with small gifts or decorations to show appreciation to their female colleagues.
Notes for employers 💼
- As an official public holiday, most people in Ukraine have the day off from work on this day, it’s best to avoid scheduling your Ukrainian team members on this holiday.
Den Pratsi (International Workers Day, 1st May)
First of May, previously a politically charged holiday during the socialist labor movement in the Soviet era. After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, May 1st remained an official public holiday celebrating the workforce.
Since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, the Ukrainian government has further moved away from Soviet symbolism and reduced the holiday to a “day of labor”.
How’s it celebrated? 🎈
- The Ukrainian people typically have the day off from work.
- The holiday is used as a day to kick back and relax with family and friends.
Notes for employers 💼
- Although the holiday is no longer an official public holiday, it’s important and courteous to recognize the holiday for your Ukrainian employees.
Velykden (Orthodox Easter, 5th May)
Easter is a Christian holiday commemorating Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The week leading up to Easter, known as Holy Week, involves fasting and preparation.
Easter is the most important religious holiday in Ukraine.
Ways of celebration
- On Easter Sunday, families gather and attend church services
- Families paint and decorate eggs (pysanky) as a symbol of new life and resurrection.
- Families attend festive meals together.
Notes for employers 💼
- Easter is a national public holiday, and the people of Ukraine have the day off from work. It’s best to avoid scheduling your Ukrainian employees on this day.
Svitlyi Ponedilok (Orthodox Easter Monday)
Celebrated on the day after Easter, this day is used to rest and continue the celebration of Easter with family and friends.
How’s it celebrated? 🎈
- People continue to visit family and friends.
- Feasting continues, often with paska (easter bread) and decorative eggs.
- In some areas, community celebrations and games take place.
Notes for employers 💼
- People in Ukraine have the day off from work, so it’s best to avoid scheduling your Ukrainian employees on this national public holiday.
Day of Remembrance and Victory Over Nazism (8th May)
This holiday celebrates the victory over Nazism in the second world war, honoring the lives lost and those who have served and suffered during the war. The holiday is also aligned with most Western and Eastern European countries, marking victory in Europe post-World War II.
How’s it celebrated? 🎈
- Moments of silence nationwide in schools, institutions, and public events
- Memorial ceremonies take place, and government officials, citizens, and veterans lay flowers at war memorials and cemeteries.
Notes for employers 💼
- This is generally a working day as it’s not a public holiday, but more of a respected memorial day.
- Recognize and acknowledge the holiday respectfully to your Ukrainian team members.
- As a sign of remembrance for those who died in war, Ukrainians wear red poppies, a Western-inspired tradition.
Triystia (Orthodox Whit Sunday, 23rd June)
Observed on June 23rd, 50 days after the celebration of Orthodox Easter, the day is viewed as one of the most important major feasts in the Orthodox church calendar.
Triystia symbolizes the birth of the church, and in Orthodox belief, it’s a celebration of the Holy Trinity.
How is Triystia Celebrated?
- People attend church services with close friends and relatives.
- Ukrainians decorate their houses with plants, birch branches, and flowers.
- Like most religious holidays, on Trinity Sunday, families attend dinners together.
Notes for employers 💼
- Triystia is a public holiday; people don’t work on this day, and it’s best to avoid scheduling your Ukrainian employees on this day.
Den Svyatogo Dukha (Orthodox Whit Monday)
The Monday after Trinity Sunday, plus 50 days, Ukrainians celebrate the Holy Spirit to honor the source of life, inspiration, and wisdom.
How is it celebrated? 🎈
Unlike most religious holidays in Ukraine, the celebration is more quietly reflected.
- Close family and relatives attend morning liturgies in the church.
- Churches and homes remain decorated with greenery, birch branches, and flowers.
Notes for employers 💼
- Orthodox Whit Monday is a public holiday, so it’s best to avoid scheduling your Ukrainian team members on this day.
Constitution Day (28th June)
Constitution Day honors the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Independent Ukraine in 1996. The constitution shined a spotlight on human rights, democratic values, and national sovereignty.
How’s it celebrated? 🎈
- Cities may host events revolving around the history of the holiday.
- Ukrainian flags are displayed in public spaces.
Notes for employers 💼
- Public holiday, it’s best to avoid scheduling your Ukrainian team members on this day as it’s a non-working day.
Ukrainian Statehood Day (15th July)
The modern holiday celebrates Ukrainian cultural heritage, languages, and traditions.
Statehood Day emphasizes that Ukrainian statehood didn’t begin in 1991, but has centuries-old foundations dating back to Kyivan Rus, and aligns with the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus–Ukraine, celebrating the Christianization of the region.
Ukrainians show immense pride in their nationality, this day affirms their national identity.
How’s it celebrated? 🎈
- People celebrate Ukrainian customs, language, and resilience.
- Patriotic events take place in cities and towns.
Notes for employers 💼
- Non-working day, government and private businesses remain closed on the 15th of July.
Independence Day (24th August)
Marking a significant moment in Ukrainian history, the country gained independence from the Soviet Union (1991) after being under Soviet rule for 70 years. The day is a highly emotional, politically charged holiday.
How’s it celebrated? 🎈
- Military events have been hosted primarily in Kyiv. In recent times, especially during war times, these events have become symbolic events for safety.
- Concerts and cultural events take place in cities and towns across Ukraine.
Notes for employers 💼
- Non-working day, public and private businesses remain closed in observance of Ukrainian Independence Day.
Independence Day Holiday (26th August)
Independence Day has landed on a Saturday as of 2024, so government officials have moved the holiday to the upcoming Monday (26th August) to ensure the Ukrainian people have a day off from work.
Defenders Day (1st October)
Defenders Day is a national holiday honoring all those who have defended Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, both in the past and present.
How’s it observed?
- This holiday is about honoring the fallen instead of celebrating.
- Nationwide moments of silence in workplaces and institutions.
- Ceremonies are hosted to honor the fallen soldiers, active military personnel, and veterans.
Notes for employers 💼
- As Defenders Day is a national public holiday, it’s best to avoid scheduling your Ukrainian team members on October 1st.
Christmas Day (25th December)
Ukraine has previously followed Orthodox traditions and celebrated Christmas on the 7th of January.
With a recent symbolic shift, Ukraine now officially celebrates Christmas on December 25, aligning with most of the Western Christian world.
How’s it celebrated? 🎈
- Families gather for Sviatyi Vechir (Holy Evening) and eat dinner featuring meatless dishes.
- Groups of adults or children gather to sing Ukrainian Christmas carols, going door to door in most rural areas.
- People attend church services.
Notes for employers 💼
- Ukrainian Christmas is a national public holiday, it’s best to avoid scheduling Ukrainian members of the team on this day.
International Employer Hiring in Ukraine? How to Coordinate Work Around Ukrainian National Holidays
As an international employer working with Ukraine’s diverse calendar, it’s important to recognize the different cultural and religious observances and national holidays within the country.
Ukraine generally follows the Christian Orthodox Calendar, so it’s advised to keep an eye on the religious holidays throughout the year, and to be mindful of any other non-religious national holidays taking place.
To successfully manage teams or business operations across these regions, it’s highly recommended to be flexible with time off around key religious holidays like Orthodox or Catholic Easter, Orthodox Christmas, and other religious observances.
National holidays such as Independence Day and Statehood Day can affect work schedules, and understanding these differences will drive a respectful and inclusive work environment.
Showing sensitivity to religious practices and allowing employees to observe their traditions can build stronger relationships with your workforce in Ukraine. The stronger your relationship is with your team, the higher your employee retention rate will be.
