December 24 is celebrated in Ukraine and around the world as one of the most important Christian holidays - Holy Evening (Christmas Eve). Today is also celebrated as the professional holiday of workers in archival institutions of Ukraine. It is a day of special spiritual expectation and family traditions.
«Glavkom» tells about the holidays, history, traditions, and signs of December 24, 2025.
Contents
- Holidays in Ukraine
- International and national holidays
- Religious holidays and their history
- Folklore beliefs and signs
- Historical events
- Name days
Holidays in Ukraine
Day of Workers in Archival Institutions of Ukraine
The professional holiday Day of Workers in Archival Institutions of Ukraine falls on December 24. This day was established by the decree of Leonid Kuchma in 1998. The Library and Archival Department, at that time the first state body for managing archival documents, was created at the beginning of the 20th century and has been functioning since 1917. Since 1999, this organization has been called the State Committee of Archives of Ukraine.
More than 60 million units of various types of documents are stored in the state’s archival institutions. Over 700 archives are concentrated in different cities of the state. Currently, the total number of employees in such institutions exceeds 5,000.
Archive staff are multifaceted individuals with a broad outlook, understanding document management, history, and possessing well-developed skills for processing large volumes of information in very short periods.
International and National Holidays
Last-Minute Shopper's Day
Last-Minute Shopper's Day is celebrated on December 24 each year. This event is about the phenomenon of last-minute shopping. It is a day dedicated to those who put off holiday shopping until the last moment. This day marks the last opportunity for shoppers to complete their holiday purchases.
Religious Holidays and Their History
Christmas Eve (Holy Evening)
On December 24, the Orthodox Church honors the eve of the birth of Jesus Christ. The history of the holiday dates back to the early centuries of Christianity. It is a time of the strictest fasting, which lasts until evening star.
For millions of Ukrainians as well as believers around the world, it is the main family holiday of the year. On this day the Christmas fast ends. Traditionally, families gather at the table with the appearance of the first star, which symbolizes the Bethlehem star. There must be 12 fasting dishes on the table, the main of which is kutya.
According to the Gospel, it was on this evening that the Virgin Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, where the Son of God was born in a cave. Holy Evening is filled with deep symbolism: hay under the tablecloth recalls the manger where the baby lay, and the joint prayer creates a powerful spiritual protection for the entire family for the coming year.
Folklore Beliefs and Signs
According to folk signs, attention is paid to the following signs on this day:
- If the sky is starry on Holy Evening - there will be a good harvest of peas and berries;
- If a powerful snowstorm begins - bees will swarm well;
- Hoarfrost on trees foreshadows a harvest of grain crops;
- Ice on the roads - to a large harvest of vegetables, especially cucumbers.
Historical Events
- 1518 - King Sigismund I allows Prince Vasyl Sangushko to form a town from the village of Kovle with the granting of Magdeburg rights;
- 1624 - Hetman Mykhailo Doroshenko signs an interstate agreement on mutual assistance between the Zaporozhian Army and the Crimean Khanate;
- 1814 - In Ghent (now Belgium), Great Britain and the USA sign a treaty that ends the Anglo-American War;
- 1851 - During the fire in the Library of Congress in the USA, 35,000 books and many unique documents were completely burned;
- 1871 - The premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's opera “Aida,” written for the celebrations of the opening of the Suez Canal, takes place in Cairo;
- 1903 - In Great Britain, the first registration number for a car is issued - the number plate A1 is received by the Duke of Russell, brother of philosopher Bertrand Russell;
- 1908 - The first international air show opens in Paris;
- 1914 - A German airplane drops a bomb on the English city of Dover, marking the first act of aerial bombardment in history;
- 1920 - On the stage of the “Metropolitan Opera” (New York), the renowned Italian singer Enrico Caruso performs the last role of his career - Eleazar (Halevy's “The Daughter of the Cardinal”);
- 1991 - Afghanistan, Libya, Mongolia, and Norway recognize Ukraine's independence;
- 1997 - The first concert of the “Mandry” band takes place, this day is considered the date of the band's foundation;
- 2004 - The Ukrainian satellite “Sich-1M” is launched into orbit.
Name Days
Angel Day is celebrated: Yevheniia, Mykola, Pylyp, Ivan, Klavdiia.
December 24 is a day when important religious and cultural holidays take place in Ukraine and the world. From Christmas evenings to the celebration of professional holidays.