Ukraine to Create a Unified State Calendar: Which Dates Will Be Revised

Review of Holidays and Memorial Dates in Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: Ukraine plans to revise the holidays, memorial, and mourning dates by creating a unified state calendar. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, announced intentions to develop a calendar of historical events that will reflect the national values and the civilization choice of the state. This decision aims to organize the existing dates, which often overlap with each other.

Currently, Ukraine has a large number of professional, memorial, and mourning dates that have been established by various decisions. This has led to fragmentation, complicating the perception of history and cultural heritage. In particular, recently Ukraine moved the celebration of Christmas to December 25, which has become part of a broader process of adaptation to European standards. Ruslan Stefanchuk also reminded of changes in Article 73, which moved the remembrance of the victims of World War II from May 9 to May 8, in accordance with European practices.

Implementation of the Unified Calendar Project

A working group has already been created to implement this project, which will prepare the draft law. A broad meeting to discuss details and proposals is scheduled for December 26. Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized that the calendar of historical events is not just a formal list of numbers, but a reflection of national values. He noted that the goal of this process is not to reduce the number of holidays, but to organize and create a single calendar map that will help Ukrainians better understand their history and culture.

The introduction of a unified state calendar has become an important step towards consolidating national identity in Ukraine. It also reflects the country's desire to integrate into the European cultural environment, as the adaptation of holidays and memorial dates to European standards contributes to the formation of European values. Involvement of specialists and broad discussions of planned changes can provide a deeper understanding of historical events among the population and contribute to their preservation in the memory of future generations.