If you’ve been wanting to learn Ukrainian Christmas greetings but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, you’ll learn some festive Ukrainian phrases you can use with friends and family, as well as explore some Christmas traditions in Ukraine.
Anyone who has experience with the Ukrainian language knows how special it is, so it’s our treat to teach you this. Make sure to keep reading!
How Do You Say Merry Christmas In Ukrainian?
The most common and traditional way to say Merry Christmas in Ukrainian is Veseloho Rizdva! (Веселого Різдва!), which translates as “merry” or “joyful” Christmas. This is the all-purpose “Merry Christmas!” you can use with anyone.
You can also say the slightly more formal Z Rizdvom Khrystovym! (З Різдвом Христовим!), which means “With the Birth of Christ!”. This one is also very warm and is especially fitting for the season’s religious significance.
Additionally, you will also hear the traditional greeting and response: Khrystos narodyvsya! (Христос народився! – “Christ is born!”) answered with Slavimo Yoho! (Славімо Його! – “Let us glorify Him!”).
| English | Ukrainian | Transliteration | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merry Christmas! | Веселого Різдва! | Veseloho Rizdva! | |
| With the Birth of Christ! | З Різдвом Христовим! | Z Rizdvom Khrystovym! | |
| Christ is born! | Христос народився! | Khrystos narodyvsya! | |
| Let us glorify Him! | Славімо Його! | Slavimo Yoho! |
Ukrainian Christmas Greetings
Now that you know the basic ways to say “Merry Christmas” in Ukrainian, it’s time to learn some more festive greetings.
With these lovely and heartfelt greetings, you’ll surely put a smile on any Ukrainian’s face.
| English | Ukrainian | Transliteration | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filled with love and peace, Merry Christmas to you and your family! | Сповнене любові та миру, вітаю Вас і Вашу родину з Різдвом Христовим! | Spovnene lyubovi ta myru, vitayu Vas i Vashu rodynu z Rizdvom Khrystovym! |
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| Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year to you! | Веселого Різдва та щасливого Нового року вам! | Veseloho Rizdva ta shchaslyvoho Novoho roku vam! |
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| Have a jolly Christmas! | Веселого Різдва! | Veseloho Rizdva! |
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| Happy holidays! | Щасливих свят! | Shchaslyvykh svyat! |
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| May this day be full of peace and love. Merry Christmas! | Нехай цей день буде сповнений миру та любові, з Різдвом Христовим! | Nekhay tsey denʹ bude spovnenyy myru ta lyubovi, z Rizdvom Khrystovym! |
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| I wish you a merry and joyous Christmas! | Бажаю вам веселого та радісного Різдва! | Bazhayu vam veseloho ta radisnoho Rizdva! |
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| Have a very Merry Christmas full of love, peace, and happiness! | Веселого Різдва, повного любові, миру та щастя! | Veseloho Rizdva, povnoho lyubovi, myru ta shchastya! |
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| I wish you so much happiness and prosperity in this season of love. Merry Christmas! | Бажаю тобі стільки щастя й процвітання в цю пору кохання, з Різдвом Христовим! | Bazhayu tobi stilʹky shchastya y protsvitannya v tsyu poru kokhannya, z Rizdvom Khrystovym! |
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| Happy holidays to you and your family! May this day be filled with so many memories and love. | Зі святом вас і вашу родину! Нехай це буде сповнене спогадів і любові. | Zi svyatom vas i vashu rodynu! Nekhay tse bude spovnene spohadiv i lyubovi |
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| In this season of love, I wish you a very merry and happy Christmas! | У цю пору кохання я бажаю вам веселого та щасливого Різдва! | U tsyu poru kokhannya ya bazhayu vam veseloho ta shchaslyvoho Rizdva! |
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Interesting Ukrainian Christmas Traditions
Now that you’ve got Ukrainian Christmas greetings covered, you should know some of the Christmas traditions in the country.
For example, do Ukrainians buy a Christmas tree and put it in their living room? Is it customary to exchange gifts on December 25th? Christmas is celebrated differently all around the world, so you can never assume that just because one country celebrates a holiday one way, another country does the same.
Cooking And Serving Kutia
The celebration of Christmas will not be complete without this Ukrainian staple. Kutia is a Ukrainian dish made from poppy seeds and wheat grains. Considered by many to be “God’s dish,” this meal is served during the Christmas season to symbolize unity and victory.
Although this dish is very popular in Ukraine, you can also find it in other parts of Eastern Europe.
When Is Christmas Celebrated In Ukraine?
Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on January 7th, following the Julian calendar used by many Orthodox Christians. The main celebration is the Holy Supper, Sviata Vecheria, on the evening of January 6th.
However, December 25th is also a public holiday, and many people celebrate on both dates.
Preparing 12 Christmas Dishes
Symbolizing the 12 apostles, it is very common to see 12 varieties of dishes when you sit down for dinner in a typical Ukrainian household.
Besides singing Christmas carols and giving gifts to one another, Ukrainians also celebrate the season by preparing and eating big feasts. What’s most important to Ukrainians is spending time with loved ones and savoring the moment.
5 Quick Tips For Celebrating Christmas In Ukraine
If you’re traveling to Ukraine during the holidays, keep these practical tips in mind to join the celebrations.
- Mark January 7th on your calendar. This is the official Orthodox Christmas Day when everything happens. The big family dinner is actually on the evening of January 6th (Sviatyi Vechir).
- Prepare for a 12-dish, meatless feast. The traditional Holy Supper features symbolic Lenten dishes like kutia, varenyky, and borshch. Save room and try a little of everything!
- As we mentioned, greet everyone with Khrystos narodyvsya! (Христос народився!). This means “Christ is born!” The proper response is Slavimo Yoho! (Славімо Його!), “Let us glorify Him!” It’s the most authentic Ukrainian greeting for the holiday.
- Look for the Didukh. In homes, you’ll see a sheaf of wheat called the didukh, symbolizing ancestors. It’s a centerpiece of the decor; notice it and ask about its meaning.
- Bring a simple, thoughtful gift if invited home. Flowers (in an odd number!), good chocolate, or wine are perfect. Most importantly, come with an open heart and a big appetite.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas In Ukraine
Why Is Christmas Celebrated On January 7th In Ukraine?
Christmas is celebrated on January 7th in Ukraine because the Orthodox Church of Ukraine follows the older Julian calendar for religious holidays. This calendar is currently 13 days behind the modern Gregorian calendar, which sets December 25th as the date.
What Do You Eat For Christmas In Ukraine?
You eat a 12-dish Lenten feast on Christmas Eve (Sviatyi Vechir) in Ukraine. This meatless and dairy-free meal includes symbolic dishes like kutia (sweet wheat pudding), borshch, varenyky (dumplings), fish, and uzvar (dried fruit drink). The number 12 represents the apostles.
Are There Unique Ukrainian Christmas Decorations?
Final Thoughts
You’ve now learned some Ukrainian Christmas greetings, from the essential Veseloho Rizdva! (Веселого Різдва!) to the call-and-response of Khrystos narodyvsya! (Христос народився!). You’re now equipped with several festive Ukrainian greetings that go beyond “Merry Christmas,” so you can share warm wishes with anyone!
Apart from the Ukrainian phrases for Christmas, we also explored the soul of the celebration: the unique traditions and the all-important tip to mark your calendar for January 7th. Now you’re ready to appreciate the rich, warm spirit of a Ukrainian Christmas.
Start Learning Ukrainian Before Christmas!
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It’s a language learning application that doesn’t just help you learn languages the easy way, but it also makes the entire process fun! Equipped with various mini-games and exercises, you’ll be able to reach all your language goals in no time.
One of the best features of the app is that all the audio is from native speakers, so you know you’re learning from the best.
There’s so much to discover on the Ling app, so make sure to download it and get started today. You’ll surely be able to learn a few phrases before Christmas!
