Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on 25 December for first time in shift from Russia

For the first time in a century, Ukraine will celebrate the holiday on December 25 rather than January 7.

Transcript

00:00 For Ukraine, Christmas is, quite literally, coming early this year.

00:06 Its decision to move away from Russia's Orthodox calendar to one aligned with much of the rest

00:12 of the world meant the feast of St. Nicholas was celebrated at the start of December instead

00:18 of towards the end of it, with Christmas Day itself being brought forward to December 25th

00:24 for the first time.

00:28 The war has helped bring this about, but most Ukrainians have long dreamed of making this

00:32 change.

00:33 It's a desire to live with the whole world, a civilized world that not only declares faith,

00:38 but lives by faith.

00:43 Children have been patiently lining up to meet St. Nicholas in person.

00:47 The original Santa Claus says the most common Christmas wish he hears is for peace.

00:54 We're opening the residence of St. Nicholas.

00:57 That gives smiles and kindness to children from 2 to 102, because for God we are all

01:02 children.

01:04 Christmas shows that combine festive themes with a big serving of traditional Ukrainian

01:09 culture offer an escape, if only briefly, from the realities of two years of full-scale

01:16 war.

01:17 But larger celebrations are once again on hold.

01:21 As with last year, there'll be no large-scale events or fairs to mark Christmas because

01:25 of the war, but for most Ukrainians they'll at least be the comforting thought they'll

01:30 be celebrating the holiday on a different day to most Russians.

01:35 It's beginning to look a lot like a Western-style Christmas.

01:38 Rob McBride, Al Jazeera, Kyiv.