Most Ukrainians are opposed the idea of the transition of the Orthodox Church to the Gregorian calendar and the celebration of Christmas on December 25. This is evidenced by the opinion poll conducted by the group " Rating, according to BBCnews.
During the study, 2,000 respondents were interviewed, the margin of error does not exceed 2.2%.
Currently, 25% of respondents support the idea of moving the celebration of Christmas from January 7 to December 25, 64% are opposed, and 7% of respondents are indifferent.
Sociologists point out that in three years the number of supporters of the modernization of the Church calendar has grown from 15% to 25%, and opponents decreased from 69% to 64%.
In Western Ukraine, the number of supporters and opponents of the celebration of Christmas is almost equal, in other regions the majority is against.
In Ukraine, the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the astronomical calendar, is used by both Orthodox denominations and the Greek Catholic Church. Whereas secular Ukraine, along with most other countries, has lived for almost 100 years according to the more precise Gregorian calendar, introduced in the XVI century.
It is this discrepancy that determines the fact that Ukrainians, unlike the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas after, and not before the New year, which falls on the Christmas fast. And the New year is celebrated twice - according to the new and old styles.
Two years ago, the Verkhovna Rada made both December 25 and January 7 public holidays.