on 1 October 2024, Ukraine celebrates 10 holidays in one day. Today is the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks, International Music Day, Sociologist of Ukraine Day, Veteran’s Day, the Day of the UPA, World Tattoo Day, International Day of Older Persons and International Coffee Day, Komersant ukrainskyi
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Believers celebrate the Intercession of the Holy Virgin.
Day of Defenders of Ukraine
The Day of Defenders of Ukraine is a public holiday that until this year was celebrated on 14 October. It was created to honour the memory of the defenders of our country and to thank those who are currently defending it from the enemy.
After gaining independence, the defenders of the Motherland were honoured on 23 February according to the Soviet tradition. Defenders’ Day was first celebrated in Ukraine in 2014 by a decree of President Petro Poroshenko. It is celebrated annually together with the church holiday of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was highly revered by Zaporizhzhia Cossacks.
in 2023, the Day of the Defender of Ukraine was moved to 1 October by decree of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The holiday changed its date due to the reform of the church calendar. On 1 September, the OCU switched to the New Julian church calendar, where all holidays are celebrated 13 days earlier.
Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks
The Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks has been celebrated on 1 October since 2023. The holiday was postponed by a decree of the President of Ukraine dated 28 July 2023, the date change is due to the transition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the New Julian calendar.
In 1999, the President of Ukraine issued a decree declaring 14 October the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks. The date was not chosen by chance, as it was on this day that believers celebrated the Intercession of the Mother of God, who was considered the heavenly guardian of the Cossacks. That is why this holiday is also called the Cossack Intercession. It was also the day when the Sich elected new atamans.
Veteran’s Day
Every year on 1 October, Ukraine celebrates Veteran’s Day. The holiday was established in 2004 by a presidential decree
. On this day, people express their respect and gratitude to both veterans who fought in the Second World War and soldiers who are defending the country’s independence during the Russian aggression.
According to Ukrainian law, veterans are combatants, veterans of military service, injured participants of the Revolution of Dignity, war veterans, and persons with special services to the country.
Day of the Sociologist of Ukraine
on 1 October, since 2011, sociologists of our country have been celebrating their professional holiday – the Day of Sociologist of Ukraine. It is a professional holiday that celebrates the importance of sociology as a science and honours the work of sociologists in the country.
Sociologist’s Day is a relatively young holiday in Ukraine. This event was established on the initiative of delegates from the Lviv Regional Branch of the Sociological Association of Ukraine (SAA) at the VII Congress of the SAA in 2011, where it was decided to declare 1 October as the Day of the Sociologist of Ukraine.
Protection of the Holy Virgin
The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated on 14 October until 2023. But since the OCU and the UGCC switched to the New Julian calendar, this day will now be celebrated annually on 1 October.
The Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered one of the most important religious holidays for Christians. On this day, believers commemorate the miraculous apparition of the Mother of God that took place in the middle of the tenth century in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople.
On this day, one should not do hard work or swear. Believers go to church to light a candle and pray. They ask the Virgin for healing from illness, family happiness, protection from enemies and peace.
It is believed that all prayers will be answered on this day.
Day of the creation of the UPA
Since 2023, 1 October has also been the Day of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The UPA, which was active in the 1940s, became a symbol of the struggle for Ukrainian independence. The army fought against the German occupation, Polish forces and the USSR, trying to create an independent Ukrainian state.
It emerged as the armed wing of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUNR). The first UPA units, known as the Polissya Sich, were formed by Taras Bulba-Borovets on 28 June 1941.
Initially, OUN members did not support the armed struggle against the Germans, but they intensified their activities in the spring of 1943. According to the OUN, the official date of the UPA’s creation is 1942, but some historians consider this date to be conditional.
To this day, the UPA remains one of the most debated topics in the history of Ukraine. This military and political formation operated in Ukraine from 1942 to 1960 and became a symbol of the country’s struggle for independence.
International Day of Older Persons
on 1 October, the world celebrates International Day of Older Persons. The holiday was approved by the UN General Assembly in 1990.
Initially, this day was celebrated in Europe and later in America. Since the 1990s, the initiative to celebrate the day has been supported by the whole world, including Ukraine since 1991.
This day is intended to remind everyone that old age is inevitable and that efforts should be made to help older people feel more comfortable and valued. For example, the healthcare needs of older people are 50% higher than those of the middle-aged population, and the need for hospitalisation is almost three times higher.
World Tattoo Day
In 2005, the community of tattoo professionals established World Tattoo Day, which is celebrated annually on 1 October. For tattoo artists, this holiday is considered an unofficial New Year.
Archaeologists say that tattoos were made as early as the VI century BC. It reflected the social status of the owner, his belonging to a certain tribe or clan. Egyptians used tattoos to brand slaves, while priests had other images of better quality.
International Music Day
International Music Day, celebrated annually on 1 October, is a global event initiated by the International Music Council.
The holiday was established in 1975 by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, a prominent violinist, conductor and then President of the International Music Council (IMC), an associated organisation of UNESCO.
The decision to dedicate the day to music was made at the 15th General Assembly of the IMC in Lausanne in 1973, and the first celebration took place on 1 October 1975
International Coffee Day
on 1 October, the world celebrates International Coffee Day. The holiday was established by the International Coffee Organization in 2015.
The first coffee shop was opened in Istanbul in 1554, as the drink brought from Syria was very popular with the locals. In Ukraine, coffee was first tasted in 1672 in Kamianets-Podilskyi. It was then that the first coffee shop was opened in Ukraine.
What not to do on 1 October
1 October – on the day of the Intercession, it is forbidden to do hard labour: washing, cleaning, sewing and gardening.
It is believed that it is better not to borrow money on this day, as there is a risk that you may remain in debt for a long time.
People also warn that you shouldn’t cut your hair on Pokrova, so as not to shorten your life.
Folk signs
Our ancestors had many interesting signs for this day:
- If the cranes are already flying to warm lands, then it will be cold on the Intercession Day and real winter will come.
- According to the signs, the weather will be the same on 1 April.
- If a person was born on 1 October, he or she will be a traveller. They can wear a pomegranate as a talisman.
- Birds are in no hurry to leave – most likely, winter will not come soon.
- Weeds grow tall – a sign that a lot of snow will fall.
- A birch tree hasn’t lost its leaves on 1 October – it won’t be snowing for a while.