Mother's Day in Ukraine: from the traditions of Kievan Rus' to the present day
When is Mother’s Day celebrated in Ukraine
Mother’s Day in Ukraine falls on the second Sunday in May every year. In 2026, it will be celebrated on 10 May. The holiday is international and is dedicated to mothers, grandmothers and women who play an important role in raising children and keeping families together. In different countries around the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates, most often in March or May. It has become a kind of extension of family holidays dedicated to parents, grandparents or brothers and sisters.
How mothers were honoured in ancient Ukraine
Traditions associated with honouring mothers existed in Ukrainian lands long before the emergence of the modern holiday. Even in the days of Kievan Rus’ and during the Cossack era, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception was particularly revered in what is now Ukraine. On this day, it was customary to congratulate women, especially mothers. Historians note that the cult of the mother has always held a special place in Ukrainian tradition — as a symbol of family, care and the continuation of the family line.
How Mother’s Day emerged in the 20th century
In its modern form, the holiday was first organised by the Ukrainian community in Canada. In 1928, Mother’s Day was held by the Union of Ukrainian Women of Canada. By 1929, the holiday was already being celebrated in Lviv. One of its initiators was Olena Kysilevska, editor of the weekly magazine ‘Zhinocha Dolya’. That same year, the Union of Ukrainian Women of Galicia began to promote the holiday in the Ternopil region. Ukrainian community organisations, including “Prosvita”, “Ridna Shkola”, “Plast” and “Sokil”, joined in organising the celebrations. In the towns of Eastern Galicia, concerts, festivals, conferences and themed events were held. In the interwar period, Mother’s Day quickly became one of the most prominent family holidays.
Why the Soviet authorities banned the holiday
After the establishment of Soviet rule in 1939, Mother’s Day was banned in Ukraine. In the USSR, the holiday was considered a “bourgeois tradition” that did not align with Soviet ideology. Instead, the authorities promoted other official dates and state celebrations. Despite this, the idea of honouring mothers did not disappear entirely.
Attempts to reinstate Mother’s Day during the war
During the Second World War, Ukrainian public figures and journalists repeatedly raised the issue of reinstating the holiday. In 1944, the newspaper “Krakivski Visti” published a proposal to celebrate Mother’s Day on 24 July — St Olga’s Day. The theme of motherhood and the significance of the holiday were also raised by Ukrainian publications in Berlin, Vasylkiv and Kholm. In particular, Oleg Olzhych’s wife, Kateryna Biletska, published an article entitled “On Mother’s Day” in the “Ukrainian Herald”, which was published in Berlin.
When Mother’s Day returned to Ukraine
Following Ukraine’s declaration of independence, civil society organisations once again began actively campaigning for the holiday’s return. The Union of Ukrainian Women played a leading role in this process. Mother’s Day was officially established in Ukraine by the presidential decree of 10 May 1999 “On Mother’s Day”. The document stated that the holiday was established in support of initiatives by the State Committee of Ukraine for Family and Youth Affairs, the international organisation “Women’s Community”, the Union of Women of Ukraine and the Union of Ukrainian Women. Since then, Mother’s Day in Ukraine has been celebrated annually on the second Sunday in May. Today, it is not only a family holiday but also a reminder of the role of mothers in society, the promotion of family values, and the importance of gratitude for daily care and love.
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