On 27 October, Ukraine celebrates Ukrainian Language and Writing Day. This annual holiday is dedicated to the development and support of the Ukrainian language in education, the media and everyday life.
Previously, Ukrainian Language Day was celebrated on 9 November, but in 2023 the date was changed — according to Presidential Decree No. 455/2023, it is now celebrated on 27 October. The change is related to the transition to a new church calendar so that the day of remembrance of Nestor the Chronicler, with whom the holiday was historically associated, remains within the autumn period.
Ukrainian Language and Writing Day was established in 1997 to draw attention to the role of language in culture and public life. On this day, language competitions, dictations, reading marathons, public lectures and other events are traditionally held to encourage people to use Ukrainian in various spheres.
For educational institutions, it is an opportunity to remind people of the history of Ukrainian writing, and for journalists, artists, and cultural figures, it is an opportunity to discuss current language trends and challenges.
Despite the fact that Ukrainian is enshrined as the state language, public debate about its use continues. Ukrainian Language and Writing Day is an opportunity not only to celebrate, but also to talk about the conditions in which the language is developing today — from teaching in schools to its presence in the media and digital space.
Read also: Public performance of Russian-language songs causes rejection – language ombudsman
