Tetyana’s Day in Ukraine 2026: main traditions and prohibitions
12 January 04:12
On January 12, 2026, Ukraine will celebrate Tatiana Day according to the new church calendar — a day commemorating Saint Tatiana of Rome. After the Orthodox Church of Ukraine switched to the New Julian calendar, most of the non-movable holidays were moved 13 days earlier, so the date of January 25, familiar to many, now falls on January 12, writes "Komersant Ukrainian".
Saint Tatiana lived in Rome in the 3rd century and suffered for her Christian faith. In church tradition, she is considered the patron saint of students, young people, and all who seek knowledge. Therefore, Tatiana’s Day has not only religious but also symbolic significance — as a holiday of spiritual growth, learning, and inner strength.
In Ukraine, believers attend church services on this day and pray to Saint Tatiana for wisdom, success in their studies, and support in difficult life circumstances. It is also customary to congratulate women and girls named Tatiana, wishing them health, peace, and God’s protection.
In folk tradition, Tatiana’s Day was considered a special winter day. Our ancestors believed that January 12 was a good day to start studying and planning important matters related to intellectual work. Housewives tried to keep order in the house and baked simple pastries to treat their families as a symbol of prosperity and harmony.
At the same time, there were certain prohibitions. On Tatiana’s Day, it was not recommended to quarrel, swear, or settle scores, as it was believed that conflicts on this day could drag on for a long time. It was not advisable to be lazy, idle, or disrespectful towards learning and work. According to popular belief, it was also not worth refusing to help those in need.
Today, Tatiana Day is an occasion for many Ukrainians to pause in their daily hustle and bustle, remember the value of knowledge, kindness, and mutual support, and warmly congratulate all Tatianas on their holiday.
