Ukrainians' attitude to Independence Day radically changed, Institute of Sociology
Photo: Majority of Ukrainians (63%) consider Independence Day their favorite holiday (Getty Images)
The attitude to Ukraine's Independence Day has radically changed over the last ten years. In 2013, this holiday was the most important or favorite for only 12% of Ukrainians, but in 2023, it is the favorite of 63%, according to a KIIS (Kyiv International Institute of Sociology) survey.
As sociologists note, in 2013, this was one of the least popular holidays (only Constitution Day was less popular), but now it is one of the top three most popular holidays in Ukraine, trailing only behind two main religious holidays.
According to KMIS research data, in 2023, the majority of Ukraine's population celebrates Easter and Christmas as the most popular holidays, with percentages of 70% and 69%, respectively. Following that is Ukraine's Independence Day at 63%. The next in popularity is the Day of Defenders of Ukraine at 54%.
New Year, which is celebrated worldwide and used to tie for first place with Christmas and Easter, now ranks only fifth at 52%. Constitution Day, International Women's Day, and Trinity have percentages of 29%, 25%, and 22%, respectively. The least popular holidays this year are Victory Day and Labor Day (May 1), with only 13% and 5% of Ukrainians celebrating these dates as their favorites or important ones.
Attitude to Independence
As of February 2013 (almost a year before the Revolution of Dignity), the absolute majority of Ukrainians - 81% - supported Ukraine's independence (while 16% favored unification with Russia).
Currently, the percentage of those supporting independence stands at 89% (with the percentage of those seeking unification with Russia at 1%).
"Absolute support for Independence was a fact even before 2014, but now this support has become even higher," sociologists note.
It's worth noting that according to the Razumkov Center's survey data, in 2023, among Ukrainians, there has been an increase in the share of those proud of state symbols compared to previous years: the Ukrainian flag (from 26% in 2011 to 75% in 2023), the Ukrainian coat of arms (from 25% to 74%), and the national anthem (from 22.5% to 69%).
Also, the percentage of those proud of the state language of Ukraine increased from 32% to 74%, and the percentage of those proud of its currency (the hryvnia) increased from 19% to 57%.
