First, some short Christmas wishes in Ukrainian — perfect for a text, a messaging app or a flower gift card. Below, you will also find longer texts for your family or friends.

Веселого Різдва!
Pronunciation: veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH
Merry Christmas! The simplest and most versatile greeting.

Щасливого Різдва!
Pronunciation: shchahs-LYH-voh-hoh reezd-VAH
Happy Christmas!

З Різдвом Христовим!
Pronunciation: z reezd-VOM khrys-TOH-vym
Christmas greetings! (Literally: “With the birth of Christ.”) A more solemn, traditional version that works well on a card.

Веселих свят!
Pronunciation: veh-SEH-lykh svyat
Happy holidays! Suitable for both Christmas and New Year.

Христос народився! – Славімо Його!
Pronunciation: khrys-TOS nah-roh-DYV-syah! – SLAH-vee-moh yoh-HOH!
Christ is born! – Let us glorify Him! This is a traditional Ukrainian Christmas greeting. If someone says the first part to you, reply with the second — you are sure to make an impression.

Capital letters in the pronunciation guides mark the stressed syllable. A quick reading guide: Ukrainian “и” is approximated by “y” (a short sound close to the “i” in “bit”); “і” by “ee”; “г” by a voiced “h”; “щ” by “shch”, as in “fresh cheese”; and “х” by “kh”, like the “ch” in Scottish “loch”. These English spellings are approximate.

[CTA: Christmas flowers — send a bouquet with your wishes]

Heartfelt Christmas wishes for your Ukrainian family and friends are:

Миру, тепла і світла у Різдвяні свята!
Pronunciation: MYH-roo, tep-LAH ee SVEET-lah oo reezd-VYAH-nee SVYAH-tah
Wishing you peace, warmth and light this Christmas!

Нехай Різдво принесе радість у ваш дім!
Pronunciation: neh-KHAI reezd-VOH pry-neh-SEH RAH-deest oo vahsh deem
May Christmas bring joy to your home!

Світлого і щасливого Різдва!
Pronunciation: SVEET-loh-hoh ee shchahs-LYH-voh-hoh reezd-VAH
Wishing you a bright and happy Christmas!

Тихого, затишного Різдва в колі рідних!
Pronunciation: TYH-khoh-hoh, ZAH-tysh-noh-hoh reezd-VAH v KOH-lee REED-nykh
Wishing you a quiet, cosy Christmas surrounded by loved ones!

Бажаю тобі здоров'я, любові та миру. Веселого Різдва!
Pronunciation: bah-ZHAH-yoo toh-BEE zdoh-ROV-yah, lyoo-BOH-vee tah MYH-roo. veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH!
I wish you health, love and peace. Merry Christmas!

Нехай різдвяна зірка освітлює твій шлях увесь наступний рік.
Pronunciation: neh-KHAI reezd-VYAH-nah ZEER-kah oh-SVEET-lyoo-yeh tveey shlyakh oo-VES nah-STOOP-nyy reek
May the Star of Bethlehem light your way throughout the coming year.

Дякую, що ти є в моєму житті. Теплого і радісного Різдва!
Pronunciation: DYAH-koo-yoo, shchoh ty yeh v moh-YEH-moo zhyt-TEE. TEP-loh-hoh ee RAH-dees-noh-hoh reezd-VAH!
Thank you for being in my life. Wishing you a warm and joyful Christmas!

Сумую за тобою і обіймаю здалеку. Щасливого Різдва!
Pronunciation: soo-MOO-yoo zah toh-BOH-yoo ee oh-bee-MAH-yoo ZDAH-leh-koo. shchahs-LYH-voh-hoh reezd-VAH!
I miss you and am sending a hug from afar. Happy Christmas!   ** Ideal for loved ones spending Christmas far away.

Нехай у вашому домі завжди буде мир, а на столі – смачна кутя!
Pronunciation: neh-KHAI oo VAH-shoh-moo DOH-mee ZAV-zhdy BOO-deh myr, ah nah stoh-LEE – smahch-NAH koo-TYAH
May there always be peace in your home and delicious kutia on your table! Kutia is a sweet dish made with wheat, poppy seeds and honey — the centrepiece of a Ukrainian Christmas Eve meal.

Моє найкраще Різдво – поруч із тобою.
Pronunciation: moh-YEH nai-KRASH-cheh reezd-VOH – POH-rooch eez toh-BOH-yoo
My most wonderful Christmas is by your side.

Кохаю тебе. Веселого Різдва, моє сонечко!
Pronunciation: koh-KHAH-yoo teh-BEH. veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH, moh-YEH SOH-nech-koh!
I love you. Merry Christmas, my sunshine!

Ти мій найкращий подарунок під ялинкою.
Pronunciation: ty meey nai-KRASH-chyy poh-dah-ROO-nok peed yah-LYN-koh-yoo
You are my best present under the Christmas tree. ** A lovely message for a gift card attached to a bouquet of roses.

Різдво стало ще чарівнішим, відколи ти з'явилася в моєму житті! Веселого Різдва, кохана!
Pronunciation: reezd-VOH STAH-loh shcheh chah-reev-NEE-shym, veed-KOH-ly ty zyah-VYH-lah-syah v moh-YEH-moo zhyt-TEE! veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH, koh-KHAH-nah!
Christmas has become even more magical since you came into my life! Merry Christmas, my love!

When addressing a man: use з'явився (zyah-VYV-syah) instead of з'явилася, and коханий (koh-KHAH-nyy) instead of кохана.

Веселого Різдва тому, хто солодший за цукерки на ялинці, зігріває краще за чашку гарячого какао і наповнює серце радістю більше, ніж найкращий подарунок під ялинкою! Веселого Різдва, кохана!
Pronunciation: veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH toh-MOO, khtoh soh-LOD-shyy zah tsoo-KER-ky nah yah-LYN-tsee, zee-hree-VAH-yeh KRAH-shcheh zah CHASH-koo hah-RYAH-choh-hoh kah-KAH-oh ee nah-POV-nyoo-yeh SER-tseh RAH-dees-tyoo BEEL-sheh, neezh nai-KRASH-chyy poh-dah-ROO-nok peed yah-LYN-koh-yoo! veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH, koh-KHAH-nah!
Merry Christmas to someone who is sweeter than the sweets on the tree, warms me more than a cup of hot cocoa and fills my heart with more joy than the most wonderful present under the Christmas tree! Merry Christmas, my love!

Найважливіше не те, що під ялинкою, а те, хто збирається навколо неї. Я рада, що ти є в моєму житті. Веселого Різдва, коханий!
Pronunciation: nai-vazh-lyh-VEE-sheh neh teh, shchoh peed yah-LYN-koh-yoo, ah teh, khtoh zby-RAH-yet-syah nav-KOH-loh NEH-yee. yah RAH-dah, shchoh ty yeh v moh-YEH-moo zhyt-TEE. veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH, koh-KHAH-nyy!
What matters most is not what is under the Christmas tree, but who gathers around it. I am happy you are in my life. Merry Christmas, my love!

This version is written by a woman to a man. If you are writing as a man, use Я радий (yah RAH-dyy); when addressing a woman, use кохана (koh-KHAH-nah).

Christmas wishes for your Ukrainian clients and business partners:

Бажаємо Вам і Вашим близьким миру, здоров'я та успіхів. Веселого Різдва і щасливого Нового року!
Pronunciation: bah-ZHAH-yeh-moh vahm ee VAH-shym blyz-KYM MYH-roo, zdoh-ROV-yah tah OOS-pee-kheev. veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH ee shchahs-LYH-voh-hoh NOH-voh-hoh ROH-koo!
We wish you and your loved ones peace, health and success. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Дякуємо за співпрацю в цьому році. Світлого Різдва!
Pronunciation: DYAH-koo-yeh-moh zah speev-PRAH-tsyoo v TSYOH-moo ROH-tsee. SVEET-loh-hoh reezd-VAH!
Thank you for working with us this year. Wishing you a bright Christmas!

Позаду особливий рік, і за нього ми вдячні саме Вам. Щиро дякуємо за підтримку та бажаємо щасливого Нового року!
Pronunciation: poh-ZAH-doo oh-soh-BLYH-vyy reek, ee zah NYOH-hoh my VDYAHCH-nee SAH-meh vahm. SHCHYH-roh DYAH-koo-yeh-moh zah peed-TRYM-koo tah bah-ZHAH-yeh-moh shchahs-LYH-voh-hoh NOH-voh-hoh ROH-koo!
It has been a special year, and we have you to thank for it. Thank you so much for your support, and we wish you a Happy New Year!

For a Ukrainian colleague:

Дякую за чудову спільну роботу. Гарних свят і доброго відпочинку!
Pronunciation: DYAH-koo-yoo zah choo-DOH-voo SPEEL-noo roh-BOH-too. HAR-nykh svyat ee DOB-roh-hoh veed-poh-CHYN-koo!
Thank you for being so great to work with. Have a wonderful holiday season and a restful break!

Веселого Різдва людині, завдяки якій наш офіс працює так злагоджено, як майстерня Святого Миколая! Веселого Різдва і щастя в Новому році!
Pronunciation: veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH lyoo-DYH-nee, zav-dyah-KYH yah-KEEY nash OH-fees prah-TSYOO-yeh tak ZLAH-hoh-dzheh-noh, yak mai-STER-nyah svyah-TOH-hoh myh-koh-LAH-yah! veh-SEH-loh-hoh reezd-VAH ee SHCHAS-tyah v NOH-voh-moo ROH-tsee!
Merry Christmas to the person who keeps our office running as smoothly as Santa’s workshop! Merry Christmas and wishing you happiness in the New Year!

Since 2023, the official Christmas Day in Ukraine has been 25 December, as in Poland. Previously, Christmas was celebrated on 7 January according to the Julian calendar, and some families still celebrate on that date.

• Святий вечір (svyah-TYY VEH-cheer) — Ukrainian Christmas Eve. Traditionally, 12 dishes are served, with kutia as the centrepiece.
• Колядки (koh-LYAD-ky) — Christmas carols sung by carollers going from house to house.
• Христос народився! — the traditional greeting used during the Christmas season: “Christ is born!”

When should you send your wishes? The safest choice is 24 or 25 December. If you know your loved ones’ family follows the old calendar, send greetings on 6 or 7 January too — they are sure to appreciate it.