Memorial days in Ukraine in 2026 — full calendar

In 2026 Easter falls on 5 April. All the movable memorial days are counted from this date. Below is the full list with an explanation of the traditions of each one.

Meatfare Saturday — 21 February 2026

The first general memorial day of the year. The Orthodox Church set it a week before the start of Maslenitsa. People commemorate all Orthodox Christians — both those who died a natural death and those who were killed. A requiem service is held, and graves are visited.

Most people do not notice this day — it has no official status. But for those who follow the church calendar, it is the first chance to visit the cemetery after winter.

Providna Sunday — 12 April 2026

The first Sunday after Easter. The busiest day for visiting cemeteries in the entire year. The tradition is an old one: the living come to "visit" the departed and share the Paschal joy.

At large cemeteries on this day the queue of cars stretches a kilometre from the gates. If you are going to Baikove or Berkovetske cemetery, plan to arrive before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. is the worst time.

It is customary to bring dyed eggs, paska bread and candles to the grave. Some are left at the grave, and some are shared with neighbours in the adjoining plots — that is how the tradition has developed.

Radonytsia — 14 April 2026

The Tuesday after Providna Sunday. In Ukraine it has been an official public holiday since 2010. The Church regards Radonytsia as the "Easter of the dead" — death has been overcome, so the departed are not mourned but remembered with joy.

If you did not make it on Providna Sunday, Radonytsia fully replaces it in meaning. Some visit the cemetery on Sunday, others on Tuesday, and some on both days.

For those living abroad: order grave cleaning 2–3 weeks before Radonytsia. A week before the holiday there are no longer enough providers available.

Trinity Saturday — 23 May 2026

The day before Pentecost (Trinity). The Orthodox Church prays for all who "have passed into eternity". In many families the spring cleaning of the grave is done precisely on Trinity Saturday, once the ground has dried out.

Practically speaking: May is the best time for painting the fence and planting flowers. The soil is warm, and the dry heat has not yet arrived.

Green Sunday — 24 May 2026

Trinity. It is not strictly a memorial day, but it is customary to bring green branches to the cemeteries — birch, maple, sycamore. The tradition varies by region. In Halychyna it is more about flowers, in the central regions about branches.

Dmytrivska Memorial Saturday — 7 November 2026

The Saturday before the feast of Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (8 November) was dedicated by the Church to the remembrance of the dead. For most Ukrainians this is the main autumn memorial day — equal to Radonytsia in significance.

November — after the leaves have fallen — is one of the worst seasons for the appearance of a grave. If you cannot tidy it yourself before 7 November, order this service in advance. October is usually less busy, and the prices are the same.

Regional differences

In Halychyna and Volyn there is a widespread tradition of "Zadushky" or "All Souls' Saturday" — the Saturday before All Saints' Day on 1 November. This is a Greek Catholic and Latin tradition observed in regions with a mixed rite. In 2026 Zadushky falls on 31 October.

In the Chernihiv and Poltava regions there are also "Second Provody" — a week after Radonytsia. If your family comes from there, check the local custom.

In the Odesa region the influence of Catholic and Jewish traditions is noticeable. Some families visit the cemetery on 2 November — on All Souls' Day.

How to prepare for a memorial day

It is best not to wait until the last week. Ten days before Providna Sunday or Radonytsia all the care services are fully booked — they either stop taking requests or put them in a long queue.

Minimal cleaning: clear away leaves and litter, cut the weeds, wash the monument. This takes 1–2 hours and costs from 800 UAH.

If the monument has not been repainted in a long time or the fence has rusted, plan the work a month ahead: some materials take several days to dry and require good weather.