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The attitude of the Ukrainians to public holidays, February 2017

Press release by Tetiana Piaskovska

The study found that in general, the Ukrainians refer to holidays with love and respect; only 2% of respondents do not relate to any official holidays as important or favorite.

 

In a period of February 10-19 of 2017, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) has conducted its own public opinion poll. Data were collected from 2040 respondents living in 110 settlements (PSU) in all regions of Ukraine (except for AR of Crimea) with the method of personal interviewing. The sample was stochastic and is representative of the population of Ukraine aged 18 and above. In Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts (regions) survey was conducted only in the territories that are controlled by the Ukrainian government. In this survey, the sample covered only the controlled part of Donbas in the same proportion as it was registered for Donbas voters in the last parliamentary elections (October 2014) according to the data of CEC.


The most popular Ukrainian official holidays are:

• Paskha (Easter) - 80%

• Christmas - 80%

• New Year's Day 76%

• International Women's Day - 49%

• Victory Day - 37%

• Trinity - 29%

• Independence Day of Ukraine - 17%

The least popular Ukrainian official holidays are Day of the defender of Ukraine (10%), May Day (7%) and Constitution Day (5%).

In comparison with 2016, the number of those who treat Holy Trinity (from 34 to 29%) and Independence Day of Ukraine (from 20% to 17%) as favorite holidays had decreased. However, there is an increase in the number of those who consider International Women's Day  (from 37% to 49%) and May Day (from 7% to 12%) to be their favorite.

 

Moreover: 

  • Women more than men respect religious holidays and the International Women's Day. Christmas is loved and respected by 82% of women and 77% of men, Women's Day - 57% of women and 39% of men, Easter - 82% of women and 77% of men, Trinity - 33% of women and 23% - men.

  • Men more than women respect and like New Year (78% of men vs. 74% of women), Independence Day of Ukraine (20% vs. 15%) and Ukraine Defender's Day (15% vs. 6%).

  • Religious holidays are the most popular among people with primary education: Christmas - 89%, Easter - 86%, Trinity - 50%. New Year is more popular among people with higher education (79%). International Women's Day is the most popular among people with higher education (54%) and the least popular among people with primary education (37%). Victory Day is a bit more liked by people with secondary education (38%). Ukraine Independence Day is the most popular among people with higher education (25%), the least - among people with secondary education (11%). Ukraine Defender's Day is the most popular among people with higher education (13%), the least - among people with primary education (3%).

 

Byregions:

  •  The largest number of those who consider religious holidays important is concentrated in the Western region (Christmas - 89%, Easter - 90%, Trinity - 52%), the lowest respect for such holidays is shown in the East (Christmas - 60%, Easter - 63%, Trinity - 7%). In the South - 79%, 74%, 22% respectively; in the Central region - 80%, 82%, 23% respectively.

  • New Year is the most popular holiday in the South (89%) and Eastern (88%) regions, the least - in the Western region (57%). In the Central region - 77%.

  • International Women's Day is the least popular among the population of the Western region (33%), the most - in the South (69%). In the Central and East - 47% and 48%, respectively.

  • Victory Day is most respected and loved in the Southern and Eastern regions (53% and 51%, respectively), the least - in the West (11%); in the Central region, 40% of respondents consider it important.

  • Independence Day of Ukraine is most respected in the Western region (32%), the least - in the Eastern region (2%). In the Central region, 17% responded this way, in the South - 10%.

  • Constitution Day is respected from 8% to 2% from the West to the East.

  • Ukraine Defender's Day in the Eastern region is respected only by 1% of the respondents, in other regions – by 10-13%.

 

By age:

  • Religious holidays are almost equally loved and respected by the representatives of all ages, Trinity is a bit more respected by people of retirement age (33%)

  • New Year is more popular in the category 18-39 years (81%)

  • International Women's Day is the most popular among young people of 18-39 years (53%)

  • Victory Day is the most respected by people of retirement age 60-70 + years (48%)

  • Independence Day of Ukraine is the most respected by the representatives of youth (21%), the least – by people of retirement age (14%)

  • Day of Constitution is more respected by young people (8%)

 

Commentary of Volodymyr Paniotto, CEO of KIIS:

“"Assessment of favorite or important events depends simultaneously on the orientation of the respondents, work of media, and from the period of polling (the closer to the date of a particular holiday, the more attention is given to the holiday). New holiday with a new date "Ukraine Defender`s Day" naturally is not yet popular, although the confidence in the army has increased over the last three years: it is trusted by 53% of the population what ranks it third after the church and volunteers (press release about trust: https://kiis.com.ua/?lang=ukr&cat=reports&id=678&page=1). New traditions are not formed quickly. Constitution Day of Ukraine is the last in the list - perhaps it's because of the politicians who themselves treat the Constitution without much respect and change it to fit their immediate needs. International Women's Day is enjoyed by the half the population so we would not advise politicians and the government to lower the status of this holiday because they will also reduce a trust in them, which is already low.

Note also, that young people are more sympathetic to the Independence Day, Ukraine`s Defender Day, Constitution Day than any other age group does, this fact gives optimism in assessing our future."


Addition 1. Formulation of the question from the questionnaire

S0. On this card, there is a list of public holidays of Ukraine, ordered by the calendar. Which of these holidays is the most important for you or is your favorite? Choose, please, no more than 5 events.

 

New Year 1
Christmas 2
International Women`s Day 3
Paskha (Easter) 4
International Workers' Day 5
Victory Day 6
Trinity 7
Constitution Day of Ukraine 8
Independence Day of Ukraine 9
Ukraine Defender's Day 10
ANY OF THESE HOLIDAYS IS IMPORTANT FOR ME OR MY FAVORITE 11
DIFFICULT TO SAY 12
DENIAL FROM ANSWERING 13

 

Tables

Which of these holidays is the most important for you or is your favorite? Choose, please, no more than 5 events.

The dynamics in Ukraine in general from 2013 to 2017, %

  2017 2016 2013
Paskha (Easter) 80 81 83
Christmas 80 79 79
New Year 76 74 81
International Women`s Day 49 37 49
Victory Day 37 35 40
Trinity 29 34 36
Independence Day of Ukraine 17 20 12
International Worker`s Day 12 7 10
Ukraine Defender`s Day 10    
Constitution Day of Ukraine 5 5 4
ANY OF THESE HOLIDAYS IS IMPORTANT TO ME 2 2 2
DIFFICULT TO SAY/ DO NOT KNOW 1 0 1

 

By gender, %:

  male female
New Year 78 74
Christmas 77 82
International Women`s Day 39 57
Paskha (Easter) 77 82
International Worker`s Day 12 12
Victory Day 37 37
Trinity 23 33
Constitution Day of Ukraine 6 4
Independence Day of Ukraine 20 15
Ukraine Defender`s Day 15 6
ANY OF THESE HOLIDAYS 3 1
DIFFICULT TO SAY/ DO NOT KNOW 1 1

By level of education, %:

  primary Completed secondary Special secondary higher
New Year 62 74 76 79
Christmas 89 81 79 79
International Women`s Day 37 44 49 54
Paskha (Easter) 86 83 77 79
International Worker`s Day 11 9 13 13
Victory Day 35 38 37 36
Trinity 50 29 28 26
Constitution Day of Ukraine 8 2 6 7
Independence Day of Ukraine 13 11 16 25
Ukraine Defender`s Day 3 7 11 13
ANY OF THESE HOLIDAYS 1 2 2 1
DIFFICULT TO SAY/ DO NOT KNOW 2 2 1 0

 

By region, %:

  Western Central Southern Eastern
New Year 57 77 89 88
Christmas 89 80 79 60
International Women`s Day 33 47 69 48
Paskha (Easter) 90 82 74 63
International Worker`s Day 6 12 16 15
Victory Day 11 40 53 51
Trinity 52 23 22 7
Constitution Day of Ukraine 8 6 4 2
Independence Day of Ukraine 32 17 10 2
Ukraine Defender`s Day 10 13 11 1
ANY OF THESE HOLIDAYS 2 2 1 3
DIFFICULT TO SAY/ DO NOT KNOW 1 1 0 0

 


7.3.2017
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