Confirm the durability and deny the myths, remind that Ukraine is not a young country. On July 28, the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus, a national holiday is celebrated - the Day of Ukrainian Statehood.

The holiday is young, on the other hand, it is aimed deep into the ages — in order to confirm the continuity of over a thousand-year-old traditions of Ukrainian state-building.

For the second year in a row, on July 28, Ukraine celebrates the holiday of Ukrainian statehood. Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the law on the introduction of a holiday during the Independence Day celebrations in 2021.

Also, Orthodox Christians traditionally celebrate July 28 as the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus and Prince Volodymyr.

 

History of the holiday of Ukrainian statehood

 

According to the annals, Ukraine as a state dates back to the times of Kyivan Rus. The history of the Ukrainian people began neither 30 nor 130 years ago. Ukrainian statehood is more than a thousand years old.

The rich history of Ukraine is directly related to Volodymyr the Great, who baptized Rus on July 28, 988 and thus joined it to European civilization.

Ukraine inherited Christianity along with the culture and traditions of Russia. That is why July 28 was chosen as the date for the state holiday.

"We consider the year of the foundation of Kyiv - the capital of Kyivan Rus'-Ukraine, which is not for nothing called the place where everything begins," President Zelenskyy said during the celebratory parade on Independence Day in 2021, as the starting point of our statehood.

 

Symbolics

 

"The concept of celebrating the Statehood Day of Ukraine is based on the idea of affirming the connection of Ukrainians living now with many generations of our people," the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy said in a statement. "This identity should evoke a sense of unity."

Each of the tridents in the National Day pattern has its own meaning. They are a symbol of struggle, independence, history and identity. The colors are also not accidental - flesh-colored, crimson (as on Cossack flags), yellow (as tape in the military), blue from the Ukrainian flag.