Menorah instead of candle: Holocaust memory on TV. Ukraine has secured new symbols for memorable dates

Ukraine has updated the rules of television broadcasting on memorial days: the single “candle for everyone” is gone, and instead, the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting has established its own symbols for four key dates.

The Menorah will be shown on January 27 — Holocaust Remembrance Day; the poppy — May 8; the sunflower — August 29; the candle — only on Holodomor Remembrance Day.

Why this was done: to move away from a formal picture and make remembrance more targeted and understandable to the viewer — which exact day and which tragedy the country commemorates. If you turn on the TV on January 27 — the viewer will see the Menorah.

Memorial dates in Ukraine: what they are and how they differ from holidays

Memorial dates are working days of national mourning and respect, when the state officially commemorates tragedies, victims, and heroes. They are needed so that society does not lose connection with the important lessons of the past.

Who approves: the list is established by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by resolutions (the 2025 calendar is approved, in particular, by Resolution № 3536-IX and clarifications of summer 2025). Legally, this is a separate category of dates.

How memorial dates differ from state holidays

• State holidays (Independence Day, Constitution Day, etc.) are fixed in labor law and provide an official day off.
• Memorial dates — without days off, but with a minute of silence, mourning events, and special broadcasting rules.

How they differ from religious holidays

• Religious Christian holidays (Easter, Christmas, Trinity) are days off by law and part of spiritual tradition.
• For Jews, Muslims, and other faiths, up to three days of leave without pay are provided: this allows observing Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, and other dates.

“Memorial dates are not about fireworks and days off. They are about collective memory, which unites society and teaches to distinguish tragedies and their meaning.”

Why the National Council matters here and what decision it made

National Council — the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting. It is the media regulator: it licenses channels, monitors compliance with the law, and approves broadcasting rules.

On August 21, 2025, the regulator approved new rules for memorial days after public discussion. The goal is to move away from “technical candle display” and give the symbols concrete and clear meaning.

How it was before: the same candle on all memorial days

Since 2015, TV channels on memorial days displayed a single sign in the corner of the screen — a candle. It worked as a reminder of mourning but stopped explaining which exact date was observed.

The viewer saw the symbol but often did not understand — was it the Holocaust, the Holodomor, Chernobyl, or the defenders’ remembrance. The meaning was lost in habit.

13 memorial dates of Ukraine in 2025: a short guide

1. 1. January 20 — 10 years since the battles for Donetsk airport.
      In January 2015, Ukrainian soldiers held the defense of the airport for almost 250 days. They were called “cyborgs.” This date became a symbol of courage and sacrifice.
   2. January 27 — Holocaust Remembrance Day.
      An international day of mourning. In Ukraine, it is associated with Babyn Yar, executions in Kamianets-Podilskyi, and destroyed Jewish communities. Now the candle is replaced by the Menorah.
   3. February 20 — Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Day.
      On this day, Ukraine honors those killed during the Revolution of Dignity. Their sacrifice changed the country’s history.
   4. April 26 — anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.
      The 1986 tragedy became the largest man-made catastrophe of the 20th century. This day reminds of the dead and of the heroism of the liquidators.
   5. May 8 — Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism.
      Ukraine celebrates it together with Europe. It is a day of mourning and gratitude. The symbol is the red poppy.
   6. May 14 — Day of Remembrance of Ukrainians who saved Jews during World War II.
      Dedicated to those who sheltered Jews during the war. Many were honored as “Righteous Among the Nations,” thousands remained unknown.
   7. May 18 — Day of Remembrance of victims of political repressions and the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people.
      In 1944, the entire Crimean Tatar people were forcibly deported. The date unites two tragedies — Stalinist repressions and ethnic deportation.
   8. June 4 — Day of Remembrance of children killed by Russian aggression.
      A modern date. Hundreds of children became victims of the war, their names will remain forever in memory.
   9. June 15 — 250 years since the destruction of the Zaporizhian Sich.
      In 1775, the Russian army destroyed the Zaporizhian Sich — a symbol of Ukrainian statehood and freedom.
   10. July 28 — Day of Remembrance of Ukrainians who died in captivity and from torture.
       This date returns a voice to those who perished in camps, prisons, and interrogations.
   11. August 29 — Day of Remembrance of Defenders of Ukraine.
       The date is linked to the tragedy of the Ilovaisk pocket of 2014. The symbol is the sunflower that grew in those fields.
   12. September 14 — Day of Remembrance of victims of the deportation of Ukrainians.
       In 1944–1951, thousands of families were forcibly resettled from Lemkivshchyna, Kholmshchyna, and other regions.
   13. November 22 — Holodomor Remembrance Day.
       Millions of victims of the artificial famine of 1932–1933. Now the candle is fixed as the symbol specifically of this tragedy.

What exactly changed: four symbols instead of “one candle for all occasions”

The new rules establish unified stylized images only for four dates. For others, permanent graphics are not mandatory. Exempt from this requirement are children’s, music, and adult channels; religious channels may not use the Menorah.

The four approved symbols

• January 27 — Menorah. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a stylized Menorah is shown. A direct and respected symbol of Jewish memory.
• May 8 — Poppy. On the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism — the red poppy as a pan-European symbol of mourning for World War II victims.
• August 29 — Sunflower. On the Day of Remembrance of Defenders of Ukraine — the sunflower, a reference to the fields of Ilovaisk.
• November 22 — Candle. On Holodomor Remembrance Day — a burning candle, now fixed specifically for this date.

Two dates connected with Jewish history: why this matters for Israel and the diaspora

January 27 — Holocaust Remembrance Day: Ukraine, together with the whole world, honors the victims of the Shoah. On its land under Nazi occupation, some of the worst crimes against Jews occurred — from Babyn Yar to Kamianets-Podilskyi. The National Council’s decision to fix the Menorah instead of the universal candle emphasizes respect for Jewish memory and makes it visible on air.

May 14 — Day of Remembrance of Ukrainians who saved Jews during World War II: this date is dedicated to Ukrainians who hid and saved Jews, risking their lives. Many are recognized in Israel as “Righteous Among the Nations,” thousands remained nameless. The Ukrainian calendar of remembrance reminds: alongside tragedy, there is always human courage.

Who must show the symbols and who does not

• Required: all linear TV channels and radio stations in Ukraine that have a broadcasting schedule.
• Exceptions: children’s, music, and adult channels are exempt; religious channels may choose not to use the Menorah.
• Minutes of silence: at noon (12:00) an obligatory minute of silence remains with an announcement regarding the memorial day.

Why the reform and what it gives to the viewer

The simple answer: so that the symbol on the screen explains, not just “hangs.” Now the viewer immediately understands which tragedy or page of history is being marked.

For families in Ukraine, it is also pedagogy: conversations with children become more concrete. The Menorah explains the Holocaust, the poppy — World War II, the sunflower — the defenders of Ukraine, the candle — the Holodomor.

Result: targeted memory instead of formality

Ukraine abandoned the universal “candle for all occasions” and fixed four symbols for four dates. This is more honest with history and more useful for the viewer: less abstraction, more meaning.

For Israel and the global Jewish diaspora, two pillars are important — the Menorah on January 27 and the recognition of the rescuers’ courage on May 14. Thus, a common language of remembrance is formed between Ukraine and Israel.

NAnews – News of Israel notes: the Menorah symbol makes Ukrainian broadcasting understandable to any viewer from Israel and the Jewish diaspora, where family history and the Shoah are part of daily identity. In this way, bridges of memory become tangible, not declarative.

FAQ

What was previously shown on TV on memorial days?

Previously, all TV channels were obliged to display a candle image in the corner of the screen as a universal symbol of mourning.

What changed in 2025?

On August 21, 2025, the National Council approved new rules. Separate symbols were fixed for four key dates: Menorah, Poppy, Sunflower, and Candle.

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Which four symbols were approved?

January 27 — Menorah (Holocaust), May 8 — Poppy (victory over Nazism), August 29 — Sunflower (Defenders of Ukraine), November 22 — Candle (Holodomor victims).

Who must show the symbols?

All TV channels of Ukraine are obliged to use the symbols. Exceptions: children’s, music, and adult channels, as well as religious ones — they may not show the Menorah.

Why is this important for Israel and the Jewish diaspora?

January 27 and May 14 are directly connected to Jewish history. The Menorah emphasizes remembrance of Holocaust victims, and May 14 recalls the Righteous who saved Jews during the war.

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