Bread of Memory
Every year on Holodomor Remembrance Day, Ukrainians around the world light a candle and share a loaf of bread to remember the millions killed by the 1932-33 man-made famine, and to say: they took our bread, they could not take us.
Countdown to Holodomor Remembrance Day
What happened in 1932-33
In 1932-33, the Soviet government under Stalin seized grain and food from Ukrainian villages, sealed the republic's borders to stop people fleeing, and left millions to starve. Historians and the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory estimate the Holodomor killed several million Ukrainians; many countries, including Canada, recognize it as a genocide.
Sources
The ritual
- Buy a loaf from a Ukrainian bakery near you, or bake one at home.
- At 4 p.m. your local time on November 28, light a candle in your window.
- Post a photo with #BreadOfMemory #ХлібПамʼяті and the line: "They took our bread. They could not take us."
- Tag 3 friends to pass the loaf.
Why it matters today
Russia's full-scale invasion has repeatedly struck Ukraine's grain silos, ports and farmland, echoing the same tactic: attacking food to break a nation. Ukraine's grain still feeds millions of people worldwide. If you want to help, reputable organizations such as United24 accept donations directly. We do not run fundraising on this page.
Support a Ukrainian bakery, deli or restaurant
Approved, community-listed Ukrainian food businesses. Buy your loaf from one of these.
Pass the loaf
Add your name to the wall of remembrance.