Orthodox Christmas Day is one of the most important holidays for Christians all over the world. Every year on 7 January millions of followers rejoice and remember the day when baby Jesus was born. The occasion is a celebration of a beautiful miracle and is accompanied with a lot of customs and traditions. Christmas is the time of the year to promote joy, peace and love to all.
The Orthodox Day celebration is done in a number of ways. These ways, are unlike the celebration of Christmas in the West, and provide Christians today with a direct connection to many hundreds of years of Christian customs and practice.
What is Orthodox Christmas Day all about?
Orthodox Christmas Day is the day to celebrate the birth of of Jesus Christ, and to remember the occasion as described in the Julian calendar. Although the majority of the world is following the Gregorian calendar, the Orthodox Christian churches are still in the practice of following the Julian calendar. As a result, Orthodox Christmas Day is celebrated on the 7th day of January.
The 7th of January is recognized as Orthodox Christmas Day, which is observed by members of the Orthodox Christian faith worldwide. Many nations recognize this date as a public holiday.
The Origin of Orthodox Christmas Day
The observance of Christmas Day has a long and rich history, as Christians have been commemorating the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ as early as the 1st century. The Christian Church later made Christmas an official holiday.
Among all the Christian denominations, the Orthodox Church is the only Church that has maintained the historically based Christian calendar. The observance of Christmas Day and the ecclesiastical calendar in the Orthodox Church is a reflection of this practice.
This lengthy history is the reason Orthodox Christmas Day is of such great importance to the Church.
Why Orthodox Churches Celebrate Christmas on 7 January
As stated earlier, the Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on the 7th of January. The reason for this celebratory date is due to the predominance of the Julian calendar, which is a calendar system utilized by the Orthodox Church. The Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian. Because of this Julian-Gregorian calendar disparity, Christmas is considered by the Orthodox Church to be a holiday that commemorates a unique historical date.
Countries That Celebrate Orthodox Christmas Day
The countries which recognize and celebrate Orthodox Christmas Day include:““
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Greece
- Serbia
- Georgia
- Armenia
- Ethiopia
- Egypt
In the aforementioned countries, Orthodox Christmas Day is recognized as a public holiday.
Christmas Traditions Related to Orthodox Christianity
Attending church
During Orthodox Christmas Day, church services are very important. People attend church, pray, light candles, and sing songs.
Christmas Fasting
Before Christmas, Orthodox Christians fast for 40 days. This fast is meant to prepare for the day spiritually.
Eating together
After family members attend church, they eat festive meals together. Every region has different meals.
Meaningful Christmas Symbols
The Orthodox Christmas has a lot of important symbols.
- Candles are a reminder of Jesus’ light.
- Stars are a reminder of the Bethlehem star.
- Icons are a reminder of Jesus’ birth.
All of these symbols are important and are meant to give deeper meaning to the day.
Reason Orthodox Christmas Day is Significant
The values of Orthodox Christmas are still very important today.
- Faith
- Peace
- Kindness
- Unity
With the busyness of the world, Orthodox Christmas reminds us to be grateful and to reflect on the important things.
Observing Orthodox Christmas Day
Some ways to observe Orthodox Christmas Day include:
- Understanding the Orthodox Christmas traditions.
- Appreciate the Christian communities.
- Post messages promoting peace.
Final Thoughts: Orthodox Christmas Day is Love, Humility, and Hope
Orthodox Christmas Day is not just a day on the calendar. It is a day to celebrate the values that anchored the ancient faith – love, humility, and hope. Read more: Old Rock Day and Distaff Day
