Orthodox Christmas 2026: History, Significance, Rituals; Why Is It Celebrated 13 Days After December 25

Orthodox Christmas will be observed on January 7, by millions of Christians across Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. While much of the world celebrates Christmas on December 25, Orthodox Christians follow a different liturgical calendar, making their celebration fall 13 days later...

The difference in dates arises from the use of two calendars. Most Western Christian churches follow the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct inaccuracies in the older Julian calendar. This reform fixed the date of Christmas as December 25.

However, many Orthodox churches chose not to adopt the Gregorian calendar for religious observances and continue to follow the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC. Today, the Julian calendar lags 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. As a result, December 25 on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 7 on the Gregorian calendar, which is why Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on that date.

The decision to retain the Julian calendar is closely tied to Orthodox Christianity’s emphasis on preserving early Church traditions and maintaining continuity with ancient practices, especially following the Great Schism of 1054, when Christianity formally split into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic branches.

Leading up to Christmas, Orthodox Christians observe the Nativity Fast, abstaining from meat, dairy, and animal products. The fast encourages spiritual discipline and reflection, similar in importance to Lent before Easter.

Christmas Eve, observed on January 6, is marked by the Holy Supper, known as Svyata Vechera in Slavic traditions. The meal is meatless and begins only after the first star appears in the sky, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem.

On January 7, the fast is broken. Families gather for festive meals featuring meat dishes, breads, pastries, and desserts...

Natasha was not allowed to worship in Ukraine

Nonsense, show ONE church that was closed in Ukraine. Ukrainian Orthodox churches, could not follow the Moscow Patriarch, after the head of that church Kirill, a former KGB agent, declared Putin's invasion of Ukraine a "Holy War". So every church following Moscow officially switched allegiance. None were closed.

No country would tolerate a religion that called for its destruction.

As to religious freedom, Russia continues to persecute pastors and shutter churches, including Protestant, Baptist, Catholic, Orthodox Church of Ukraine and others.

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has told his followers that "sacrifice in the course of carrying out your military duty washes away all sins."

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-patriarch-kirill-dying-ukraine-sins/32052380.html

As reported by HRWF on 30 March 2024, on 27 March 2024 Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) leaders approved a document declaring the invasion of Ukraine to be a "Holy War." The declaration was made during a congress of the World Russian People's Council in which religious, political and cultural figures met in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior and states: "From a spiritual and moral point of view, the special military operation is a Holy War, in which Russia and its people, are defending the single spiritual space of Holy Russia." The declaration went on to claim that the war had the goal of "protecting the world from the onslaught of globalism and the victory of the West, which has fallen into Satanism."

https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/research-reports/articles/stories/Russia-Ukraine-ROC-states-that-war-against-Ukraine-is-Holy-War/

Christmas Eve, observed on January 6, is marked by the Holy Supper, known as Svyata Vechera in Slavic traditions.

By the time I had come along, our Holy Supper was on 12/24 to align with the rest of the small town...it was just easier, especially since the coal mines where my relatives worked adhered to “Western” time and their day off was 12/25. That’s what I surmise...anyone who could tell me definitively has long passed.

I grew up in a Catholic/ Orthodox blended home but Holy Supper was the only real Slavic tradition we still keep.
It was always a warm time...

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