The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336AD, during the time of the Emperor Constantine (306-337). The earliest known indication of a celebration of Christmas comes in a passing statement by St Clement of Alexandria who mentions that the Egyptians of his time celebrated the Lord’s birth on 20 May. It is important to remember that in the very first few years of the Church, the only feast days being celebrated were those to do with the death and resurrection of Christ: that is, Pascha. There are several theories surrounding the question as to why 25 December was chosen as the day to celebrate the nativity of our Lord. Candles may be lit to represent the light of Christ and the festive Christmas meal represents the end of fasting. In countries historically shaped by Western Christianity (Roman Catholicism, Protestantism) these customs often involve gift giving, "king cakes" and a celebratory close to the Christmas season. Many Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25 but there are some who hold tradition by observing the date on January 7. In Christianity, the Nativity Fast is a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Catholic Church in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus on December 25. Many people, especially in rural areas, did not accept the loss of these 11 days and preferred to use the Julian calendar. The Christmas dates around January 7 may vary among some churches. Overview. The type of food and activity may vary depending on the country’s culture and traditions. In the first century the Church did not celebrate the birth of Christ. Hong Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday. By the end of the fourth century, most Church jurisdictions all over the known world had agreed to celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ on 25 December. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with its headquarters located in the City of New York, ... Nativity of Christ (December 25) / Christmas Message to the faithful (12/25/2000) "Come, O faithful. Orthodox Christians in central and eastern Europe and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on January 7. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who many Christians believe is the son of God. Many Orthodox Christians annually celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7 to remember Jesus Christ’s birth, described in the Christian Bible. Some Orthodox Christians visit a church to pray or reflect on inner thoughts in the lead up to the Orthodox Christmas Day. Greek Orthodox faithful observe four main fasting periods and many individual fast days according to a calendar based on the date of Pascha ... (Christmas) December 25 * Theotokos: Mary, Mother of God ** Theophany: Epiphany Learn About Greek Orthodox Great Lent Traditions. On December 20th, the Greek Orthodox Church begins the Forefeast of the Nativity, whose liturgical structure is similar to the Holy Week preceding Pascha, for the birth of the Son of God is the beginning of the saving ministry which will lead Him, for the sake of our salvation, to the ultimate sacrifice of the Cross. Fish, wine and oil are allowed on November 16, November 30, December 4, 6, 12, and 20. Greek Orthodox Christmas. Christmas January 7 is also known as the Old Christmas. It is believed that fasting helps people shift their focus from themselves to others, spending less time worrying about food and using more time in increased prayer and caring for the poor. Like most Greeks, I was raised in the Orthodox Church. Public Life. Interestingly, the Armenian Orthodox Church, which broke away from the Universal Church in the fourth century and thus did not change its practice of celebrating Christmas, still celebrates Epiphany as a combined commemoration of the birth and baptism of Christ, just as the Church did in the 2nd – 3rd century. Slow-cooked kidney beans with potatoes, garlic, and seasoning. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon, others called it the Storm Moon. The day is a time of reflection, inner thoughts and healing in many eastern European countries. Christmas is still on December 25 in the Julian calendar so the January 7 date is only valid between 1901 and 2100 The Gregorian date for Orthodox Christmas will be January 8 in 2101 if the Julian calendar is still used. The Christmas meal usually includes meat and different types of pastries. This date works to the Julian calendar that pre-dates the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly observed. You might be a wonder to know when you heard about Christmas on 7 th January. Many Orthodox Christians fast before January 7, usually excluding meat and dairy products. This means that churches still on the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on 6 January and they celebrate Epiphany on 19 January, Source: Lychnos December 2016 / January 2017, © 2020 Greek Orthodox Christian Society | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia |. Greek Orthodox Christmas Day You must have heard About the greek orthodox Christians who celebrate Christmas on 25 th of December every year. Following the Gregorian calendar, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 25 December. Most Orthodox Christians for example, celebrate Christmas on January 7th as opposed to December 25th – today namely being the Coptic Orthodox Church (in Egypt) and the Russian Orthodox Church. No fish may be consumed from December 20-24, and hymns are sung during this time. No date is given in the Bible, only some hints according to certain historical events that happened at that time. Shows. Orthodox Christians in Greece, Cyprus and Romania all celebrate on the 25 December as we do after adopting a revised version of the Julian calendar in 1923. After the Christmas Eve service in Greece, it is tradition to come home from church to break the fast. Saint Nicholas Day, also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, is observed on 6 December or on 5 December in Western Christian countries, and on 19 December in Eastern Christian countries using the old church Calendar.It is the feast day of Nicholas of Myra with particular regard to his reputation as a bringer of gifts.. In some parts of Christendom the feast of Christmas was celebrated on 6 December, while in other parts it stayed on 6 January. Together with the Magi, the Kings of the East. Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. Many Orthodox Christians in countries such as the United States fast before Christmas Day. Home. This meant celebrating the fact that God took on human form and visited us: “God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us!” Later the Church decided to break up the Epiphany feast into its components: the birth, baptism, the circumcision and the entering into the temple. December 25th might have also been chosen because the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan Roman midwinter festivals called ‘Saturnalia’ and ‘Dies Natalis Solis Invicti’ took place in December around this date. Lenten bread… One traditional Russian Christmas dish is baked goose with apples. If the Church was to celebrate Christmas, they would have to select a date. For example, they would say: “Mark was born during the reign of Tiberius” rather than on a particular date. Countries such as Japan, where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have a… One theory is that 25 December was chosen to Christianise the pagan festival which some Christians were still celebrating, even as late as the 4th Century. Today, the Russian, Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian, and Polish Orthodox Churches live by the Julian calendar, as well as the monasteries on Mount Athos in Greece and the Orthodox and Greek … The difference in these dates lies in the history of how these dates came about in the first place. Around the 1920s the Orthodox Churches around the world decided to move from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, because the Julian Calendar was mathematically flawed and was thirteen days behind. Privacy & Terms. Eleven days were dropped to make up for the calendar discrepancy that accumulated with Julian calendar when England and Scotland switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. The 12 months of the year are linked to the Moon's orbit around Earth. While Christmas on January 7 is often called the “Orthodox Christmas,” almost half of the world’s Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25, alongside with most of the world. Is midnight 12 am or 12 pm? Therefore, some Christians celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ on the 25th. Many Orthodox churches recognize the holiday dates according to the Julian calendar. Why are there 12 months? From now on, most of the liturgical hymns in Greek Orthodox … The Christmas dates around January 7 may vary among some churches. Some Orthodox countries - including Greece, Cyprus and Romania - adopted a revised Julian calendar in 1923, and now celebrate with us on December 25. Many people identify the Nativity Fast as the period of preparing to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth. For example, in Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania, Christmas celebrations are held on the 25th of December. Vegetables and herbs such as potatoes, peas, and garlic. Eventually the majority of Christian bishops agreed to celebrate on 25 December. Some Orthodox Christians observe the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds (those who visited baby Jesus) on January 6, followed by the Adoration of the Magi (three wise men or kings) on January 7. Christmas celebrations in Greece officially last for 14 days, starting on Christmas Eve and ending on Epiphany (6 January) with the ‘Great Blessing of Water’. Watch. I was born and raised in a small village called Rentina in the rugged mountains of central Greece. It was also the time of the Jewish festival of lights called Hanukkah. For example, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Russian Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas Day on January 7, while the The January 7 celebration of Christmas Day is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States. Live. These commemorations were each given different dates and you can be sure there was a lot of debate about the dates. Orthodox Christians who use the revised Julian calendar celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar. 25 December. Orthodox Christians who use the older version of the Julian calendar, celebrate this occasion on December 25 in the older calendar, which is January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. Christmas Day/ December 25, 2020 - Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church of Florence, SC. So the birth date of Jesus was most probably never recorded. Some Orthodox countries – such as Greece, Cyprus and Romania – now use 25 December as they changed calendars. 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