Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7
Posted January 7, 2012 4:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
For many who follow the Eastern Orthodox calendar, Jan. 7 is Christmas Day.
Orthodox Christians across Canada, including some Russians, Greeks and Serbs, celebrate Christmas Day on Jan. 7 in the Gregorian calendar, which works out to Dec. 25 on the ancient Julian calendar.
For those who follow the Orthodox Christian faith, Friday was Christmas Eve, which marks epiphany, when the three wise men are believed to have arrived at the manger in Bethlehem.
The traditional Christmas Eve dinner is a meatless 12-course meal for the 12 Apostles.
While many Orthodox Christians celebrate on Jan. 7, some groups of Orthodox Christians celebrate it on one of the days around Jan. 7.
For example, many Armenian Orthodox Christians in Canada celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6.
Orthodox Christmas is not marked by a national holiday in Canada, although Orthodox Christian churches are usually busy around this time of year.
