Why Some Christians Celebrate Christmas on January 7th Instead of December 25th

Discover why certain Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th and the significance of the Julian calendar.

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Some Christians, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church, do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Instead, they follow the Julian calendar and celebrate on January 7th. The difference in dates stems from the use of the Julian calendar as opposed to the Gregorian calendar, which most Western Christian churches use. This variation also applies to certain Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic communities.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is the Julian calendar? The Julian calendar is a calendar system introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, still used by some Christians for religious observances.
  2. Why do some Eastern Orthodox Christians not celebrate on December 25th? Many Eastern Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, which places Christmas on January 7th due to differences with the Gregorian calendar.
  3. Which other groups celebrate Christmas on January 7th? In addition to the Eastern Orthodox Church, certain Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic communities also observe Christmas on January 7th.