Many Eastern Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas on January Seventh

Millions of Christians Around the World Celebrate Christmas Today

Christmas is being observed today by millions of Christians across Eastern Europe, the Arab world, and other regions, with approximately 250 million adherents worldwide. The holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, who was born in Bethlehem.

However, for many communities, including those using the Julian calendar, January 7 marks a significant date rather than December 25. This difference in celebration dates back to 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar to replace the Julian calendar.

The Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, had an error of approximately 11 minutes per year, causing the seasons to drift out of place over time. To correct this issue, the world skipped 10 days to align with the new calendar, resulting in a 13-day gap between the two calendars.

As a result, December 25 on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 7 on modern calendars. This discrepancy affects approximately 250-300 million Christians, primarily those using the Julian calendar, who celebrate Christmas on January 7. Notable countries that observe this date include Ukraine, Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria.

In contrast, about 2 billion Christians worldwide celebrate Christmas on December 25, including Catholics, Protestants, and some Orthodox Christians who have adopted the Gregorian calendar. The exact date of Jesus’s birth is not known with certainty, but early Christians believed he was conceived on March 25, resulting in a celebration date of December 25.

The use of different calendars for Christmas celebrations has historical roots dating back to ancient Rome, where January 1 was established as New Year’s Day in 153 BC. The Roman calendar reform by Julius Caesar in 46 BC retained this date, which is now observed on the Gregorian calendar.

Source: Al Jazeera