What's happened
Many Orthodox and Eastern Christian communities celebrate Christmas on January 7 due to their use of the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. This date difference stems from historical calendar reforms, not differing beliefs about Jesus's birth. The celebration includes religious services and community acts of charity.
What's behind the headline?
The calendar split reflects deeper historical and theological choices rather than doctrinal differences about Jesus's birth date. The Julian calendar's continued use by many Orthodox churches preserves centuries-old traditions, but it also highlights the tension between religious identity and scientific accuracy. The shift in Ukraine's public holiday to December 25 indicates a geopolitical move towards Western alignment, yet religious observance remains rooted in traditional calendars. This divergence influences cultural identity, religious practice, and international relations within Orthodox communities. The persistence of the Julian calendar underscores how historical choices continue to shape religious calendars and cultural practices today.
What the papers say
All Africa explains that the date difference is rooted in calendar systems, with about 250-300 million Christians celebrating on January 7, mainly Orthodox and Coptic believers. The Independent details the historical adoption of the Gregorian calendar and how the Julian calendar remains in use by Russian, Serbian, and Ethiopian Orthodox churches, among others. The New Arab emphasizes that the Julian calendar, introduced in 46 BC, is less accurate than the Gregorian, leading to the current 13-day lag. Al Jazeera highlights that the date difference is not about Jesus's actual birth date but about calendar choices, with communities in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and the Middle East still observing January 7. These sources collectively illustrate the complex interplay of history, tradition, and geopolitics behind the date of Christmas celebrations.
How we got here
The divergence in Christmas dates originates from the adoption of different calendars. The Roman church adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582 to correct inaccuracies in the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Many Eastern Orthodox churches continued using the Julian calendar, causing their Christmas to fall on January 7. Some countries, like Ukraine, have shifted to December 25 for public holidays, but many still observe January 7 for religious reasons. The calendar discrepancy persists because the Julian calendar is less precise astronomically, losing a day every 128 years, leading to the current 13-day difference.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
The Julian calendar, proposed by Julius Caesar in AUC 708, was a reform of the Roman calendar. It took effect on 1 January AUC 709, by edict. It was designed with the aid of Greek mathematicians and astronomers such as Sosigenes of Alexandria.
-
The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most of the world. It is named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in October 1582.
-
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Christmas preparation
-
Pope Gregory XIII, born Ugo Boncompagni, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 May 1572 to his death in 1585.