What Orthodox Christmas is

Christmas as kept by churches that still follow the Julian calendar, which now runs thirteen days behind the Gregorian one, placing the Nativity on 7 January.

It is observed in Russia, Serbia, Georgia, Ethiopia and parts of Ukraine, though several Orthodox churches have moved to the revised calendar and celebrate on 25 December.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. This is a fixed date: it falls on the same day of the month every year, so only the weekday changes.

It is grouped here under Christian, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves on according to the recurrence rule described above. Calculated lunar dates remain estimates until the relevant calendar or local authority confirms them. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a duration of your own.