What are Orthodox Christmas Traditions?

The 25th of December is synonymous with Christmas Day, but did you know most Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th? This difference exists because Orthodox Christians choose to follow the Julian calendar, while everyone else follows the Gregorian calendar (the one you see everywhere).

Although the main belief of Christianity is the same in all denominations, there are several differences in traditions and practices. Christmas isn’t the festive holiday at the end of the year in all countries. Orthodox countries such as Belarus, Macedonia, Georgia, and Ukraine are some of the few that have a significant number of Orthodox Christians, and some of them have even announced January 7th as a public holiday!

The day Christmas is celebrated is just one of many differences. Now let's take a deeper look at Orthodox Christmas traditions and how they differ from the traditions you see worldwide.

What are Orthodox Christmas Traditions?

Orthodox Christians do not celebrate Christmas in the generic, commercialized way you may have seen all over the internet. It is not a mere festive holiday, but a time for self-reflection and enhancing faith through prayer.

Nativity Fast

Most Orthodox Christians fast for 40 days before Christmas; this period is also called Advent or the “Nativity Fast” and time is spent focusing on strengthening faith through prayer, reading the Bible and other books to revive religious knowledge, self-reflecting, and repenting for sins.

Holy Night

In a lot of Orthodox countries, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a procession at church which lasts for several hours, also called the “Night Long Vigil” or the “Holy Night”. It is common to light candles throughout the night as well.

Theophany and Epiphany

Western Christians celebrate Epiphany on the 6th of January (Baptism of Jesus Christ), but Orthodox Christians celebrate Theophany around the 19th of January. A common ritual during this time is to partake in blessing water at church or at water bodies such as lakes and rivers.

Blessing of Homes

Another common Orthodox tradition is for priests to sprinkle holy water in parishioners' homes on Christmas day. They visit door to door to execute this tradition which serves as a symbol of receiving blessings of Christ’s birth.

Are there any Similarities?

While Orthodox Christians observe Christmas in a holy and reverent way, it is a celebration after all. This means the fun parts of Christmas such as decorating Christmas trees, wreaths on doors, and gifts are still common practice among Orthodox Christians too!

It is common for Orthodox Christians to celebrate Christmas day with a feast with family and friends and share presents.

Gift Ideas for Orthodox Christians?

If you’re looking for a suitable gift for an Orthodox Christian friend, the Orthodox Calendar Company can help. We offer a variety of gift items especially apt for Orthodox Christians! Here are some options that pair the religious and celebratory aspects of Orthodox Christmas.

Prayer Ropes

Prayer ropes come in various sizes and help people keep track of their prayers, and pray more frequently. However, they can also be worn as bracelets or necklaces depending on their length.

To add an Orthodox touch to this present, you can gift a 33-knot wool prayer rope that is hand-made by Athonite monks. Priced at $11.00, it is a true testament to their craftsmanship and praying tradition.

Another option is the 50-knot prayer rope, to track prayers recited more frequently. It is also hand-made by Athonite monks and comes with a hand-woven Cross as well, for only $16.00.

Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are a sweet gesture but you can use them to spread faith as well as joy!

The Orthodox Calendar Company offers four 5 x 7 cards in sets of 12 or 16. They are adorned with religious illustrations and quotations of prominent Saints. They also come with festive red or gold envelopes which is perfect for Christmas!

Orthodox Calendar

There’s no better way to start the new year than with an Orthodox Calendar. A thoughtful and perfect Christmas gift that will guide you every day.

Gift Sets

You don’t have to choose a single item or order multiple items separately. If you like all of these options, you can also order a premade gift set for a better price! Here are some options that you can check out:

• The Prayer-Rope Gift Set: this comes with either the 33-knot prayer rope or the 50-knot, and is paired with a colorful booklet named “The Prayer Rope”, which talks about the history and importance of prayer ropes, the Jesus Prayer, and how to pray for others.

• Wisdom of the Divine Philosopher’s Gift Bundle: this is a collection of quotations from prominent Saints and elders of the Orthodox Christian Church, offering guidance on multiple topics such as anger, humility, and repentance. These four books can be purchased separately for $15 each, or as a gift set for $55 - what a steal!

Conclusion

Orthodox Christians have a different way of celebrating Christmas than the heavily commercialized version we see on the internet. Their Christmas revolves around the religious aspect of this celebration, and using this time to focus more deeply on praying and self-reflection. Items such as prayer ropes or spiritual books can make suitable presents for Orthodox Christians as they encourage the spirit of praying and learning more about religion.

‍