When is Orthodox Christmas?
Orthodox Christmas 2027 is on Thursday
Thursday, January 7, 2027
January 7 every year, which is December 25 on the Julian calendar. That's in 95 days.
until Orthodox Christmas begins, in your time zone
Orthodox Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus on January 7 in churches that still follow the Julian calendar, including the Russian, Serbian and Georgian Orthodox churches and the Coptic and Ethiopian churches.
About Orthodox Christmas
For churches that keep the old Julian calendar, Christmas still falls on December 25, but the Julian December 25 currently lines up with January 7 on the Gregorian calendar used in daily life, because the two calendars have drifted 13 days apart. The gap grows by one day in 2100, so from January 2101 the Julian Christmas will fall on January 8.
The Russian, Serbian and Georgian Orthodox churches, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the monasteries of Mount Athos and several other Orthodox churches celebrate on January 7. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt and the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox churches, which use their own ancient calendars, also celebrate on or around January 7. Most other Orthodox churches, including those of Constantinople, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria, follow the Revised Julian calendar drawn up at a 1923 inter-Orthodox meeting, and keep Christmas on December 25. In 2023 the Orthodox Church of Ukraine moved to December 25 as well, and Ukraine shifted its state holiday to match.
Celebrations begin on Christmas Eve, January 6, which for many believers ends a 40-day Nativity fast. In Russia some families wait until the first star appears before sitting down to supper; Serbian families burn an oak branch called the badnjak and later share a round bread, česnica, with a coin baked inside for luck; and in Ethiopia worshippers attend services through the night. January 7 is a public holiday in countries including Russia, Serbia, Belarus, Georgia, Egypt and Ethiopia.
Sources: Associated Press (via The Boston Globe): Orthodox Christmas, why it's celebrated by some believers 13 days after Dec. 25, Orthodox Times: Orthodox Church of Ukraine changes calendar. How we check dates.
How to mark Orthodox Christmas
- Send Christmas greetings on January 7 to Orthodox, Coptic or Ethiopian friends and coworkers.
- Attend a Christmas Eve or Christmas morning service at an Orthodox parish; visitors are usually welcome.
- Cook a meatless Christmas Eve supper, such as kutia, a dish of wheat, honey and poppy seeds served in Slavic Orthodox homes.
- Bake a česnica-style bread with a coin hidden inside and see who finds it.
- Keep a few Christmas decorations up until January 7 to share the holiday with family who celebrate it.
Orthodox Christmas dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday, January 7, 2025 |
| 2026 | Wednesday, January 7, 2026 |
| 2027 | Thursday, January 7, 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday, January 7, 2028 |
| 2029 | Sunday, January 7, 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, January 7, 2030 |
| 2031 | Tuesday, January 7, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Orthodox Christmas 2027?
Orthodox Christmas 2027 is on Thursday, January 7, 2027. It falls on January 7 every year, which is December 25 on the Julian calendar. In 2028, it is on Friday, January 7, 2028.
Why do some Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7?
Their churches follow the Julian calendar, in which December 25 currently falls on January 7 of the Gregorian calendar. They are celebrating the same feast on a different calendar.
Does Ukraine still celebrate Christmas on January 7?
Ukraine's state holiday moved to December 25 in 2023, when the Orthodox Church of Ukraine adopted the Revised Julian calendar. Some believers, including parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, still keep January 7.
Is Orthodox Christmas a public holiday?
No. Orthodox Christmas is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.