Why are Russians celebrating Christmas on January 7? | Explained
The Hindu
Explainer on why Russians are celebrating Christmas on January 7
As everyone is busy chasing resolutions for the new year, Christians in Russia are getting into the Christmas spirit — they are waiting to break their 40-day fast with a giant feast joined by friends and family.
However, they are not alone.
About 12% of Christians across the globe are getting ready to celebrate Christmas on January 7.
For a long time, the Christian world followed the calendar adopted by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar in 46 BC. According to the calendar, one year was the time it took the Sun to go around the Earth. However, the calendar overestimated the solar year by 11 minutes. Over the years, the Julian Calendar and the solar year got increasingly out of sync.
With advances in astronomy, Pope Gregory created the Gregorian Calendar in 1582 to rectify some mistakes of the Julian Calendar. The majority of the Christian world adopted the Gregorian Calendar with Great Britain adopting it in 1752. Slowly, the secular world embraced Pope Gregory’s calendar as well.
Some Christians — known as Orthodox Christians — did not like the change and stuck with the Julian Calendar. By 1923, there was a 13-day difference between the two calendars, putting the Orthodox Christmas 13 days after December 25. Therefore, in some Eastern Orthodox churches, including the largest one in Russia, people celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Followers of the Orthodox Church fast for 40 days before Christmas and stay away from meat. After the Christmas Eve mass on January 6, they throw a giant feast to celebrate the last day of their fast. At the feast, 12 traditional dishes are served, meant to represent Christ’s apostles. Some of the dishes include cabbage soup, baked apples, vegetable stew, and bread. Some groups indulge in caroling, decorating houses with wheat sheaves and the Serbian churches burn an oak branch or a young oak tree which is accompanied by the proclamation of the birth of Christ.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Indian expat in UAE chases elusive rain in the desert, using high-tech tools to forecast and enjoy monsoon nostalgia.
VinFast’s entry into India is a strategic one, and it comes with real investment. The company is setting up a manufacturing facility in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, with an initial capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year, scalable to 150,000 units annually. With an investment of up to USD 500 million, this is not a soft launch—it is a full-fledged push into what is one of the world’s most promising auto markets.
Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein's theories on gravity explained, from mass and distance to spacetime deformation and energy.
The history of the QWERTY keyboard layout and why it remains the standard despite more efficient alternatives available.
Heeng, an essential ingredient in Indian cuisines, is successfully cultivated in India, reducing import dependence and enhancing farmer incomes.
ISRO postpones Axiom-4 mission launch to ISS for Indian astronaut due to weather conditions, rescheduled for June 11.
In Mallakhamb, a traditional performative sport from India, performers balance themselves on a pole and perform acrobatics.
New MagIC method allows cryo-EM study of rare molecules at 100x lower concentration, aided by DuSTER computer workflow.
Discover how AI is transforming scientific research, from predicting protein structures to advancing quantum technologies.
Discover the potential solution to antibiotic resistance with bacteriophages, a natural alternative to combat bacterial infections effectively.
On June 7, 1742, Prussian mathematician Christian Goldbach wrote a letter to Swiss polymath Leonhard Euler. Why does it warrant attention, you seem to be asking. Goldbach outlined a conjecture that bears his name in this letter, a conjecture that is now one of the oldest and most famous unsolved problems in all of number theory. Intrigued? A.S.Ganesh hands you more details about Goldbach and Goldbach’s conjecture…
Discover artisanal lifestyle products at Jaypore, Suvasa, and Bagh in Chennai, offering handcrafted decor, dinnerware, and textiles.
Leprosy resurfaces in India due to climate change, poverty, and stigma, demanding urgent interventions and visibility.