An interesting question: what date is Christmas?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

One of the most significant holidays of the entire Christian world, Christmas, still causes controversy and disagreement within the church. So what date is Christmas? Almost all Christians celebrate it on December 25 of every year. However, Orthodox Christians honor the birth of the baby Jesus on January 7, given the so-called old style.

Oddly enough, but in both cases we are talking about the same calendar day. It’s just that Europe has been living according to its own calendar for many centuries, and the young Soviet state also switched to the same method of reckoning in 1917 to avoid possible difficulties. But our Orthodox Church has remained forever faithful to the old Gregorian calendar and continues to count all its holidays according to it.

And another branch of the Christian church celebrates this day in its own way. Following the traditions of the ancient Eastern dioceses, the Armenian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 6, combining it with the feast of Epiphany into a single feast of Theophany.

There is no direct mention of the date of Christmas, neither in the Bible, nor in any of the Gospels. There is only a clear and understandable answer, when the martyrdom was accepted by the Redeemer.death, - on this day the church Easter is celebrated. And Sunday is considered a holiday in commemoration of the Holy Resurrection.

From the very beginning of the last millennium, many church scholars have been conducting research on this subject of the date of Christmas. As a result, the theory of Dionysius the Lesser became generally accepted, who in 525 introduced the chronology "from the Nativity of Christ." According to Hebrew tradition, the life of Christ on earth lasted an even full number of years. So, counting nine months from the date of Easter (March 25), we got the date of the birth of the Savior.

Meanwhile, many historians see in this date the desire of the Christian Church to avert its unstable flock from celebrating pagan rites. After all, this day falls on the day of the winter solstice, which was revered in many pagan religions.

Christmas is a great holiday. The light of love and forgiveness unites all Christian humanity on this sacred day for a huge number of people. Children are preparing for it, waiting for gifts. The tradition of giving and receiving gifts at Christmas also came into everyday human life from the Bible. Magi from all over the world, having learned about the birth of the son of God, brought him gifts. So we give gifts to those people whom we love and respect. It's so nice on this holiday not only to receive, but also to give gifts. And they do not have to be expensive, you can make them yourself. And a beautiful wrapper will give the most simple souvenir a festive look.

Every home is filled with funhappiness at Christmas. The number of people who are waiting for a miracle, doing good deeds themselves, is increasing on these holidays. And they are not too concerned about the church background of the issue and what date is Christmas.

Many residents of the post-Soviet space, who consider themselves Christians, solved this issue very simply. And, without really thinking about what date Christmas is, they celebrate it twice: according to the Gregorian and Julian style.