How long is the Orthodox Christmas season?
Eastern Christianity
Christmas and Epiphany are celebrated by these churches on 25 December and 6 January using the Julian calendar, which correspond to 7 and 19 January using the Gregorian calendar. The Twelve Days, using the Gregorian calendar, end at sunset on 18 January.
Why is the Orthodox Christmas on January 7th?
Orthodox Christmas day occurs every January 7 because the Orthodox Church still chooses to celebrate the birth of Jesus as per the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar that is currently in use today led to a new Christmas Day on December 25 due to the addition of new elements that changed the calendar year.
When did Greek Orthodox change Christmas?
1923
By 1923, there was a 13-day difference between the two calendars, putting Orthodox Christmas 13 days after December 25. That explains the existence of two Christmases, but the calendar crisis continued for Orthodox churches.
Which Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on December 25?
There are Orthodox Churches in the United States that recognize the holiday dates according to the Julian calendar, for example the Russian, Ukrainian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches. Christmas is still on December 25 in the Julian calendar so the January 7 date is only valid between 1901 and 2100.
What are the 12 days of Christmas in Greece?
The kallikantzaroi are meant to appear only during the 12-day period from Christmas to Epiphany (January 6th). They are supposed to come from the middle of the earth and get into people’s house through the chimney! The kallikantzaroi do things like putting out fires and making milk go off.
Why is Greek Orthodox Christmas different?
Christmas falls on a different day in the Orthodox Church because they still observe the traditional Julian calendar, which has the original dates for Christian celebrations before the Gregorian calendar was introduced. This means that, technically, Orthodox churches still observe Christmas on December 25.
What religion celebrates Christmas on January 6?
‘Women’s Christmas’), also known as Old Christmas, Green Christmas, or Twelfth Night, is one of the traditional names among Irish Christians and Amish Christians for 6 January, which is also known more widely as the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated after the conclusion of the twelve days of Christmastide.
Who celebrates Christmas on 7th?
Many Orthodox Christians annually celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7 to remember Jesus Christ’s birth, described in the Christian Bible. This date works to the Julian calendar that pre-dates the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly observed.
Why dont Greeks celebrate Orthodox Christmas?
The difference is due to how Catholic and Orthodox Christians use different calendars to mark the holy day. Introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, the Gregorian calendar is the world’s widest used civil calendar and it is this calendar that Catholic Christians use to celebrate Christmas on December 25.
Why do Greeks celebrate Christmas in January?
It was believed that the Greek solar year lasted for 365 days, and six hours, according to the Julian calendar, meaning that Christmas celebrations should take place on December 25.
Why do Greek Orthodox celebrate Christmas on the 25th?
What do Greeks believe happen in the 12 days of Christmas?
The Greek twelve days of Christmas begins at Christmas and continues until January 6th, which is known as the Feast of Epiphany. During these twelve days of Christmas, people keep their fires in their houses burning throughout this period. This is to keep evil spirits away from their homes through their chimneys.
Do Orthodox Christians Celebrate 12 Days of Christmas?
Eastern Orthodox Churches use a different religious calendar, so their 12 days of Christmas start on January 7 and run through the Epiphany on January 19. And while Catholics celebrate the Epiphany as a single day, some Protestant churches celebrate it until Ash Wednesday, leading into the season of Lent and Easter.
Why do Greeks not celebrate Orthodox Christmas?
The Greek Orthodox Church does not observe Christmas on January 7. Christmas falls on a different day in the Orthodox Church because they still observe the traditional Julian calendar, which has the original dates for Christian celebrations before the Gregorian calendar was introduced.
Can Greek Orthodox be cremated?
Traditionally, cremation was not permitted in the Greek Orthodox Church. It is still the position of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America that cremation is not permitted. If you intend to have a Greek Orthodox funeral and would like to be cremated, we recommend that you consult with your priest or bishop.
What does the H stand for in Jesus?
Therefore, the English equivalent of the monogram looks like JHC. J is for “Jesus,” C for “Christ,” leaving the middle letter, H. The eta is simply the second letter in the Greek name for Jesus: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ.
Which Orthodox countries celebrate Christmas on January 7?
Christmas Day is a public holiday on January 7 in countries such as Belarus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Russia, and Ukraine. Some countries, such as Armenia, observe Christmas Day on January 6.
What is Santa Claus called in Greece?
Ayios Vassileios
The Greek Santa Claus is known as “Ayios Vassileios” in Greek. He is like the father of Christmas; also an old man with a white beard, who is wearing a red cape.
What do Greeks call Christmas?
Christougena
Christougena, which in Greek means Christmas, is celebrated on the 25th December and is a time when families come together to celebrate.
Is Greek Christmas different?
When you think of Christmas you probably think of big family feasts and handing out gifts to each other. But in Greece, there are no presents on Christmas Day. Instead, the Greeks hand out their gifts on New Year’s to celebrate the feast day of the Agios Vasilis whose feast day is January 1st.
What is the main symbol Christmas in Greece?
The karavaki
What is this? The karavaki is the symbol of Christmas in Greece. After all Greece is country that has a rich tradition of seafaring and a deep appreciation for its seas. This is a Christmas tsoureki.
Do Orthodox Christians say Merry Christmas?
Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, so their Christmas Day is January 7. The world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians are wishing each other a happy Christmas today, almost two weeks after the rest of the world celebrated on December 25.
What do Greeks say when someone passes away?
Greek Funeral Etiquette
Guests at the funeral service often greet the families of the deceased and provide their condolences by saying the phrase “memory eternal” or “may their memory be eternal” or “may you have an abundant life”.
Do you wear black to a Greek funeral?
Memorial Services
Greek Orthodox funeral services never take place on Sundays or on Holy Days. However, a special commemoration service is often held on the Sunday following the burial. After the death, it’s typical for mourners to avoid gatherings for 40 days and to wear only black clothing during that time.
What was Jesus’s last name?
What was Jesus’s Real Name? – YouTube