Why Millions Celebrate Orthodox Christmas January 7: The Calendar Divide

For approximately 250 million people, Christmas isn't over—it's just beginning. While much of the world unwrapped gifts weeks ago, Orthodox Christians across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ today, on January 7, 2026. This isn't a dispute over theology, but rather a commitment to an ancient timekeeping system that predates modern global standards.

The 13-Day Gap: Orthodox Christmas January 7 Explained

The divergence in dates traces back to 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar. It was designed to replace the less accurate Julian calendar, which had drifted out of sync with the solar year by about 11 minutes annually. According to reports from Al Jazeera, many Orthodox and Eastern churches chose to ignore the reform to preserve their religious traditions.

Today, the Julian calendar lags exactly 13 days behind the Gregorian system. Consequently, December 25 on the old calendar aligns with January 7 on our modern calendars. If this tradition continues, the celebration will shift to January 8 in the year 2101 as the gap widens.

Global Traditions and Geopolitical Shifts

Major groups following this tradition include the Russian, Serbian, and Georgian Orthodox Churches, as well as the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. Interestingly, geopolitical changes often influence these religious dates. In 2023, Ukraine officially moved its public holiday to December 25 to distance itself from Russian tradition, though many citizens still privately observe the January date.