January 7 – Orthodox Christmas

Orthodox Christmas is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS STEP-BY-STEP

Read the article, “Here’s How to Celebrate Orthodox Christmas.”
Read about the fasting process for 40 days starting on November 15.
Try out these delicious Russian food recipes.
Beautiful Russian ornaments and decorations.
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Orthodox Christmas is a special time of the year for many. Celebrated mainly among Orthodox Christians, it usually falls on January 7th, instead of December 25th. For those who observe it, Orthodox Christmas is an important religious holiday that’s filled with joy and happiness.

People often take part in long church services during the evening of January 6th, with traditional carols sung throughout the night. After attending such joyful celebrations, many attend feasts together with family and friends to continue the celebration. Truly, it’s an occasion to be cherished and remembered!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. This day is based on the Julian calendar, which is why it falls 13 days later than the more widely used Gregorian calendar. Orthodox Christians are those who follow the teachings of the Eastern Christian churches, which have been in existence since at least the 4th century CE. The core beliefs of Orthodoxy focus on the divinity of Christ, the Trinity, and the authority of Scripture.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS

Attend Midnight Mass: Participate in the traditional midnight liturgy service to start the celebration of Orthodox Christmas.
Prepare a Twelve-Dish Meal: Cook and enjoy a meal with twelve different dishes, representing the twelve apostles.
Decorate with Iconography: Adorn your home with religious icons and images related to the Nativity.
Sing Christmas Carols: Sing traditional Orthodox Christmas carols, known as “kolyadki,” with family and friends.
Light Candles: Light candles at home or in church to symbolize the light of Christ entering the world.
Bless Your Home: Invite a priest to bless your home with holy water during the Christmas season.
Create a Nativity Scene: Set up a nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus, with figures of the Holy Family, shepherds, and wise men.
Fasting and Feasting: Observe a period of fasting followed by a festive meal to mark the end of the Nativity Fast.
Exchange Gifts: Give and receive gifts with loved ones, symbolizing the gifts brought to Jesus by the Magi.
Read the Nativity Story: Read the account of Christ’s birth from the Gospel of Luke or Matthew.
Bake Traditional Pastries: Make pastries like “kutia” (a sweet grain pudding) or “koliva” (a dish of boiled wheat with honey and nuts).
Attend a Christmas Pageant: Watch or participate in a church Christmas pageant reenacting the Nativity story.
Host a Caroling Party: Invite friends and family over for a caroling party, singing and enjoying festive treats.
Make Orthodox Christmas Crafts: Create crafts like decorated candles or painted icons related to the Nativity.
Visit a Monastery: Take a trip to a nearby monastery to attend services and experience the monastic Christmas traditions.
Share a Christmas Prayer: Gather with family to say special prayers for Christmas, focusing on peace and goodwill.
Organize a Charity Drive: Collect food, clothing, or toys to donate to those in need during the Christmas season.
Cook a Traditional Christmas Dinner: Prepare a meal with traditional Orthodox dishes like stuffed cabbage, borscht, and fish.
Make a Christmas Wreath: Create a wreath with evergreens and candles to symbolize eternal life and light.
Enjoy a Bonfire: Gather around a bonfire, a tradition in some Orthodox cultures, symbolizing the light of Christ.
Visit Family Graves: Pay respects to deceased loved ones by visiting their graves and lighting candles in their memory.
Reflect in Silence: Spend time in quiet reflection or meditation, focusing on the spiritual significance of Christmas.
Watch Orthodox Christmas Films: View films or documentaries about Orthodox Christmas traditions and history.
Organize a Christmas Procession: Participate in or watch a procession with candles, icons, and singing to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Engage in Acts of Kindness: Perform random acts of kindness for others, embodying the spirit of giving and compassion central to Christmas.
Orthodox Christmas Trivia: Organize a trivia game with questions related to Orthodox Christmas traditions, history, and customs.
Christmas Charades: Play a game of charades using Christmas-themed words and phrases, such as nativity scenes, angels, and carolers.
Pin the Star on the Tree: Adapt the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” game by having players pin a star on a Christmas tree blindfolded.
Christmas Bingo: Create bingo cards with Orthodox Christmas symbols and traditions. Use candies as markers and call out different items.
Bible Verse Hunt: Hide slips of paper with different Bible verses around the house. Players must find and match them to complete the Nativity story.
Pass the Parcel: Wrap a gift in multiple layers with a small treat between each layer. Players pass it around and unwrap a layer when the music stops.
Christmas Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt with clues related to Orthodox Christmas traditions and symbols.
Nativity Scene Puzzle: Create or purchase a jigsaw puzzle depicting a nativity scene and work together to complete it.
Christmas Pictionary: Draw Christmas-themed words or scenes for others to guess within a time limit.
Guess the Carol: Hum or play short snippets of Orthodox Christmas carols for players to guess the name of the carol.
Shepherds and Angels Tag: Play a tag game where “shepherds” chase “angels” and try to tag them.
Hot Potato with a Christmas Ornament: Pass a Christmas ornament around while music plays, and the person holding it when the music stops is out.
Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest: Bake and decorate cookies with a Christmas theme. Award prizes for the most creative designs.
Snowball Toss: Create “snowballs” from white socks or cotton balls and have players toss them into a festive bucket.
Christmas Word Search: Create or print a word search puzzle with Christmas-related words and have a timed competition.
Christmas Memory Game: Use pairs of cards with Christmas symbols or scenes. Players take turns flipping them to find matches.
Blindfolded Christmas Tree Decorating: Blindfold players and have them try to decorate a small Christmas tree using simple ornaments.
Name That Saint: Provide clues about different Orthodox saints, and players must guess which saint is being described.
Christmas Ornament Relay: Have a relay race where players must carry an ornament on a spoon from one end of the room to the other.
Gingerbread House Building: Provide materials to build and decorate gingerbread houses in teams or individually.
Christmas Gift Wrap Race: See who can wrap a gift the fastest while making it look neat and presentable.
Candle Balancing Game: Use lightweight, unlit candles and see who can balance them on their heads the longest while walking.
Christmas Story Acting: Act out scenes from the Nativity story with family members taking on different roles.
Musical Chairs with Christmas Hymns: Play musical chairs using Orthodox Christmas hymns instead of regular music.
Snowflake Cutting Contest: Provide paper and scissors and have a contest to see who can create the most intricate paper snowflake design.
Handmade Nativity Scene: Create a nativity scene using clay, wood, or paper to depict the birth of Jesus with Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.
Christmas Icon Painting: Paint a traditional Orthodox icon, such as an image of the Nativity, using acrylic or oil paints on a small canvas.
Star of Bethlehem Ornaments: Craft star ornaments from paper, cardboard, or felt to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.
Orthodox Cross Decorations: Make decorative crosses from wood, beads, or wire to hang on the tree or around the house.
Christmas Candle Holders: Decorate glass jars or tins with paint, glitter, and icons to use as festive candle holders.
Scripture Scrolls: Write Bible verses related to the Nativity on parchment paper, roll them up, and tie with ribbon for display.
Beaded Prayer Bracelets: Create prayer bracelets using beads and elastic string, incorporating Orthodox symbols and colors.
Incense Holders: Mold clay into incense holders, bake them, and paint with festive colors or religious symbols.
Orthodox Christmas Cards: Design and hand-make Christmas cards featuring Orthodox icons, crosses, and Nativity scenes.
Saint Ornaments: Craft ornaments depicting various Orthodox saints using felt, fabric, or paper.
Christmas Stockings: Sew or decorate stockings with religious motifs and colors, using fabric, felt, or knit material.
Liturgical Calendar: Create a liturgical calendar for the upcoming year, marking important Orthodox feast days and celebrations.
Theophany Water Bottles: Decorate small bottles to hold holy water from the Feast of Theophany, using paint and icons.
Advent Wreaths: Make an Orthodox Advent wreath with four candles, each representing a week leading up to Christmas.
Angel Crafts: Use paper, clay, or fabric to create angel decorations for the tree or as table centerpieces.
Orthodox Christmas Garland: String together icons, crosses, and stars to create a festive garland to hang around the home.
Scripture Advent Calendar: Design an advent calendar with a scripture verse behind each door or flap, leading up to Christmas.
Hand-painted Ornaments: Paint glass or wooden ornaments with Orthodox symbols, nativity scenes, or saints.
Icon Magnets: Make small icons and attach magnets to the back to decorate the refrigerator or other metal surfaces.
Nativity Storybook: Create a handmade storybook retelling the Nativity, illustrated and written by hand or using printed images.
Religious Candle Decorations: Decorate candles with Orthodox symbols, ribbon, and paint to use during Christmas services.
Orthodox Hymn Scrolls: Write out the lyrics to traditional Orthodox Christmas hymns on parchment and roll into scrolls.
Beaded Cross Necklaces: String beads together to form cross necklaces, using traditional colors and materials.
Orthodox Icon Bookmarks: Craft bookmarks featuring Orthodox icons and religious symbols, laminated for durability.
Decorative Icon Plaques: Create plaques with images of Orthodox icons, using wood, decoupage, and paint for display.
Kutya: A traditional dish made from wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey, and nuts, symbolizing hope and immortality.
Borscht: A hearty beet soup often served with a dollop of sour cream, common in many Orthodox countries.
Pierogi: Dumplings filled with potatoes, cheese, or sauerkraut, often enjoyed as a festive treat.
Koliva: A sweet dish made from boiled wheat, nuts, raisins, and honey, typically blessed during church services.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls: Cabbage leaves filled with a mixture of rice, meat, and spices, baked in a tomato sauce.
Piroshki: Small buns filled with various fillings like meat, mushrooms, or cabbage, baked or fried until golden brown.
Lenten Bread: A special bread made without dairy or eggs, often baked in the shape of a cross.
Blini: Thin pancakes made from buckwheat flour, typically served with caviar, sour cream, or jam.
Honey Cake (Medovik): A layered cake made with honey and a sour cream or condensed milk filling.
Fish Soup (Ukha): A clear soup made from various types of fish, vegetables, and herbs, often served during fasting periods.
Olivier Salad: A Russian potato salad with diced vegetables, pickles, eggs, and mayonnaise.
Vareniki: Dumplings similar to pierogi, filled with potatoes, cheese, or fruit, and boiled or fried.
Baklava: A sweet pastry made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey.
Prosphora Bread: Small, round loaves of bread used in Orthodox Christian rituals, often baked and shared during Christmas.
Roast Lamb: A festive dish featuring a whole lamb roasted with herbs and spices, symbolizing Christ the Lamb.
Rice Pilaf: A savory dish of rice cooked with vegetables, nuts, and sometimes dried fruits.
Beet Salad (Vinaigrette): A salad made with beets, potatoes, carrots, pickles, and onions, dressed with sunflower oil.
Mushroom Julienne: A creamy mushroom dish baked with sour cream and cheese, often served as an appetizer.
Pashka: A traditional Easter dish made from cheese, often molded into a pyramid shape and decorated with religious symbols, sometimes enjoyed during Christmas as well.
Roasted Duck: A rich and flavorful dish often prepared with apples or oranges, served as a centerpiece for the Christmas meal.
Pelmeni: Small meat-filled dumplings typically served with sour cream or vinegar.
Fruit Kompot: A refreshing drink made by simmering dried fruits with sugar and spices.
Braided Bread (Kalach): A festive bread shaped into a braid or ring, symbolizing eternity and unity.
Caviar with Blini: Delicate fish eggs served atop small pancakes, often garnished with sour cream or dill.
Nut Roll (Povitica): A sweet bread rolled with a walnut filling, often served sliced as a dessert.