CHRISTMAS REFERENCE
Christmas is celebrated on different dates depending on which calendar a country or church follows. Most of the world uses December 25 (Gregorian calendar), but Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar celebrate on January 7.
| Date | Calendar | Countries / Churches |
|---|---|---|
| December 25 | Gregorian | USA, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Canada, Australia, most of the world |
| January 7 | Julian (Orthodox) | Russia, Serbia, Ethiopia, Egypt (Coptic), Ukraine (partially), Georgia |
| January 19 | Armenian | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Both Dec 25 and Jan 7 | Both calendars | Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Moldova |
Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on December 25 — but in the Julian calendar. Because the Julian calendar is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, December 25 Julian = January 7 Gregorian.
The Julian calendar was used throughout the Roman world until Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian reform in 1582. Eastern Orthodox churches were not under Rome and did not adopt the Gregorian calendar for religious observances.
| Country | Public holiday(s) | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Christmas Day + Boxing Day | Dec 25–26 |
| Germany | 1st and 2nd Christmas Day | Dec 25–26 |
| France | Christmas Day only | Dec 25 |
| United States | Christmas Day only | Dec 25 |
| Russia | Orthodox Christmas | Jan 7 |
| Ethiopia | Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) | Jan 7 |
| Australia | Christmas Day + Boxing Day | Dec 25–26 |
| Brazil | Christmas Day only | Dec 25 |
The Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar. December 25 in the Julian calendar = January 7 Gregorian (13-day difference). So Russian Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7.
No. Greek, Romanian, and Bulgarian Orthodox churches celebrate on December 25 (using the Revised Julian Calendar). Russian, Serbian, and Georgian Orthodox churches still use January 7.
Christmas (December 25) is a public holiday in most Christian-majority countries. It is not a public holiday in Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, and several other non-Christian-majority nations.
Ethiopian Christmas ("Genna") is celebrated on January 7. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church follows the Julian calendar.