Orthodox Christian feast · Thursday, January 7, 2027
Orthodox Christmas
A fast, a first star, a holy supper and a candlelit liturgy: Christmas on the older church calendar.
Say it like a neighbor
Christ is born!
Say: khris-TOS rozh-DAH-yet-sya · in Russian
Glorify Him!
The traditional reply is “Glorify Him!” (in Russian, slah-VEE-tyeh YEH-go). In Ukrainian it is “Khrystos narodyvsya! Slavimo Yoho!” and in Serbian “Hristos se rodi! Vaistinu se rodi!” Ask your neighbor which they use.
Jan 7
On Christmas Eve (Jan 6), families wait for the first star before they eat.
When is Orthodox Christmas? Key dates and days to know
Main day
Russian, Serbian, Georgian, Ethiopian, Coptic and other churches that keep the older (Julian) calendar celebrate on January 7. Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and many other Orthodox churches celebrate on December 25.
What is Orthodox Christmas and what does it mean?
Orthodox Christmas celebrates the same event as Christmas on December 25: the birth of Jesus Christ. The date differs because some Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the one most of the world uses.
For Orthodox Christians it is a feast of light and joy that follows a forty-day fast. The church service, with its hymns, icons and incense, is the center of the day, and many families keep the rest simple.
How is Orthodox Christmas celebrated? Customs and traditions
Nativity Fast
For forty days many Orthodox Christians go without meat, dairy and eggs as a way to prepare. Fish is allowed on some days. Practice varies by person and parish.
The first star
On Christmas Eve, January 6, families fast until the first star appears, recalling the Star of Bethlehem. Then the Holy Supper begins.
Holy Supper
A meatless meal, often with twelve dishes in Ukrainian and some other Slavic homes. Kutia, a sweet dish of wheat berries, honey and poppy seeds, comes first. An extra place is sometimes set for a guest or for loved ones who have died.
Straw and the didukh
In many Slavic homes, straw goes under the tablecloth to remember the manger. Ukrainian families may also bring in a didukh, a sheaf of wheat.
The liturgy
Services are long, sung and candlelit, and many people stand throughout. They are held in the late evening or early morning of January 7.
Caroling
Groups go house to house singing carols, called kolyadki in Slavic traditions, and sometimes collect treats or donations.
The feast
After the liturgy the fast ends. Meat, dairy and festive foods return, and families visit one another for days.
Being a good neighbor at Orthodox Christmas
Tap each one as you go.
Orthodox Christmas in Houston: how neighbors can take part
13 days later than December 25
Houston’s Orthodox churches draw from many countries and traditions, and not all of them follow the same calendar.
Parishes to ask about services on January 6 and 7 include Holy Mother of God (ROCOR) and St. Jonah Orthodox Church (OCA). Service times for 2027 were not posted when we checked.
The Orthodox Church in America keeps a parish finder online.
Orthodox Christmas events in Houston
Houston parishes set their own times and some post them late. Please call or check their websites. Visitors are generally welcome.
Questions neighbors ask about Orthodox Christmas
Why is Orthodox Christmas on January 7?
Many Orthodox churches, including the Russian and Serbian churches, still use the Julian calendar for fixed feasts. Their December 25 falls on January 7 on the civil calendar. Other Orthodox churches celebrate on December 25.
What do you say on Orthodox Christmas?
The traditional greeting is “Christ is born!” and the reply is “Glorify Him!” “Merry Christmas” is also welcome.
What is the Holy Supper on January 6?
It is a meal on Christmas Eve that ends the Nativity Fast. Families wait for the first star to appear, and the meal is traditionally meatless.
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