 |
Unscrewing the lightbulbs
along Jermyn Street. |
Though in London and elsewhere the
Christmas
lights are coming down, in many other countries Christmas has
just arrived.
Orthodox Christianity goes by the Julian Calendar, introduced by Julius
Caesar in 45 BC, which runs thirteen days later than the Gregorian
calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. And though Orthodox
Christian countries use the Gregorian calendar for everyday purposes,
their churches still use the Julian.
Therefore in the Orthodox Church today is Christmas Eve.
Tomorrow, 7 January, is Christmas Day.
 |
| Christmas in Red Square, Moscow. |
There are fifteen countries which follow the Julian calendar for
Christmas: Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova,
Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (I wish they would drop their Macedonian pretensions and come
up with some other name), Greece, Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Also
there is Israel whose Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January if
they are Orthodox, on 25 December if they look to the West, and on 18
January if they belong to the Armenian Church.
 |
| St Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow. |
Russians celebrate Christmas with a big family meal on the Eve which often features twelve courses to represent the twelve apostles and includes fish, stuffed cabbages and beetroot soup.
On Christmas Day, 7 January, they go to church and then settle down for another Christmas dinner.
 |
| Worshippers attending midnight Christmas mass at a Coptic Church in Alexandria. |
Egyptians belonging to the Coptic Orthodox Church observe advent with a fast during which they abstain from meats and other foods derived from animals. But then after midnight mass on Christmas Eve they feast on meat, eggs and butter, and in particular they enjoy a special lamb soup.
On Christmas Day Egyptian Christians come together for
parties and give one another sweet biscuits.
 |
| Father Serapamoun conducts Christmas midnight mass in Alexandria. |
