When is Christmas celebrated in Russia?

For most Russians who follow the Russian Orthodox Church, Christmas falls on 7 January, a date that corresponds to 25 December in the older Julian calendar. That simple fact explains why many calendars and travel guides list a different festive day for Russia than for countries that use the Gregorian calendar.

Core fact

The Russian Orthodox Church keeps liturgical dates on the Julian calendar, which currently runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in much of the world. As a result, the church’s 25 December appears on 7 January in the civil calendar, and that is the day when religious services, family gatherings and many public observances take place.

Quick orienting note

People in Russia often distinguish between the religious celebration on 7 January and Western-style or secular festivities around 25 December. In practice you will find families that observe both: secular New Year parties and gift exchanges near 25 December or 1 January, followed by a more religious or traditional gathering on 7 January. If you plan to attend family moments or a church service, it can help to bring a fitting outfit such as a classic Christmas sweater or matching christmas pajamas for informal celebrations.

Preview of what follows

The rest of this series will explain the calendar arithmetic that produces the 13-day gap, touch on the effect of the Soviet period on public observance, and describe common religious and folk traditions that mark Orthodox Christmas. You will also find practical notes about regional variation across Russia’s time zones and a short comparison between 25 December and 7 January observance. Along the way there will be suggestions for festive attire if you want something playful for a family gathering, from an ugly christmas sweater for a party to a mens christmas sweater for a winter service.

Why January 7?

The simple arithmetic behind the date is that the Russian Orthodox Church keeps its liturgical calendar on the older Julian system, while most of the world uses the Gregorian civil calendar. The Gregorian reform of 1582 corrected the way leap years are counted so the calendar stayed more closely aligned with the solar year. Because that correction was not adopted universally at the same time, the Julian calendar now trails the Gregorian by 13 days for the period 1900 to 2099. That is why the church’s 25 December appears on 7 January in the modern civil calendar.

A brief historical timeline

The feast of the Nativity long predates the calendar split, but the 1582 reform set the stage for later divergence between churches and states. Cultural imports from Western Europe, including the decorated tree and certain seasonal customs, reached Russia at various points, especially during periods of reform and exchange. After the 1917 revolution, religious life was restricted and Christmas lost much of its public prominence for decades. In the 1990s and onwards religious celebration returned to public life and January 7 regained its role as the principal Orthodox Christmas in religious communities, even as secular New Year festivities continued to be widely observed.

How people observe it today

Officially, January 7 is the date most associated with Orthodox Christmas in Russia, and many regions mark it with church services and family gatherings. Observance varies by individual belief and by locality. It is common to find households that combine secular end-of-year celebrations around 25 December or New Year with a more religious or traditional commemoration on 7 January. Several other Eastern Orthodox churches that retain the Julian calendar follow the same schedule, which means similar January celebrations in parts of the Balkans and the Middle East.

Because Russia spans many time zones, local timing for services and meals simply follows the local calendar date, so a midnight liturgy in one region will begin at the locally customary hour even though the civil clock differs elsewhere. Ethnic and regional customs add further variety, with different caroling songs, seasonal meals and folk practices shaping how families spend the holiday period.

Practical notes on attending services and family gatherings

If you plan to attend a liturgy or a family Holy Supper, aim for respectful, modest attire. For informal family moments or lighthearted gatherings it is also common to choose playful seasonal clothes. See our selection of mens christmas sweater and womens christmas sweater for festive options that work for a casual get-together. For relaxed evenings at home, matching christmas pajamas can make the night feel cohesive without overshadowing religious observance.

Five key facts about Russian Christmas

• Church date: The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 7 January in the civil calendar.
• Calendar reason: The Julian calendar’s 25 December equals 7 January in the Gregorian system for 1900 to 2099.
• Twofold celebrations: Many people combine secular December festivities with the religious observance in January.
• Historical shift: Public practice was reduced during the Soviet period and revived after the 1990s.
• Regional variety: Time zones and local customs produce a range of liturgical and household traditions.

Religious ceremonies and family customs

On the evening of 6 January, many churches fill with the low, resonant sound of chant and the soft rustle of prayer books as people gather for liturgy. The atmosphere is quiet and candlelit, with the scent of pine and beeswax lingering in the air and the warm texture of knit garments against cold cheeks. Midnight services and early morning masses place emphasis on the Nativity liturgy, icon veneration and communal singing, giving the day a solemn, immersive quality.

Family observance often centres on the Holy Supper. In homes where the fast is kept, the meal begins after the first star appears and may include a meatless spread of symbolic dishes. The food and table settings vary across regions, and the act of sharing a simple, contemplative meal can feel like a bridge between church and home. Timing of gifts differs too: some families exchange presents after the Holy Supper, while others keep secular New Year exchanges separate.

Folk customs add a playful layer to the season. Carolers known as kolyadki travel between houses singing age-old songs, and during the Svyatki period people tell fortunes or act out short performances. These practices bring laughter, the crunch of snow beneath boots and the smell of warm baked goods into neighbourhoods where communal life remains strong.

Regional differences and time zones

Russia’s vastness means that celebrations take on local colour. In big cities you will notice a blend of secular New Year decorations and traditional churchgoing, while rural areas may keep older forms of observance alive longer into the evening. Indigenous and regional customs, particularly in Siberia, can mix pre-Christian elements with Orthodox rites, producing unique local festivals that highlight music, costume and storytelling.

Because the country spans many time zones, liturgies and meals follow local clocks. A midnight liturgy in one oblast will begin at the locally observed hour, so travel or attending services across regions requires only the usual attention to local time. The variety is part of the charm: similar themes run through the nation, but the sensory details change from place to place.

Contemporary legal and social status

In modern Russia, Orthodox Christmas holds recognised public significance. Since the 1990s the holiday has returned to public life, with churches open for services and communities organising carols and gatherings. Levels of personal observance vary widely. Some people treat 7 January as primarily religious, others focus on festive family time, and many combine secular end-of-year festivities with the spiritual rhythms of January.

Neighboring countries and some Orthodox jurisdictions have chosen different calendar approaches for historical or political reasons, creating occasional contrasts in when communities celebrate the Nativity. These differences are a reminder that calendar choices carry cultural meaning as well as liturgical weight.

Ways to join the atmosphere

If you want to enter the mood without overstepping the solemnity of services, choose modest, warm clothing and keep celebrations gentle and sensory: a fragrant sprig of pine on the table, the soft hum of a choir recording in the background, and the tactile comfort of a favourite knit or loungewear during family time. For cosy evenings at home, matching christmas pajamas can make the night feel cohesive while still honouring the holiday’s refocused simplicity. Wearing a tasteful Christmas sweater to a casual gathering often blends well with both festive cheer and modest observance.

Frequently asked questions

When is Christmas celebrated in Russia?

The Russian Orthodox Church observes Christmas on 7 January in the civil calendar, corresponding to 25 December in the Julian liturgical calendar.

Why do some people celebrate on 25 December as well?

Many Russians combine secular Western-style celebrations around 25 December or New Year with the Orthodox religious commemoration on 7 January; the twofold approach allows both festive social life and traditional religious observance.

What is the Holy Supper and when is it held?

The Holy Supper is a family meal often held after the fast and after the first star is seen on Christmas Eve. Dishes are symbolic and vary regionally, and the supper serves as a quiet moment of togetherness before liturgical celebrations.

Are carols and folk customs still practiced?

Yes. Caroling, fortune-telling and other Svyatki customs remain part of the season in many communities, bringing music, storytelling and local colour to the winter evenings.

For a cosy, low-key celebration at home, explore christmas pajamas to make your evening feel both festive and comfortable.