Dear friends,
today we talk about differences between Orthodox and Catholic Christmas. As you know, we Ukrainians and Russians celebrate our Christmas on January 6. And it is important to learn about that because Christmas is a great part of each nation’s culture. So let’s go!
Differences between Orthodox and Catholic Christmas start with the designated day of celebration. In addition to varying views on papal authority and original sin, the churches use different calendars to calculate religious holidays. Christmas celebrations take on a different appearance for each group.
Dates
Catholics use the Julian calendar to calculate religious holidays. Julius Caesar created Julian dates in 45 Before Common Era (BCE). Orthodox Christianity relies on the Gregorian calendar created in 1582 by Pope Gregory of Rome.
As a result, Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25 while Orthodox observances occur on January 7.
Advent
Orthodox and Catholic religions both celebrate Advent, a period leading up to the Christmas holiday. Orthodox observers fast and perform charitable acts from November 15 to December 24.
Catholic Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas and includes singing hymns in front of an Advent wreath that symbolizes the return of Christ. A small manger holds straw fragments representing charitable acts performed by family members.
In contrast to Orthodox fasting, Catholics indulge in holiday-specific recipes throughout the month and celebrate the Feast of Saint Lucy on December 13.
Christmas Eve
Formal Catholic Christmas Eve celebrations start with a midnight mass to celebrate Christ’s arrival, coinciding with the belief of a night birth.
Many churches started conducting earlier masses to accommodate varying parishioner schedules. Orthodox communities attend morning services that include Old and New Testament Bible passages and end with communion.
Modern Christmas Eve feasts in the Catholic religion are extremely versatile. Forums buzz with selections ranging from chili and cornbread to ham and shrimp. Many feel formal dining is unnecessary.
Orthodox communities enjoy a large Holy Night supper consisting of 24 dishes that represent two selections for each apostle. Guests anointed with special oils read passages from the Bible and sing religious hymns.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day mass is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics but some churches encourage parishioners to stay home with their families.
In the Orthodox community, parishioners attend services labeled The Feast of the Nativity and receive communion for a second time. Catholics are under no moral obligation to attend additional services after Christmas Day.
Additional Information
Orthodox Christmas celebrations last approximately three days. Final observances honor the Virgin Mary. Eastern Orthodox religions believe the Virgin Mary was a virtuous woman selected to be Jesus’ mother.
This stands in stark contrast to Catholic doctrine stating she was a reformed sinner.
A January 2012 article in The Christian Post describes differences between Orthodox and Catholic Christmas celebrations. Orthodox priests state observances focus on spiritual development and less on material aspects like trees and gifts. Catholicism tends to rely heavily on sentimental traditions and iconic imagery.
Krystyna-
Catholics do not believe Mary the Mother of Jesus was a reformed sinner. Dear Krystyna-
You are confusing Mary the Mother with Mary Magdalene a totally different story and one of Jesus’ disciples. Catholics have always believed that the birth of Jesus was a virgin birth and Mary the Mother was carefully selected by God in which an angel relayed her the message of her pregnancy. Thought you would like that corrected.
Thanks for everything.
Merry Christmas.
David
Dear David,
thank you very much for your comment. I am very sorry about my mistake. I have to do my research better! 🙂
Krystyna
Dear Krystyna,
You have many, many factual errors in your commentary on Roman Catholic beliefs and Christmas customs.
Roman Catholics like the Poles follow the Gregorian Calendar. The Greek Catholics of Western Ukraine and the Orthodox follow the Julian Calendar. Greek Catholics and Roman Catholics believe the Mother of God is sinless. To say that the Mother of God is a “reformed sinner” is a major heresy in the Catholic Church.
Liturgically, the Feast of Christmas is celebrated for twelve day. In Catholic countries, the celebration of Christmas culminates with the Feast of the Epiphany, the “Feast of the Three Kings.” In Catholic cities like New Orleans, Louisiana, Mexico City, Mexico, and Cologne, Germany, the Feast of the Three Kings is a very, very big deal. Have you ever heard of a “King Cake,” (Galette des Rois) and the party that goes with it. Have you heard of the Buche de Noel in France and Quebec? How about the French custom of reveillon which even Franco-American Catholics celebrate. Catholics and Anglo-Catholics in Britain have a carol they sing called the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
In Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches follow the Julian Calendar. I could go on, but I choose to stop here. Mark Garrow