Christmas in Canada’s Orthodox Christian communities is a time of importance when rich cultural traditions are observed. Many people attend a special church liturgy on Christmas Day. Christmas lights on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, which is Canada’s capital, have in recent times remained lit until January 8. This was due to lobbying by ethnic communities of Orthodox Christian faith that celebrate Christmas on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar (or December 25 in the Julian calendar).

It is important to note that the Christmas Day date varies among Orthodox Christians. For example, many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, which is December 25 in the Julian calendar. However, there are others who follow the revised Julian calendar, so they celebrate the day on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar. Some Orthodox Christian churches have a combined Christmas and New Year celebration on dates close to the end of the year in the Gregorian calendar. Armenian Orthodox Christians in Canada celebrate their Christmas Day on January 6 in the Gregorian calendar.

Many Orthodox Christians in countries such as Canada fast before Christmas Day. Many people identify the Nativity Fast as the period of preparing to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth. It is believed that fasting helps people shift their focus from themselves to others, spending less time worrying about food and using more time in increased prayer and caring for the poor. In return, fasting before the Nativity enables one to fully enjoy, appreciate and celebrate the Nativity of Christ.



Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada where Christmas lights, etc. are kept lit until January 8th

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