Seventh Day of the New Year

What Is the Seventh Day of the New Year?

The Seventh Day of the New Year refers to 7th January on the Gregorian calendar, a date of considerable cultural and religious significance in Russia. For many Orthodox Christians, particularly those affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, this day marks the observance of Christmas. This occurs because the Russian Orthodox Church continues to follow the Julian calendar for its religious festivals, where 25th December currently aligns with 7th January on the Gregorian calendar.

In Russia, the period encompassing the secular New Year (1st January) and Orthodox Christmas (7th January) constitutes an extended holiday period. While the first of January is observed as the civil New Year, the seventh day of the Gregorian New Year brings a different focus, centring on religious traditions and family gatherings. It is a significant public holiday across the Russian Federation.

History and Origins of the Seventh Day of the New Year

The observance of Christmas on 7th January is rooted in calendar reform and tradition. Historically, Christian churches universally celebrated Christmas on 25th December according to the Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. However, the Julian calendar was slightly inaccurate, resulting in a drift against the solar year, causing the actual equinoxes and solstices to occur earlier than their calendar dates.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar to correct this drift and realign the calendar with astronomical events. Many Western European countries adopted this new calendar. Over subsequent centuries, most nations, including Russia, eventually switched to the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes. Russia formally adopted the Gregorian calendar after the 1917 October Revolution, skipping 13 days in 1918.

However, the Russian Orthodox Church, along with several other Eastern Orthodox churches, maintained the use of the older Julian calendar for its liturgical calendar. This adherence means that 25th December on the Julian calendar, the traditional date for Christmas, now corresponds to 7th January on the Gregorian calendar. Consequently, while the country operates on the Gregorian calendar for daily life, the most important religious festival of Christmas is observed on what is the seventh day of the Gregorian New Year.

How the Seventh Day of the New Year Is Celebrated

In Russia, celebrations for the Seventh Day of the New Year, or Orthodox Christmas, are a blend of religious observance and family traditions. As a public holiday, schools and workplaces are closed, allowing families to gather.

Religious Observances

The main religious observance is the Christmas Eve vigil, held on the evening of 6th January, often lasting several hours. This service, known as Rozhdestvensky Sochelnik, culminates with the appearance of the first star, symbolising the Star of Bethlehem. Many Orthodox believers attend Divine Liturgy services on Christmas Day itself (7th January), where priests often wear white vestments. The churches are typically decorated with fir trees and flowers.

Family Traditions

Following the religious services, families often gather for a festive meal. The Christmas Eve meal is traditionally meat-free and includes 12 dishes, one for each of the apostles, with kutya (a porridge made from wheat or other grains, honey, nuts, and poppy seeds) being a central dish. On Christmas Day, the fast is broken, and a rich array of dishes, including roasted goose, pork, or other meats, pies, and salads, are served. Gift-giving is also common, although it is often less elaborate than the secular New Year’s Day gift exchange.

Extended Holiday Period

The Seventh Day of the New Year falls within a broader holiday period in Russia, often lasting from 1st January to 10th January. This allows for an extended time of rest, family visits, and continuation of festive activities that commenced with the civil New Year. Traditional Christmas carols, known as Kolyadki, may be sung, and some folk customs from the Svyatki (twelve days of Christmas) period, such as fortune-telling, might be observed, though these are less widespread in urban areas today.

When Is the Seventh Day of the New Year?

The Seventh Day of the New Year is observed on a fixed date: 7th January each year. This date is determined by the Julian calendar, on which 25th December falls on 7th January of the Gregorian calendar during the 20th and 21st centuries. This means that while the specific number of days between the Gregorian 1st January and Orthodox Christmas remains constant (six days), the underlying reason is the 13-day difference between the two calendar systems. The date remains consistent every year according to the Gregorian calendar.

Seventh Day of the New Year Key Facts