JANUARY CHRISTMAS IN THE WORLD: Here is who and how everyone celebrates the birth of Christ today! (VIDEO)

Did you know who all, besides Orthodox Serbs, marks the birth of Jesus Christ at the beginning of January and in what way these nations celebrate? Here is how believers rejoice for Christmas around the world…

The most joyful Christian holiday is marked according to the Gregorian and Julian calendars, respectively on December 25 and January 7. The number of countries in which Christmas is celebrated in the first month of the year is not large, but they still nurture the customs of their ancestors and rejoice in this special day.

We are all familiar with the customs that have survived in our country, but do you know which rituals and traditions are nurtured by Christians across the planet who also celebrate this holiday in January?

We present to you the five most interesting…

GEORGIA

Georgians who celebrate Christmas on January 7 go on the Alilo on this day, a mass walk through the streets, during which they are dressed in special festive clothing. At the same time, they congratulate each other on the holiday and distribute sweets to the youngest.

The Christmas tree (Chichilaki) is made of soft material, and its branches are curled. Sometimes, instead of it, a hazelnut branch can be seen shaped like the Tree of Life and decorated with sweets and fruit. However, the kind of tree seen in the West is becoming increasingly popular.

Santa Claus is known in Georgia as Tovlis papa (“Tovlis babua” in the west of the country), which literally means “snow grandfather”. He is usually represented with a long white beard, dressed in the national costume “chokha” and a fur cloak.

RUSSIA

Russian Orthodox believers pray regularly for 39 days before Christmas – until the evening of January 6, when festive liturgies begin. The next day, on the holiday, the family gathers around the table, on which there are 12 types of dishes, in honor of the twelve apostles.

Russians call the yule log “sochelnik”, after the word “sochivo”, a dish that is an obligatory part of the festive lunch.

This day is reserved for love, so Christmas in Russia is congratulated to all dear people, and the doors of houses are wide open so that passers-by can join the believers for lunch.

UKRAINE

When children see the eastern star in the sky, which reminds believers of the Three Wise Men, the Holy Supper begins in Ukrainian homes. Wheat is brought into the houses, which is an old custom called “didukh” (“grandfather’s spirit”), which helps identification with ancestors.

After all members of the household pray, the host says “Christ is born”, to which he receives the response “Let us glorify Him” from the family. A meal follows, the indispensable parts of which are borscht, a square box of homemade pudding, milk, dumplings with mushrooms or cabbage and potatoes…

After dinner, it is time for Christmas songs, and for the next seven days, believers enjoy the days of celebration.

ETHIOPIA

The celebration of Christmas in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is called Ganna, and it is preceded by a day of fasting (in the case of many believers, this means total abstinence from food). On Christmas day, Christians put on white clothes, and many choose to wear the traditional robe (“shamma”) that day, made of cotton and decorated with bright stripes at the ends.

The marking of Ganna in Ethiopia begins at four o’clock in the morning, and these festivities are accompanied by a boys’ game similar to hockey which is also called ganna, and involves the use of a stick and a wooden ball.

Twelve days after Christmas, believers begin the three-day Timkat celebration, which marks Jesus’ baptism. An important part of this celebration is prayer during the service in the temple, when adults put on shammas again, and children the robes of their church associations and crowns.

EGYPT

About 15 percent of the population of this African country belongs to Christians, and the majority of this part of the population belongs to Copts, who celebrate Christmas in January.

The month preceding Christmas is called Kiahk by the Copts, and every Saturday evening of this month is spent in song, while every Sunday morning believers go to a church service.

From November 25 to January 6, these Christians fast, which implies giving up food of animal origin. Then, on Christmas Eve, they gather in temples, where they listen to the liturgy, and the next day they celebrate the most joyful Christian holiday.

As with most other nations that celebrate this holiday, for Copts it is a day of joy and love, socializing and respect, so believers gather in their homes to celebrate it together. Often, at the same time, they give cookies (kahk) to the hosts.

Santa Claus has found his place in this environment too – he is known as Baba Noël (“Father of Christmas”), and the little ones believe that he enters through the window while they sleep and leaves them gifts. In return, the little ones leave him kahk.