Orthodox Christmas in Georgia

About Orthodox Christmas in Georgia

In Georgia, Orthodox Christmas is one of the fixed winter holidays in the civic calendar and a public holiday throughout the country. It comes after New Year's celebrations and before Epiphany, so the first days of January are often part of an extended holiday period for many people. The day is closely associated with Georgian Orthodox religious observance and family gatherings, while also being a recognised day off across the country.

History

Georgia adopted Christianity very early in its history, and the Georgian Orthodox Church has long shaped the country’s religious calendar. Orthodox Christmas follows the Julian-calendar date used by the Georgian Orthodox tradition, so it falls on 7 January rather than 25 December in the Gregorian calendar.

Traditions

Church attendance is central for many Orthodox Christians in Georgia on this day. Families commonly mark the holiday with a shared meal at home, and the season is associated with church services, prayer and visits to relatives.

How Orthodox Christmas is celebrated in Georgia

The day is generally quiet compared with New Year’s festivities. In many parts of Georgia, people spend time with family, attend services if they observe the holiday religiously, and use the public holiday to rest or travel within the country.

Interesting facts

Georgia also observes Orthodox Epiphany on 19 January, which follows the Christmas celebration in the same church calendar. The holiday date is fixed and does not move from year to year.

Dates in published calendars

Import sources

• Generic ICS feed

An import is not an independent verification.

More public holidays in Georgia

• New Year's Day
• New Year's Holiday
• Orthodox Epiphany
• Mother's Day
• International Women's Day
• Day of National Unity