**This article was first published on Substack, 7:46 pm January 10, 2026**
On Wednesday of this week, all over the world, millions of Stranger Things fans rushed to Netflix searching for a “secret episode” (which sadly did not exist). But more importantly, on that very same day, Orthodox Christians enjoyed a day of feasting, gift giving, and family gatherings— they celebrated Christmas Day.
Orthodox communities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East—over 12% of Christians—celebrate Christmas Day on January 7. [1] If you’re like me and celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25, you might be wondering why there are two Christmases and which date is correct.
Why Two Christmases?
Here’s the Christmas backstory:
The New Testament does not reference the early church observing the birth of Jesus, so it is uncertain whether such a practice existed in the first century. But by the fourth century, the holiday would become widely recognized.
The earliest feast day in connection to Jesus’ birth was known as Epiphany, and it took place on January 6. Later, especially in the Western churches, Christians recognized December 25 as the date of Jesus’ birth. [2]
While it is not known for certain why either of these dates were chosen, some speculate that Christian churches chose December 25 because it coincided with the pagan festival of Sol Invictus. If this is true, what a beautiful way to redeem a day that was previously used for pagan worship— to shift the focus away from pagan ideas and toward a true and living Savior! Christmas soon replaced the pagan holiday altogether. [3]
For centuries, both the Western and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrated Jesus’ birth on December 25; however, in the eighteenth century, when the West adopted the Gregorian calendar and the East retained the old Julian calendar, their celebrations began to fall on two different days. [4]
Which date is correct?
While no specific date for Jesus’ birth is provided in the Biblical record, Luke 2:8 may provide a small hint when it states: “there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their sheep by night.” Shepherds were usually in the fields with their flocks during the months of March to November. [5] Because of this detail, some scholars believe that Jesus was born in the summer or early fall.
Though we may not know exactly when Jesus was born, the meaning behind both the December and January celebrations is the same. Christians everywhere celebrate the birth of Christ because His birth matters. It’s not an ordinary birthday celebration because Jesus’ birth was not an ordinary birth. His conception was like no other— He was conceived in a virgin’s womb, without a human father, by the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. His birth was a unique event in which “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). The eternal, infinitely holy Son of God took on a human nature; He was fully God and yet also “fully human in every way… that he might make atonement for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:16-17).
Why do we celebrate Christ’s birth? One scholar puts it this way: “Christ’s birth prepares the way for the rebirth of the believer.” [6] No matter when it’s celebrated— December or January— Christmas is always a beautiful reminder that the Son of God came to earth to save us, to reconcile us to the Father (2 Corinthians 5:18) and give us everlasting life (John 3:16).
1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/59905614
2. Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity: Volume 1 (New York: Harper One, 2010), 112.
3. Ibid.
4. Tim Dowley, The History of Christianity (Minneapolis: First Fortress Press,1995), 31.
5. Robert Stein, The New American Commentary: Luke (Nashville: B&H, 1992), 108.
6. Thomas Oden, Classic Christianity (New York: Harper Collins, 1992), 298.
