The Armenian Christmas or the Feast of Epiphany is celebrated on January 6. It is believed to be the original day when celebrations of Christ’s birth took place the world over. This was changed to December 25 by the Roman Catholic Church.
MERRY CHRISTMAS wishes would do the rounds today as Armenia and its million strong diaspora population in United States celebrate Christmas on January 6. Many turn it into the second Christmas, calling it Armenian Christmas or the Feast of Epiphany.
They follow their church calendar where Armenian Christmas is celebrated on January 6. As this day will not be a Sunday in 2010, many diaspora the Christmas falls on a Wednesday, many Armenians will hold festivities and prayers on January 10, which is the next Sunday.
The Armenian Christmas includes a Christmas day mass, where Christmas greetings like Qristos tsnav eev haitnetsav, Orhneal e haitnutun Qristosee (Christ is born and revealed, Blessed is the revelation of Christ) are said.
Originally the Armenian Christmas is believed to be the day when celebrations of Christ’s birth took place the world over. This was changed to December 25 by the Roman Catholic Church in the fourth century. The change is believed to have taken place to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun, which took place on December 25. The January 6 celebrations were renamed Feast of Epiphany.
Meanwhile, many orthodox countries, such as Russia and Greece celebrate the Orthodox Christmas on January 7, which is December 25 as per the Julian Calendar. The difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars currently is 13 days.
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