Orthodox Christmas 2026 in UAE is observed on الأربعاء, 7 يناير 2026.
Orthodox Christmas is observed on January 7 by the Russian Orthodox Church, several other Orthodox churches, and the Coptic and Ethiopian churches — all of which use the Julian calendar (13 days behind the Gregorian).
All Christian churches originally celebrated Christmas on December 25 of the Julian calendar. After the Gregorian reform of 1582, churches that did not switch (most Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Ethiopian) kept the Julian December 25 — which corresponds to January 7 on the modern Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Eve (January 6): Sochelnik — fasting until the first star, then a 12-course meatless meal (representing the 12 apostles). Hay placed under the tablecloth. All-night liturgy at church. January 7: festive meal with meat and family visits.
Russian: kutya (sweet wheat or rice pudding), uzvar (dried fruit drink), pirozhki, roast goose. Ethiopian: doro wat (chicken stew) and injera.
"С Рождеством Христовым" (Russian).
Public holiday in Russia, Ukraine (where it is moving to December 25 amid de-Russification), Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Ethiopia, Eritrea.
This holiday is also publicly observed in:
Orthodox Christmas 2026 in UAE is observed on الأربعاء, 7 يناير 2026.
No. Orthodox Christmas is marked in UAE, but it is not an official public holiday — workplaces and schools stay open.
The countdown above shows the exact days, hours and minutes remaining. The year-by-year list below has Orthodox Christmas's date in the surrounding years.