Many wonder why in the world celebrate Christmas on December 25 and in Ukraine - January 7? How it happened that Christmas is so shifted?
The second consecutive year in Ukraine December 25 an official holiday in honor of Nativity in the western Christians. And many families have long noted the two Christmas - 25 December and 7 January. But why Ukrainians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ later?
history of the holiday
The first official Christmas was celebrated on December 25 337. Feast approved Pope Julius I. At the same time we introduced the Julian calendar. He did not take into account the astronomical error, and after more than 1000 years error in the calendar reached 10 days.
Because of this, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar. So after the adoption of a new calendar, Thursday October 4 went on Friday October 15th. We celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, that is, on 7 January. His inaccuracy will take a holiday date in 100 years on January 8.
How did it start?
It is believed that "moved" Christmas special. If you look at the old calendars Tsarist Russia, a part of which was a large part of the lands of today's Ukraine, we can see that Christmas is celebrated with the whole world - 25th December.
Moved the date during the Soviet era, when the government realized that "win" the religion failed. Then they decided to share the celebration of Soviet citizens and "hostile" capitalist west. In calendar 1923, contrary to the propaganda of atheism by the ruling party, Christmas is. In the same year first attempt to celebrate January 7, not December 25th.
But something went wrong and Christmas shifted back to the 25th December.
In 1929, the last Soviet citizens officiallyChristmas is celebrated. After the - event "gone underground", it noted only believers. Over the years, he shifted the date of Christmas on January 7. How it exactly happened, history is silent.
When Ukraine became independent, the festival officially adopted on 7 January. But two years ago, Ukrainians have set another day off, the day of December 25 - the day when Catholics celebrate Christmas, Protestant and some Orthodox churches.
You will also be interested to knowsimple recipe for homemade ginger cookies for the holidays.
Photos from public sources
