Perché il Natale si Festeggia il 25 Dicembre in Occidente e il 7 Gennaio in Egitto?

In Egypt, Coptic Christmas is one of the most important religious holidays, celebrated with unique spirituality and traditions. Unlike Christmas, which is celebrated by most of the world on December 25 , Coptic Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. This difference in dates is related to the history and calendars used by different Christian Churches.

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Why Are the Dates Different?

The difference in dates comes from the use of two different calendars :

1. Julian Calendar (ancient)
   • Created by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, it is followed by the Coptic Orthodox Church for religious celebrations. This calendar accumulates a delay of 13 days compared to the Gregorian calendar.
2. Gregorian calendar (modern)
   • Introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, this calendar corrected the inaccuracies of the Julian calendar and is today the civil calendar used throughout the world. Western Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 according to this calendar.

In summary:

• According to the Julian calendar: Christmas is on December 25th.
• According to the Gregorian calendar: the same day corresponds to January 7 .

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Important Dates of Coptic Christmas

1. November 25: Beginning of the Christmas Fast (Kiakh Fast), which lasts 43 days and ends on January 6.
2. January 6 (29 Kiahk): Christmas Eve, with Great Vespers and Midnight Mass .
3. January 7: Christmas Day, dedicated to family and community celebrations.

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Coptic Christmas Traditions

1. The Christmas Fast

• The 43-day fast involves a vegan diet, free of meat, dairy, and animal products. This period is dedicated to prayer, repentance, and charity.

2. Midnight Mass (January 6)

• On Christmas Eve, families gather in churches for a special mass, featuring traditional songs in Coptic and Arabic.
• At the end of the mass, the Eucharist is distributed, followed by Christmas greetings.

3. Christmas Day (January 7)

• After mass, families gather to celebrate with a big dinner .
• Typical dishes such as fattih (a dish made of rice, bread and meat) are a must on the table.
• It is also a time for exchanging gifts and greetings.

4. Charity and Solidarity

• Coptic Christmas is an opportunity to give to those most in need. Churches organize food, clothing and donation drives to help the less fortunate.

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Iconic Places to Celebrate Christmas in Egypt

1. The Hanging Church (Cairo)
   • One of the oldest and most famous churches, rich in history and symbolism.
2. The Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ (New Administrative Capital)
   • The largest cathedral in the Middle East, where solemn celebrations are held every year.
3. The Monasteries of Wadi El Natrun
   • Spiritual and historical places where Christian tradition is alive and vibrant.

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Differences between Coptic Christmas and Western Christmas

I wait	Coptic Christmas (January 7)	Western Christmas (December 25)
Calendar	Julian	Gregorian
Fast	43 days	Varies according to tradition
Christmas Eve Mass	Evening of January 6th	Evening of December 24th
Symbols	Coptic Chants and Spirituality	Christmas trees and gift exchange

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