Christmas
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Updated
February 20, 2008
Christmas has not always been celebrated on December 25. For centuries the
Eastern Orthodox Church observed January 6 as the celebration of the birth of
Christ. Eventually most of the world adopted December 25, but there are still
areas in eastern Europe and the Middle East where January 6 is Christmas.
This was known to the first settlers who came to America, and in some areas of the New World January 6 was called Old Christmas. Of course, Christmas is never old. Every year it comes to us with newness. We cherish the familiar traditions of our families and of our own experience, and yet there is a freshness about Christmas every year! The newness never seems to wear off. For a believer there really is no such thing as an old Christmas.
This was known to the first settlers who came to America, and in some areas of the New World January 6 was called Old Christmas. Of course, Christmas is never old. Every year it comes to us with newness. We cherish the familiar traditions of our families and of our own experience, and yet there is a freshness about Christmas every year! The newness never seems to wear off. For a believer there really is no such thing as an old Christmas.