In Russia, January 6 marks the traditional Christmas Eve following the old Julian calendar
While much of the world celebrates in December, millions of Orthodox Christians in Russia observe Christmas Eve on January 6 due to a centuries-old rift between calendar systems.
The Russian Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar, which currently runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in the West. This means that for many Russians, the spiritual height of the holiday season arrives in early January. Traditional celebrations often involve a holy supper consisting of twelve meatless dishes, representing the twelve apostles of Jesus.
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