Overview
- About 250 million Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians observed the Nativity today, holding services across the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
- Photo and wire reports showed celebrations from Bethlehem and Addis Ababa to Cairo, Belgrade, Tbilisi, St. Petersburg and Aleppo.
- Observing churches include the Russian, Serbian, Georgian, Jerusalemite and Polish Orthodox, alongside Coptic, Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox communities.
- Worshippers ended a 40-day fast with Christmas Eve vigils and liturgies, followed by customs such as 12-dish feasts, didukh displays, oak-branch bonfires and icy plunges.
- Public recognition varies, as Ukraine shifted its official holiday to December 25 in 2023 while Belarus and Moldova mark both dates, and the UAE president issued greetings to celebrants.