Christmas comes to the Foothills again this weekend as Orthodox Christians celebrate the holidays.

Orthodox Christians follow the Gregorian Calendar, not the Julian Calendar, which puts Christmas onto the more familiar day of December 25th.

In this case it's Sunday, January 7th, as Saturday, January 6th marks Christmas Eve.

Another big difference in the Orthodox faith is there's no Santa Claus or other more modern trappings of Christmas.

However most will have a special meal to celebrate the holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus and a renewal of faith.

Most Orthodox Christians fast the day before Christmas as a way of celebrating their faith, and putting it above more worldly pleasures.

Most members of the Orthodox Faith in Canada are of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Greek descent among others.

 

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