Merry Christmas
С Рождеством (S-RazhdestvOm)
Καλά Χριστούγεννα (Kalá hristúyenna)
According to the Julian calendar (named after Julius Caesar), today is Christmas. Who still follows the Julian calendar? Orthodox Christians, such as the Serbs, Russians, Greek Old Calendarists, Ukrainians, Bulgarians and Macedonians. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII decreed the adjustment of the Julian calendar, adding almost two weeks, hence the Gregorian calendar which most of the world follows today.
For more information, please click these links:
The greetings on Christmas Day, Jan. 7, in Serbian are: Mir Bozji! Hristos se Rodi! (Peace of God! Christ is Born!). The response is Voistinu Hristos se Rodi! (Indeed, He is born!).
(By the way, when George Washington was born on February 11, 1731, the colonies were still following the Julian calendar. In 1752 the British adopted the Gregorian calendar and Washington's birthday was changed to February 22. Why the difference in year? Here is the explanation for
Old Style - O.S. - vs. New Style - N.S.)
Well, I am off to bake Christmas bread and prepare zito (wheat pudding) for our Christmas celebration.
May all your days be full of holiday spirit.
Beth New York
aka Beth Gersh-Nesic, Ph.D.
New York Arts Exchange
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