Does Russia Still Use Julian Calendar

Does Russia Still Use Julian Calendar

As a traveler, I’ve always been fascinated with the different cultures and traditions around the world. One of the things that caught my attention during my visit to Russia was their calendar system. Growing up, I’ve always been taught that the Gregorian calendar is the standard calendar used by most countries. However, I found out that Russia still uses the Julian calendar for some of their religious holidays.

What is the Julian Calendar?

The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC and was the standard calendar used by most of Europe until the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. The Julian calendar is based on a 365-day year with an extra day added every four years to account for the leap year. However, this system created a discrepancy between the calendar and the solar year.

Why Does Russia Still Use the Julian Calendar?

In 1918, the Soviet Union adopted the Gregorian calendar for all civil purposes to align with the rest of the world. However, the Russian Orthodox Church refused to abandon the Julian calendar for their religious holidays. This is because the Julian calendar is used to calculate the date of Easter, which is the most important religious holiday in the Orthodox Church.

Currently, Russia uses the Gregorian calendar for all civil purposes but still follows the Julian calendar for the celebration of certain religious holidays, including Christmas and Easter.

Events and Festivals in “Does Russia Still Use Julian Calendar”

One of the most significant events celebrated in Russia according to the Julian calendar is Christmas Day. Unlike most countries, where Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th. This is because the Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Christmas in Russia is a religious holiday and is celebrated with church services and family gatherings.

Another important celebration in Russia based on the Julian calendar is Easter Sunday. The date of Easter is calculated based on the lunar cycle and the Julian calendar. In Russia, Easter is celebrated on a different date than the rest of the world, usually a week or two later. The celebration of Easter in Russia includes church services, family gatherings, and the exchange of traditional Easter eggs.

FAQs

Does Russia still use the Julian calendar?

Yes, Russia still uses the Julian calendar for the celebration of certain religious holidays, including Christmas and Easter.

Why does Russia use the Julian calendar?

The Russian Orthodox Church still uses the Julian calendar to calculate the date of Easter, which is the most important religious holiday in the Orthodox Church.

Does the rest of the world celebrate Christmas and Easter on the same dates as Russia?

No, the rest of the world celebrates Christmas and Easter based on the Gregorian calendar. Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7th, while Easter is celebrated on a different date than the rest of the world.

In conclusion, Russia still uses the Julian calendar for certain religious holidays, including Christmas and Easter. Although the Gregorian calendar is used for all civil purposes, the Russian Orthodox Church continues to follow the Julian calendar for their religious celebrations. This unique calendar system adds to the cultural richness of Russia and provides an opportunity for travelers to experience different traditions and celebrations.