Why Armenians Celebrate Christmas on January 6

The Armenian National Committee of Egypt reported that "many people assume that Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6 because of a different calendar. That assumption is incorrect. The reason is theological and historical, rooted in one of the oldest Christian traditions still observed today."

It added that in the Armenian Apostolic Church, Christmas is celebrated as part of a unified feast centered on the Theophany, meaning “the revelation of God.” This feast commemorates both the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem and His Baptism in the River Jordan, viewing them as inseparable events in the manifestation of Christ to the world.

For Armenians, January 6 marks the culmination of the Christmas season. On this day, churches also hold a special rite known as the Blessing of the Waters, which recalls Christ’s baptism and symbolizes spiritual renewal, according to The Armenian National Committee of Egypt.

The Armenian National Committee of Egypt noted that the question often arises as to why Armenians do not observe Christmas on December 25 like most Christian denominations. Historically, the exact date of Christ’s birth was never recorded in the Gospels. In fact, until the fourth century, all Christian churches celebrated the Nativity on January 6.

"The shift to December 25 occurred later in parts of the Christian world. According to early Christian and Roman-era accounts, the date was adopted to replace a popular pagan festival celebrating the birth of the sun, which was held on December 25. By assigning the Nativity to that date, church authorities sought to discourage pagan practices while preserving Christian worship," it said.

"Armenia, however, was unaffected by this change for two key reasons. First, such pagan festivals were not prevalent in Armenia at the time. Second, the Armenian Church was not subject to Roman ecclesiastical authority. As a result, it retained the original celebration date."

The Armenian National Committee of Egypt added that by remaining faithful to apostolic tradition, Armenians continue to celebrate Christmas on January 6, preserving one of the earliest expressions of Christian worship that has endured unchanged for centuries.