Calendar Highlights: January

The Berkley Schools printed calendar highlights heritage months, holidays, days of observances and recognition days. In the Berkley Beat, we’ll highlight these days with more information for community learning to help us achieve the District goal of creating an environment where all staff, students and community members feel a sense of belonging.

Orthodox Christmas Day - January 7

Many Orthodox Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who is believed to be the son of God.

Orthodox Christians are estimated to number between 250 and 300 million people. The largest number of Orthodox Christians live in eastern and southeastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine. There are also significant Orthodox Christian populations in the Middle East and in Ethiopia.

The difference in the timing of the Christmas celebrations stretches back to 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII, ruled that the Catholic Church should follow a new calendar – called the Gregorian calendar, as it was closer to the solar calendar than the Julian calendar.

Orthodox New Year - January 14

The Orthodox New Year, otherwise known as the Old New Year, is a traditional holiday, celebrated as the start of the New Year in the Julian calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, this holiday falls on January 14th every year. This holiday is observed by Orthodox Christians in the U.S., and all around the world. Learn more on the Holidays Calendar website.