do you guys have christmas lights and christmas tree and family dinners / parties too? what do you guys do?

Widescale Orthodox Christmas celebrations on 7 January can be seen in Russia, Bethlehem – the birthplace of Jesus in Palestine, Egypt as they still follow old Julian calendar

In Bethlehem especially, there will be Greek Orthodox Christmas procession at Manger Square on the eve (6 Jan). The Greek Orthodox will use most of the area in the Church of Nativity for its Christmas Vigil. Other Oriental Orthodox denominations such as Syrian, Coptics and Ethiopian will celebrate their masses in their designated points in the church.

In Russia, you will see President Medvedev attends Christmas Vigil led by Patriarch Kirill.

In Egypt, you will see Gamal Mubarak attends Coptic mass led by Pope Shenouda III.

Many other Eastern Orthodox countries like Macedonia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Belarus also will celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 Jan. Oriental Orthodox countries like Ethiopia and Eritrea will also celebrate.

Check CNN and BBC, they will highlight the news of the celebration every year.

I think Armenia celebrates Christmas on 6 January.

The ancient European pagans celebrated the midwinter festival and a number of other festivals long before Christianity ever existed!

Babylonians celebrated the feast of the Son of Isis with gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift giving and the goddess of fertility, love, and war.

The Romans held a festival on 25 December called “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, celebrating their own god Sol Invictas – PAGAN.

The Persian god Mithras, the Syrian sun god Elah Gabal, the German Sol, the Greek Helios and the Mesopotamian Shamash. But also Saturnalia, honouring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. The law courts and schools were closed. No public business could be transacted an this is where the holidays originated – ALL PAGAN!!!

Wax tapers were given by the more humble to their superiors. The origin of the Christmas candle – PAGAN!!

In Rome groups of costumed went from house to house entertaining their people. And this was where the carolling Christmas tradition originated PAGAN!!

Statues of the Mother and lover or Mother and son were paraded through the streets not only in Italy but also in Africa, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Bulgaria. Thus, the symbolism of the Heavenly Virgin and the infant child paraded on a yearly basis are not of Christian origin. They stem from the Mother-goddess religion, which is very ancient ENTIRELY PAGAN!!.

Scandinavian countries celebrated Yule honouring Thor – PAGAN.

In Germania (not Germany) they celebrated midwinter night followed by 12 wild nights of eating and drinking. The 12 days of Christmas PAGAN!!

The church under Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25 in 350 AD in order to try to hijack the PAGAN festivals but it was largely ignored. Christians did not really celebrate Christmas until 378 but it was then dropped in 381 and not resurrected until 400.

The Christmas tree stems from pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of holly boughs ivy and other foliage as an adaptation of pagan tree worship. Holly and ivy represented male and female. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual – all PAGAN!!

Santa Claus came from the Dutch “Sinterklaas” and was a tall figure riding a white horse through the air and usually accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who punished disobedient children. Also the origin of the reindeer, sleigh and the elves ALL PAGAN!!

The modern red coated Santa was brought about by coca cola!!

America actually banned Christmas several times and is the originator of the expression “Happy Holidays” which came about because of the pagan origins of Christmas to include all religions and traditions!!

The Venerable Bede, an early Christian writer pointed out that the Christian church absorbed Pagan practices when it found the population unwilling to give up the festivals. Thus a lot of what Christians now see as Christians practices are in fact pagan!!!

Christmas is the time of year christians strive to prove just how pagan they have become!!!

For several years it was to gather together the Meals on Wheels recipients in our area for a common meal. For the past couple years, including this one, it has been to hay and water horses at a therapeutic horse farm which gives a riding experience/exercise to disabled children.