Tag: Nativity fast

According to liturgical calendars, Western Christianity observes a special period of eight days known as the Christmas Octave, during which feasting is encouraged. The question, 'Do we fast after Christmas?' reveals a key difference between Western traditions that celebrate with joy and certain Eastern Orthodox practices that include specific, albeit contrasting, fasts during the surrounding season.

While many Western Christians do not observe a strict pre-Christmas fast, Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox traditions require significant periods of fasting, which can last 40 or 43 days. This guide explains how many days you fast for Christmas across different Christian denominations and what the rules entail.

First officially established at a synod in 1166, the Nativity fast is a 40-day preparatory period in the Eastern Orthodox Church. So, what is the point of the Nativity fast, and why does this tradition continue to guide believers toward the profound joy of Christ's birth?