It is expected that once you hear Christian this season, there would be Christmas gifts and fireworks. But the Coptic Christians observe Christmas differently from the general Christian population. The Coptic Christians are native to Northeast Africa particularly Egypt, Libya and Sudan, making for the largest Christian population in those regions.
The Copts who are of Orthodox origin, do not celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, but have to wait 12 days after, till the 7th of January. This is also observed in Ethiopia and by orthodox Christians in Eastern Europe, Russia and Siberia. They believe that the actual date of the birth of Christ is unknown and even the first church did not celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
The total population of the Coptic Christians worldwide is about 30 Million with between 15 and 18 million of them reside in Egypt under the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. The use of the Julian calendar, which they have from antiquity is different from Georgian which we use today. The Nativity which is celebrated on 7 January of the civil Gregorian new calendar, makes them celebrate their Christmas differently. The Julian calendar is shortened by 3 days every 400 years, by making the centennial year a normal 365-day year and not a leap year, apart from if its number is divisible by 400.
The Coptic month preceding Christmas is known as Kiahk. From November 25th to January 6th, Coptic Christians observe the “Holy Nativity Fast”, during which they abstain from any product of animal origin not excluding chicken, beef, eggs and milk – they basically go vegan. This leads up to the eve of Christmas where they attend a service that ends at about midnight.
It is not just this year that the Copts would not be observing the Christmas with the larger Christian population. They have their own traditions and they stick to them.
See also: