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Many Americans feel a sense of sadness after the holidays due to emotional, psychological, and physical factors. The emotional letdown following festive celebrations can lead to feelings of loneliness. Financial strain from holiday spending increases stress in the new year. Physical exhaustion from indulgent eating and drinking, disrupted sleep patterns, and the stress of preparations contribute to this weariness. The pressure to set ambitious New Year's goals can also be overwhelming, especially after reflecting on unachieved resolutions. And returning to routine can feel daunting, particularly after time off from work or school.

The Armenian community is no exception. However, we begin the year by celebrating the Feast of the Nativity on January 6. While this celebration doesn't prevent us from feeling “blue” after the holidays, reflecting on the mystery of the Nativity can undoubtedly fill our hearts with a sense of expansion.

In examining the two major holidays in the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church, I find it fascinating that our church fathers have adopted a flexible approach. They have moved the observance of the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Mother of God, from August 15 to the Sunday closest to that date. Similarly, they moved the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross from September 14 to the Sunday nearest to that date. This contrasts with other Orthodox and Catholic Churches, which have maintained the original dates for these feasts. However, this “flexible” approach does not apply to January 6 and the celebration of the Nativity. 

According to historical sources, all churches originally celebrated the Nativity on January 6. Although the Gospels do not specify the date of Jesus’s birth, clues in the narratives—such as the mention of shepherds on the hills—suggest a timeframe ranging from late spring to early fall. The choice of January 6 as the original date for early Christians to observe the Nativity is likely connected to the Book of Genesis and the significance of the sixth day of the Creation.

On the sixth day of creation, God creates all animals. He then creates humankind in His own image and likeness, blessing them and giving them dominion over all living things on the earth. God creates humanity as male and female, instructing them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. At the end of the sixth day, God observes all He has made and declares it to be "very good," marking the culmination of His creative work before the seventh day of rest.

The harmony between the Creator and His creation shatters as sin enters the world. The Incarnation of Christ is the answer to restoring harmony. Jesus’s birth corrects what went wrong in Paradise and restores the entire creation. This is why humans and animals are present in the Nativity scene. Jesus is the new Adam, and the voice heard from heaven confirms that “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3.17). This cosmic event is observed and celebrated on the sixth day of every new year. 

Perhaps this is why our church fathers did not embrace the idea of flexibility and instead upheld the original date of celebrating Christmas on January 6. They might have recognized that this day reminded us of the intended state of harmony between humanity and the Creator and harmony with all of creation, reflecting how we were meant to exist from the time of creation.

The Nativity of Christ celebrates our rebirth and renewal. Celebrating it on the sixth day of the new year takes us to the sixth day of Creation, where we embrace God’s intended plan to be in harmony with Him and with everything He created. Our forefathers understood and honored this mystery. I hope we also appreciate and celebrate it not as a simple tradition but as a means of renewal powered by the grace of Epiphany—God revealing Himself to us. 

This renewed mindset can eliminate the post-holiday blues we might experience and fill our hearts with hope and joy.