Every December, Kolkata glows with Christmas lights, carols, and midnight masses. Yet quietly, a few weeks later, on January 6, a small group of churches in the city observes Christmas all over again. This is not a delay, nor a local adaptation.
It is the continuation of an ancient Armenian Christian tradition, preserved in Kolkata through centuries of migration, trade, and religious autonomy. The “late” Christmas in the city is inseparable from the history of Armenian merchants and the institutions they built to protect their faith far from home.
The Original Christian Calendar And The Armenian Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church follows one of the earliest Christian liturgical traditions. Unlike Western churches that celebrate Christmas on December 25, Armenians observe it on January 6, known as the Feast of the Theophany. This date marks both the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ, which were originally celebrated together in Eastern Christianity.
Armenian theological texts clarify that the Bible does not specify a date for Christ’s birth. As one Armenian Church document explains, “There is no definite date of the birth of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels… It is said that the original date fixed by the Eastern Church was the sixth of January, which included the Birth, Baptism, and Epiphany.”
When the Western Church later separated Christmas and Epiphany into two festivals, the Armenian Church retained the older tradition. This is why Armenian communities around the world, including in Kolkata, continue to celebrate Christmas on January 6.
How Migration Carried Faith
The Armenian presence in India is rooted in forced migration. In the early 17th century, Shah Abbas I of Persia relocated Armenians from Julfa to New Julfa near Isfahan to strengthen Persia’s silk trade. From there, Armenians developed long-distance trade circuits connecting Persia, India, and Europe.
Importantly, Armenians did not migrate as isolated individuals. Historian Achinto Roy and Reshmi Lahiri-Roy note, “Armenian merchants who came to India were part of a mercantile network that had already established a ground presence in India in the form of their Armenian partners or agents.”
These organised networks allowed Armenians to transport not just goods, but also language, church authority, and religious calendars, ensuring that traditions like the January 6 Christmas remained unchanged in foreign lands.
Why Armenians Could Preserve Their Religious Calendar In Bengal
By the mid-17th century, Armenians had settled in Saidabad near Murshidabad, then Bengal’s capital under Mughal rule. Emperor Aurangzeb granted them land and protection, enabling Armenians to practice their faith freely. Murshidabad’s silk industry today traces its origins to these early Armenian traders.
Their influence extended into the founding of Calcutta itself. Armenian merchant-diplomat Khwaja Sarhad Israeli negotiated the lease of Sutanuti, Gobindapur, and Kalikata in 1698 and later helped secure the Imperial Farman of 1717, which granted the British sweeping trade privileges.
Historian Mesrovb J. Seth explains why Armenians enjoyed exceptional autonomy: “The Hon’ble East India Company was readily anxious to cultivate the friendship of the Armenian merchants… who were of great help to them in pushing on the Company’s trade in the interior.”
As Roy and Lahiri-Roy add, this relationship ensured Armenians had rights equal to those of the English, including the freedom to build churches and practice their religion independently, allowing their Christmas calendar to remain untouched by Western norms.
Churches As Anchors Of Armenian Christmas
The survival of Armenian Christmas in Kolkata is inseparable from its churches. The Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth, built in 1724 on Armenian Street, is the oldest surviving Christian place of worship in the city. It replaced an earlier wooden chapel near the Armenian Ghat and was funded entirely by community donations.
Two other churches, St Gregory’s Chapel in Beniapukur and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity in Tangra, strengthened this religious network. These were not merely places of worship but community anchors. Historian Susmita Bhattacharya observes, “The Armenian presence was a significant and almost customary feature in Bengal trade and politics.”
This visibility allowed Armenian religious practices, including the January 6 Christmas, to be observed publicly rather than privately.
Also Read: Christmas Trees Are Getting Slimmer: Here’s Why
How Armenian Christmas Is Lived In Kolkata
In Kolkata, Armenian Christmas unfolds over two days. On the evening of January 5, the community gathers for a solemn church service marked by ancient hymns and prayers. The following morning, January 6, services continue before giving way to celebration.
After the religious observances, the community traditionally gathers at spaces such as the Armenian Sports Club on Park Street. Food, cakes, gifts, and games follow, transforming the day from sacred ritual to communal joy. This rhythm, from reverence to celebration, reflects the Armenian understanding of Christmas as both spiritual revelation and collective memory.
Cultural Preservation And Decline
Armenians in Kolkata preserved their traditions through endogamy, strong church-centred institutions, and cultural insulation. These practices helped retain language, liturgy, and festival calendars across generations.
However, scholars also note that this insulation contributed to demographic decline. From the 19th century onward, many Armenians migrated to ports such as Singapore, Penang, and Hong Kong, where families like the Sarkies established global businesses. While the community in Kolkata shrank, its religious traditions, including the January 6 Christmas, remained remarkably intact.
Christmas is celebrated late in Kolkata’s Armenian churches, not due to local variation, but because of historical continuity. The January 6 observance reflects an ancient Christian calendar preserved through trade networks, political autonomy, and strong institutions.
In a city shaped by layered global histories, Armenian Christmas stands as a reminder that Kolkata was also built by merchants who carried faith alongside commerce, and ensured that, centuries later, their traditions would still survive unchanged.
Images: Google Images
Sources: The Indian Express, The Economic Times, Firstpost
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: Indian history, Kolkata heritage, Armenian culture, Christmas in India, Kolkata churches, Armenian Christmas, Indian Christianity, Lesser known histories, Cultural diversity in India, Minority communities in India, Kolkata culture, Indian diaspora stories, Forgotten histories of India, Religious traditions, Christmas beyond December, Heritage of Kolkata, Armenian legacy, Indian pluralism, History explainer, Culture journalism, Heritage journalism, Christianity in India
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
Other Recommendations
10 Different & Surprising Christmas Traditions Across The World
