Ethiopians, others celebrate Christmas on January 7

IN CHRISTENDOM, the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is celebrated on December 25, Christmas Day, which is an important holiday for devout and non-devout Christians, and some people who are not even religious.

Yet, in the east African country of Ethiopia, especially by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Christmas is observed on January 7, which is called Ganna or Genna, and not Christmas. But, why is the birth of the man who is regarded the Christian messiah celebrated on two different days?

Ethiopians observe Christmas based on the Ethiopian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar that is used in Western countries. The Ethiopian calendar has different months from the Gregorian, and Christmas is on the 29th of Tahsas, which is the same day as January 7 on the Gregorian calendar. The calendar the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church uses originally came from a calendar used by the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is based in Egypt. Many other orthodox churches around the world, too, celebrate Christmas on the January 7.

Though the major observance is on January 7, there is a special Advent fast that starts on November 25, 43 days before January 7, when most people go to church. The Advent fast is known as the ‘Fast of the Prophets’ (Tsome Nebiyat). During this time, traditionally, only one vegan meal is eaten each day. It is vegan because, during the fast, foods including meat, dairy, eggs and wine are not eaten.

On Christmas Eve, known as the ‘gahad of Christmas’, people attend a church service at 6 p.m. and stay until 2 or 3 a.m. on Christmas Day, when people go to a church mass. They usually get dressed in white and wear the traditional netela, a thin, white cotton cloth with bright coloured stripes at the ends. It is arranged like a shawl or toga.

At the church, they walk around the building three times in a silent procession, holding the candles. That is the first circle. Men and boys are separated from women and girls. They then go to the second circle to stand during the service. The centre circle is the most important and holy place in the church; it is where the priest serves the Holy Communion or Mass.

“Genna is a deeply significant holiday in Ethiopia, celebrated with reverence, cultural traditions, and community gatherings. This Christian holiday honours the birth of Jesus Christ, and in Ethiopia, it’s observed with a unique blend of religious practices and local customs that set it apart from Christmas celebrations elsewhere,” the Ethiopian Calendar, an online magazine, says.

“Genna is a time of spiritual reflection and communal joy, marked by fasting, vibrant church services, traditional feasts, and festive games. (The men and boys play a game, similar to hockey, also called ganna. It is played with a curved stick and a round wooden ball.) In Ethiopia, Christmas traditions emphasise togetherness, devotion, and gratitude, creating an atmosphere of warmth and unity among families, friends, and entire communities.”

Twelve days after Ganna, on January 19, is the start of the three-day celebration of Timkat, the observance of the baptism of Jesus. Children walk to church services in a procession, dressed in crowns and robes, while the adults wear the netela. Priests wear red and white robes and carry embroidered fringed umbrellas.

In the procession, musical instruments, such as the sistrum, are played. It is a rectangular percussion instrument with tinkling metal disks, like those of the tambourine. A makamiya, a long T-shaped prayer stick, is used to keep the rhythm. The men play a sport called yeferas guks. It is played on horseback, with the throwing of ceremonial lances at one another.

The giving and receiving of gifts on these occasions is not traditional. It is more about going to church, eating much food, and playing games. Traditional Christmas foods include ‘wat’, which is a thick and spicy stew that contains meat, vegetables and sometimes eggs. It is eaten on a plate of ‘injera’, a flat bread. Pieces of the injera are used to scoop up the wat.

Christmas in Ethiopia is a more solemn occasion than it is in the West. Features, such as Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, Christmas carols, etc, are not present in traditional Ethiopian Christmases. In the Amharic language, Father Christmas or Santa Claus is called ‘Yágena Abãt’, which means ‘Christmas Father’. Merry Christmas is ‘Melikam Gena!’